SimpleSync

Provides an easy way to synchronise site configuration between multiple environments such as development, test and live versions of a site. Check out the video.

Example: you can copy the entire permissions configuration from one site to another with a single click.

Videos

• Configuration
• Demonstration

Limitations

SimpleSync works with the majority of configuration forms provided by core and third party modules. The main limitation is that the items to be synchronised must already exist on each site. So for example, it is possible to synchronise the settings and content of a node only if that node already exists at the same node id. Similarly, it is possible to synchronise a menu, changing menu item descriptions and order of items, but adding a new item is not possible - that would have to be done directly on each site. In general, update operations are supported but create and delete are not.

Status

Working towards an initial release. The current dev version is believed to be fully functional, awaiting feedback from users/testers.

Installation

See Configuration video. Installation steps are:

• Install and enable the module
• Visit admin/config/system/simplesync
• Generate a key pair for the local site. Save configuration.
• Add and configure one or more peer sites. Save configuration.

These steps need to be repeated on each site.

Security

Care is needed with proper configuration of this module. Access to SimpleSync should be given only to trusted users. Any user who has access to SimpleSync on one site can potentially read any data on other enabled sites.

Notes on specific settings:

The remote site may sync from the local site provides control over which peer sites are able to read data - set it disabled unless specifically required.
Fetch public key from site should probably be disabled after initial set up.
Enable for ALL forms should probably be disabled after initial set up.
You can use the Fixed user id setting to restrict all SimpleSync users to a specific set of permissions.

Planned enhancements

The ability to sync to another site (currently from only).
The ability to automatically "replay" all changes made on one site to another.

Related modules

SimpleSync is useful when dealing with ad hoc configuration changes. During initial site building, the Features module is probably more relevant. Also, take a look at Drupal Sync and Configuration Management.