Tech department Server

[terminalvelocity16]

I don't know about the rest of everyone here, but in our theatre we always seem to have a problem with lighting plots, and mic lists, and just all around paperwork disappearing and never being seen again. So in an effort to ensure that stuff is no longer lost, myself and a couple other friends in the department set up an online server that the entire crew can access. So far it's worked out really well as a place to just store soft copies of all those important papers and manuals that your never able to find when you need them. Anyone else try anything like this before?

[willbb123]

We use google docs for that kind of stuff. It works really well. We have our work schedule on there. I keep the lighting inventory on there, and have it set so a few people can update it. I've heard there is sound stuff on there too, but I havent been shared (nor do I really care to be). Our theater runs on google...

[Footer]

With the world of google docs, and hopefully soon google drive, everything can now be up on the cloud. I want to say that even the new version of Lightwright will have some of these capabilities on a network level. I use my website pretty frequently to share things, and that capability is just expanding every day.

[ScottT]

We have just started (yesterday) using Google docs for our new inventory. We use a shared network drive on one of the local servers at our school for things such as sound bytes, lighting and product regristration information. The local server works well but we decided to move the paperwork to Gdocs because we can access it from home. Plain and simple.

[soundman]

I use dropbox to sync my computers Dropbox - Home - Secure backup, sync and sharing made easy. You could set it up for a corporation if you want. I like that all files are updated to all computers in real time and that copys are stored on each computers hard drive so if you are with out internet you will have the last version that was pushed to you.

[Dionysus]

We also use dropbox, and I even use it personally. I find it an amazingly versatile application. It keeps all our files synced, both for the theatre, and others.

The best thing that it works cross platform, and only transmits the delta. Along with that, if someone gets onto one of the computers and deletes a file or changes it, I can always restore it to a previous condition.

The best part is that it is entirely free. I was one of the first beta testers so I get a full 5GB for free.

All my lightwright files, excel documents, autocad drawings and everything are on dropbox. Even the audio-files are kept on it while we are working on them. I can edit the files at home, and if I am on the go and someone wants to listen to it I just load it up on my laptop.

[Hughesie]

An external solution like dropbox or google documents is a lot better that using a shared drive on a local network for the following reasons:

• Universal Access
• Less of a security risk
• Google documents can also be fed into google calendars which can sync show times and dates
• Easier collaboration on group projects

I know of one large arts centre down AUS way is shortly moving to have all show files for their strand desks moved to a central location and then backed up off site in case of a fire or flood. In any of these environments backup is still a major issue.