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The WAFS Agent relies on the WAFS Server to coordinate shared access to the replicated data among multiple Agents. The Agent also consults with the WAFS Server to obtain modified data and ensure the data being accessed by users is up-to-date. When the Agent is not connected to the WAFS Server, it is unable to perform these typical functions and thus may result in unexpected behavior for the end users. Access at this time is considered an “offline” type of access.
A WAFS Agent may become disconnected from the WAFS Server for a variety of reasons including network outage or errors, incorrect firewall reconfiguration, or due to running the WAFS Agent in the scheduled replication mode.
The WAFS Agent is capable of either allowing full access to the set of replicated data or read-only access to the replicated data when disconnected from the Server.
This "offline access" setting must be specified during initial Job creation or when linking to an existing replication Job. This setting is also customizable on the Agent on the Change Options tab of the Availl Job Properties and Options dialog.
If set to allow full access during these outages, it is possible that a user might edit a file at one site while a user at another site edits the same file. This will ultimately result in 2 disparate revisions of the file being uploaded to the WAFS Server after the Agent is reconnected to the Server.
To prevent this possibly unexpected behavior, it is highly recommended that you configure the Agent to provide read-only access to the replicated data when it is not connected to the WAFS Server. However, a particular site might require that access be provided when the Agent is not connected. In this case, the Agent can be configured to provide full access. This setting may be modified at any time while the Agent is running.
When the Agent is configured to provide read-only access when disconnected from the Server, users receive an "Access is denied" message if they attempt to create or edit files and folders.