What Is the GoodSync Control Center?
The GoodSync Control Center is a centralized management platform for deploying, managing, and monitoring GoodSync across multiple workstations, servers, and supported devices.
Instead of configuring and reviewing each device separately, administrators can use one central console to manage GoodSync Runners, assign backup and synchronization jobs, review job activity, and monitor the overall health of their environment.
The GoodSync Control Center management console is 100% web-based. Administrators can securely access the console through a web browser without installing a separate management application.
A GoodSync Control Center Runner is installed on each managed device. The Runner receives job configurations from the Control Center, executes the assigned jobs on the device, and reports the results back to the web console.
Why Use the GoodSync Control Center?
The Control Center helps reduce the time required to manage backup, synchronization, replication, and data migration jobs across an organization.
- Centralized management: Manage GoodSync devices, jobs, schedules, and settings from one location.
- Local and remote device management: Manage authorized devices whether they are located in the same office, at another location, or used by remote employees.
- Consistent job configuration: Assign standardized backup and synchronization jobs to selected devices without configuring each device separately.
- Improved visibility: Review active jobs, recent errors, successful job runs, inactive jobs, conflicts, and other important activity from the web-based dashboard.
- Reduced end-user involvement: Administrators can deploy and manage jobs without requiring users to manually configure or run GoodSync.
- Scalable management: Begin with a small number of devices and continue using the same management platform as the environment grows.
Useful for Small and Large Environments
Small environments can use the Control Center to simplify the management of a few important workstations or servers. A single administrator can quickly review whether jobs are running successfully without checking each device individually.
Large or distributed environments can use the same console to manage devices across multiple offices, departments, networks, or remote locations. Deployment tools and centralized job assignments help reduce the amount of manual configuration required as more devices are added.
The Control Center can be useful for businesses, government organizations, educational institutions, managed service providers, and other organizations that need centralized visibility into backup and synchronization activity.
Key Control Center Capabilities
Web-Based Management Console
Access the Control Center through a supported web browser to manage the environment from a central location.
The dashboard provides an overview of:
- Active jobs
- Authorized Runners
- Job assignments
- Recent job errors
- Jobs that have not recently run
- Successful jobs, conflicts, and terminal errors
Runner and Device Management
Each user and device connected to the Control Center is represented as a Runner.
From the Runners tab, administrators can:
- Authorize newly installed Runners
- Review device and user information
- View jobs assigned to each Runner
- Review recent Runner activity
- Run assigned jobs manually
- Enable or disable automatic Runner updates
- Deactivate or remove Runners when they are no longer needed
Once a Runner is installed and authorized, the device can receive job configurations and commands from the Control Center.
Centralized Job Management
The Jobs section provides a central location for managing GoodSync backup and synchronization jobs.
Administrators can:
- Create and edit backup or synchronization jobs
- Assign jobs to one or more authorized Runners
- Configure the source and destination locations
- Configure job direction, filters, automation, and other options
- Start a job manually on selected devices
- Review the run history for a specific job
Jobs can be used with local folders, network shares, remote systems, supported cloud storage providers, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, GoodSync Connect, and other supported file systems.
GoodSync Account Sync
Account Sync allows jobs, groups, program options, and Server Accounts to be synchronized between a GoodSync Account, the GoodSync GUI, and the GoodSync Control Center.
This allows administrators to create or edit jobs through the standard GoodSync application and synchronize those configurations with the Control Center.
Account Sync is especially helpful when configuring cloud services or other file systems that require browser-based authentication, folder browsing, or advanced account configuration.
Job Automation and Timetable
The Timetable provides a centralized view of automated job activity assigned to Runners.
Depending on the job and file system, jobs can be configured to run:
- On a defined schedule
- At regular time intervals
- When monitored files or folders change
- When the configured source and destination become available
- Manually, when initiated by an administrator
Administrators can use the Timetable to review when jobs are expected to run and adjust automation settings for assigned jobs.
Job Monitoring and Detailed Logs
The Job Runs section displays active jobs and previous job results across the environment.
Job run information can include:
- Job name
- Runner name
- Start time and duration
- Amount of data synchronized
- Job result
- Errors and conflicts
- Detailed job run logs
This allows administrators to investigate issues without first accessing the individual device.
Environment Reports
The Reports section helps administrators identify job irregularities and review recent activity across the company.
Available reports include:
- All Recent Errors: Review errors from the most recent job runs.
- Long Time No Job Runs: Identify Runners with assigned jobs that have not run for an extended period.
- Last Job Runs: Review the latest result for each job and Runner.
- Last Successful Run: Identify the most recent successful run for each job.
- Data Transfer Usage: Review minimum, maximum, and average transfer activity.
- Changes Log: Review changes made to jobs, Runners, administrators, settings, and other Control Center items.
Administrator and Security Management
Additional administrator accounts can be created so multiple authorized users can help manage the company environment.
Administrative controls include:
- GoodSync Account-based administrator access
- Two-factor authentication options
- Administrator session tracking
- Session revocation
- Automatic logout settings
- Company PIN protection for newly installed Runners
Global Runner Settings
Administrators can configure settings that apply across the managed environment, including:
- Runner update management
- Maximum parallel job runs
- Log retention
- Global file and folder filters
- SMTP and email notification settings
- Timezone and display preferences
Flexible Deployment Options
Runners can be installed individually or deployed across larger Windows environments using tools such as:
- Microsoft Group Policy
- Microsoft Configuration Manager/SCCM
- Command-line or scripted installation
- Other software deployment and remote-management tools
These deployment options allow administrators to add multiple devices with limited or no end-user interaction.
Common Uses for the Control Center
- Workstation backup: Back up user files to a server, NAS, remote system, or supported cloud service.
- Server backup: Protect important server folders by copying data to local, remote, or cloud destinations.
- Data replication: Keep important data synchronized between offices, servers, NAS devices, or storage platforms.
- Remote workforce management: Monitor GoodSync activity on devices located outside the main office.
- Data migration: Centrally manage jobs used to move data between systems or storage providers.
- Multi-location management: Review and manage job activity across branch offices and distributed environments.
How the GoodSync Control Center Works
- Create a GoodSync Control Center company account.
- Install the Control Center Runner on each workstation or server that will be managed.
- Authorize the new Runners from the web-based Control Center.
- Create or synchronize your GoodSync jobs using Account Sync.
- Assign jobs and automation settings to the appropriate Runners.
- Monitor job activity, logs, errors, and reports from the Control Center.
Start a GoodSync Control Center Trial
GoodSync Control Center includes a fully functional 14-day trial that allows you to test up to 10 workstations and 2 servers.
The trial provides an opportunity to install Runners, create and assign jobs, test automation, and review job results before purchasing licenses.
Start your GoodSync Control Center trial
Existing customers can access their company from the GoodSync Control Center login page.
Related Control Center Guides
- Creating a Company
- Control Center Dashboard Overview
- Authorizing Runners
- User Setup for Windows
- User Setup for macOS
- User Setup for Linux
- Control Center Job Options
- Timetable and Job Automation
- Monitoring Job Runs
- Control Center Reports
- Control Center Settings
- GoodSync Account Sync and Server Accounts
- Mass Deployment through SCCM
- Mass Deployment through Group Policy