HOWTO - Sync your PIM data between main PC and Netbook

Assumptions
1) You have at least two computers a) your main computer and b) your netbook that are networked together (eg, home LAN or WAN)
2) You want to synchronise your PIM data between machines (Contacts, Tasks, Notes, Calendar) so you can maintain a common set of information on both computers
3) You use Outlook, Thunderbird or something similar.
4) This guide assumes you use Windows and Outlook. But Funambol supports Linux and a whole bunch of PIM type software too.
5) You want to use freeware/open source and not have your private data in the hands of some web site.

Steps

1) Download the Funambol Windows Server. It's free and open source

https://www.forge.funambol.org/download/

2) Install it on your main machine (we'll call this machine the "server"). Note: on a Win x64 machine the install directory defaults to "..\Program Files (x86)\.." In which case change the directory to something without the paranthesis, otherwise it'll stop Funambol from working. I just install to "c:\funambol"

3) Optional - run through the Test Drive Guide so you can see how things work

http://download.forge.objectweb.org/syn ... -guide.pdf

4) Now download the Outlook Sync client. Link is on the same page as the server.

https://www.forge.funambol.org/download/

5) You need to install this client on all machines (ie, both your main server PC and your netbook). It's a simple programme to install. After you install, don't run anything just yet

6) You now need to change the server address on the Funambol Server to one specific for you LAN.



a) Load the Funambol Server Administration Tool form your server machine. There will be a shortcut set up in the Start Menu
b) Double click "Funambol Administration Tool" in the top left of the window
c) You'll get a prompt to connect to the local server. The correct defaults should be set already so just click "login"
d) Expand the tree hierarchy and double click on "Server settings"
e) Find the field that appears on the right hand panel called "Server UI". You need to replace the text with a URL specific to your server machine. Mine is

http://192.168.0.10:8080/funambol/ds

The only thing you'll need to change in the above example is your specific server machine IP address for your LAN or WAN

f) Scroll to the bottom on the panel and click save

7) Now you need to configure the Oulook Sync software on both machines. The method is the same for both.



a) Load the "Funambol Outlook Plug-in" (again, shortcut in the Start menu). Then go to Tools|Options
b) Click on Account. In the Location field you need to enter the same Server UI used above



c) Type in a username and password and remember these details. Can be anything you want and the server will auto-setup the user on first connection.
d) Repeat steps a to c on the other machine. Remember to use the same username and password

8) On the server machine. Click "Sync All" in "the Funambol Outlook Plug-in" program. After a while all you PIM data will be uploaded to the local server
9) On the other machine (eg, your netbook), do the same, and it'll synchronise with the server
10) Job done. Each time you click "Sync All" that machine will synchronise with the server on your main machine, and upload and download new changes.

Notes:
- On your main machine you must run both the server and the client. On your other machine (eg, netbook) you only need to run the client.
- You can configure the "Funambol Outlook Plug-in" to autosync every few minutes or hours.
- Other sync clients are available here (inc. a Thunderbird sync client) https://www.forge.funambol.org/particip ... jects.html
- You can play around with settings and if your setup is secure and you know what you're doing, you can actually synchronise your netbook over the internet with your main machine from wherever you are.
- The user forum is here https://core.forge.funambol.org/ds/view ... orumId=405

Regards
James

 

I haven't yet tried the above but am considering it. Is there any way to sync the Outlook Inbox and Sent / Other folders (in addition to the PIM data)?

I'm looking for some user-friendly, and I can't emphasize that enough!!, procedure or software that is easy to download / install / and set up that will permit my netbook to sync all Outlook folders and PIM data on my main laptop and netbook. With both computers I use the same e-mail address. And I'm using a POP3 server (Roadrunner) rather than a work exchange server. I want to be able, e.g., to delete an e-mail on one computer and have it also delete the message on the other, or modify a contact on one machine with it also modifying the other.

Any easy way this can be done? And can it be done without my obtaining a Ph.D. in I.T. or Computer Science?!!?

Googerg

 

The above HOWTO does sync Outlook Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes. For email I just use IMAP rather than POP3. Is this an option for you?