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+====== Sync Introduction ======
+This guide has been written to assist those responsible for tape management with the process of integrating their backup software or tape management system with the TapeTrack Media Management Software.
+For those who have their own TapeTrack Framework Server, these instructions relate to connecting to your own system, while, for those who use TapeTrack via a relationship with their data protection provider, these instructions relate to connecting into your vendor's system.
+===== Prerequisite knowledge =====
+Knowledge of the following skills would be advantageous in implementing TapeTrack synchronization:
+  * Experience with a text file editor such as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Notepad | Windows Notepad]] or [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vi |vi]].
+  * Experience with a task schedule such as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Task_Scheduler|Windows Task Scheduler]] or [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cron | crond]].
+  * Experience with the backup software you are synchronizing.
+  * Experience with Windows DOS batch scripting, or UNIX shell scripting.
+===== Synchronization Process =====
+TapeTrack's Synchronization Suite is a powerful toolkit that allows you to [[cli:sync_fields|set fields]] within TapeTrack based upon the values of fields within your backup or tape management software.
+The logic flow of synchronization is as follows:
+  * Load the definition file to instruct the program on where to get the data and how to interpret the data.
+  * Logon to the TapeTrack Framework Server
+  * Read each record from the data source, establish each of the fields to be synchronized for each record.
+  * On the first record, or on any record where the Customer and/or Media scope change, download a cache of Volume information from the TapeTrack Framework Server.
+  * Where the Volume information has changed apply the update to the TapeTrack Server.
+  * On the last record from the data source print statistics about the update session.
+<note tip>To reduce the overhead of retrieving records, when the Customer and/or Media scope change all information on all Volumes within the current scope is downloaded and loaded into a cache.
+Where the Customer and/or Media scope do not change this means that the synchronization program only needs to download this information once.
+Care should be taken not to randomize Volumes within a Customer and or Media scope as this will degrade the performance of the program.
+If Volume scope is randomized it is strongly recommended that the data source be sorted as a step prior to synchronization.</note>
+===== The benefits of synchronization =====
+Synchronization with your backup or tape management system has the following benefits:
+  - Automation of tape movement requests, including setting description fields and the next move date of each tape.
+  - The ability to synchronize off a picking and distribution list or a complete inventory list.
+  - Elimination of errors that are possible with manual data input.
+  - Ensuring that tape movements are not dependent on manual intervention that cease if a key employee is absent.
+  - The ability to securely synchronize over the Internet.
+  - Warning messages when tapes are in the library that are expected not to be.
+  - Warning messages when tapes are not in the library that are expected to be.
+  - Automatic confirmation of tapes when they are entered into the library, reducing the need for manual barcode scanning.
+<- | ^ sync:introduction|introduction ^ sync:download|Download Sync ->