Creating Mirror Sites of EMIS with rsync

Please follow these instructions to create a new mirror site. If you only want to update an existing mirror site or switch from old-style mirroring via FTP to the current procedure via RSYNC, then please click here.

It is assumed that you will do this on a UNIX platform (e.g., Linux).

YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO MIRROR EMIS, IF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE EMS HAS CONSENTED TO THIS. SEE ALSO THE AGREEMENT'S TEXT AND EMIS COPYRIGHT.

System and Hardware requirements

• The mirror should run on a UNIX workstation with installed and publicly accessible HTTP server (see below). This machine can be used also for other purposes than providing mirroring of EMIS. In any case, it should be checked that the disk space available for EMIS is sufficient.
• Disk space reserved for EMIS should be no less than 10 gigabytes. EMIS is currently growing at a rate of almost 40% per year. A disk/partition size of 20 GB will ensure sufficient space at least until the end of 2005, but probably not through the whole of 2006.

Software requirements

• Install a HTTP-server, e.g. NCSA httpd, if you don't already have one. Get the newest version form the original site or ask archie for your nearest mirror site. Follow the included instructions to compile and install it. This should be easy.

• If you want the mirror to be accessible via ftp, enable anonymous FTP. If you don't already have a ftpd, use wu-ftpd.

• Install the rsync software following the included instructions. This is easy.

• If you want the mirror to be accessible via rsync, you must configure an rsync server, see the rsyncd.conf documentation for details.

Configure your system

• The files of the EMIS-mirror will go to the "/pub/EMIS/" directory of your anonymous ftp area. (If you don't plan to make the mirror accessible via ftp, use another path.) Create this directory:

         cd /??path-to-anon-ftp-root??/pub/
         mkdir EMIS
         chown ??user?? EMIS
         chmod 755 EMIS
         

  In order to access them via http, create a link called "EMIS" in your http-Document hierarchy to the ftp directory:

         cd /??http-Document-Path??
         ln -s /??path-to-anon-ftp-root??/pub/EMIS EMIS
         

  In case you would like to call the server "www.emis.??your-country??" please do

         ln -s /??path-to-anon-ftp-root??/pub/EMIS /??http-Document-Path??       
         

  instead. You will then have to obtain a domain "emis.??your-country??" from your local authorities and configure an appropriate DNS name server for this domain. (Ask the author of this document for more info.)

• Configure the mirror system to copy updated files. Add the following line to ??user??'s crontab:

         ??minute?? ??hour?? * * *  \
               rsync -Craz --stats --partial \
               ftp.emis.de::EMIS_mirror /??path-to-anon-ftp-root??/pub/EMIS
         

  This should be one line.

  This will update your mirror every day at the given time and send you a mail about what happened. Please agree about the time with the maintainer of the master site.

That's it

• Now check and double check the configuration. Look at the mirroring process for some days. Check all links. If you think that everything runs O.K. register your server at the master site.