FontAgent Pro Server 4 adds usage tracking, live backup
updated 03:55 pm EST, Wed February 10, 2010
Failover tech lets font use continue
Insider Software has begun shipping FontAgent Pro Server 4, an upgraded version of its font management software. The code organizes, tracks and distributes fonts in use by a group of workers, keeping an eye on problems like font corruption or license violations. Server 4 incorporates a real-time usage manager, which monitors activations and deactivations, as well as who has permission to access a given font or library.
A new live backup component makes regular copies of database content to a local or remote drive. These can be customized in terms of time and frequency, and restored with a few steps. The software has similarly been upgraded with failover services, which automatically switch to a secondary server should the main one go offline.
Server 4 has also been given quicker Active Directory, Open Directory and LDAP sync, with better support for features like nested groups and keychain password protection. The user permission system has been changed to incorporate group administrators, and multi-level roles. Clients now have access to single sign-on Kerberos logins.
FontAgent Pro Server costs $1,695, and requires at least Mac OS X 10.4 running on a dual-processor G4 Mac. Volume discounts are available, and no dedicated server box is needed. The FontAgent Pro client normally costs $130.
