Setting up the Cloud Exchange

The Harmony server exchange folder needs to be prepared and configured so that remote users can synchronize their exported scenes and files via a cloud service. By default, this exchange folder is located on the Harmony file system under /USA_DB/exchange. This is where all exported and imported scenes will be temporarily stored for every Harmony user.

The default location of the exchange folder can be customized when launching the WebCC service with the option -exchange “/path/to/exchange folder”.

Once the Harmony server and WebCC are up and running, it is now time to synchronize the content of the exchange folder with a cloud service. For this example we will use Google Drive.

How-to share the Harmony Server Exchange Folder on the Cloud

As a studio system administrator, you need to share the Harmony server exchange folder through a cloud storage service.

1. Download and install the Google Drive application on the host of the Harmony server exchange folder.

2. Using the Google Drive interface, add your Harmony Server Exchange Folder (/USA_DB/exchange) to the list of folders to be synchronized with Google Drive.

Sharing cloud exchange access with individual remote users

When everything is configured server side, a system administrator will need to share access with all remote users. It is recommended to specifically and individually share the Harmony user exchange subfolder (Cloud Exchange Folder/userName/) and not the full access to the exchange folder itself. This will ensure each user only downloads and synchronizes their own files and scenes.

1. First, the exchange subfolder for every home user needs to be created. This can be done in one of two ways:

   1. Manually: You can find the list of Harmony users on the Harmony server in /USA_DB/users/. Create these user folders directly under the Cloud Exchange Folder. You should end up with a structure similar to this:

      Cloud Exchange Folder/

      ┖ Andres/

      ┖ Barbara/

      ┖ Jonathan/

   2. Automatically: When users are exporting a Harmony Database Scene, either through WebCC, Harmony Control Center or Producer, the Harmony user exchange folder will be created.

2. From the Google Drive web Interface, select each Harmony user exchange folder (Cloud Exchange Folder/userName/) and share it with the appropriate user’s email.

How-to mount my Harmony user exchange subfolder

As a remote Harmony user, you need to mount the Harmony user exchange subfolder that was shared with you. You have likely received an email informing you that a system administrator has shared a folder with you.

1. Download and install the Google Drive application on your home computer.

2. Using the Google Drive web interface, find the Harmony user exchange subfolder that your system administrator has shared with you (under: “Shared with me”).

3. Right-click on the folder and select “Add a shortcut to My Drive”.

4. Right-click on the folder and select specify that this folder needs to be accessible offline.

Once the above is completed, you should look into configuring Producer Link to work remotely on a Harmony Database .