Amaxus CMS replication through a firewall

Amaxus can enable an externally hosted website to be controlled through an internally hosted CMS. The internally hosted CMS can also control other internally hosted sites (e.g. an intranet).

Amaxus replication through a firewall

This is achieved using a combination of SQL server replication and FTP replication.

FTP replication

Files are copied up the external server using a third party software tool. This software allows directories to be synchronised at regular intervals so that the same files reside on each. Amaxus stores a copy of a file that has been marked for the web in a separate directory from intranet files. This separate folder is then synchronised with the externally hosted Amaxus files.

SQL server replication

Amaxus uses SQL server's native replication functionality to copy the data to external site(s). The communication can be limited to one way without affecting the ability to replicate the data.

A separate database is used to store all content that has been marked for the web. This database is then replicated to the external site. There are three replication publications that are necessary to fully replicate the site:

1. Web only content transactional replication: This replicates the separate web only database

2. Common data transactional replication: This replicates common data such as categories and blocks

3. Web generated content merge replication: This enables content that is generated on the external site to appear in the internally hosted CMS e.g. survey results