Truck Syncing

Sync Types

Fusion Truck needs to periodically sync with Fusion Server. There are two sync mechanisms:

The Push sync just sends any new information from the truck to the server.
The Full sync push new information to the server and retrieves any new information from the server at the same time.

In theory the Push sync is much faster (often less than a second), but practically speaking the Full sync is fast enough (usually a 3-4 seconds) that the difference doesn’t usually matter. Since it is better to have the most recent information on the truck, we recommend Full syncs in most cases.

When To Sync

It is important to do a full sync first thing in the morning and a sync after feeding is done for the day. Where possible we also recommend syncing after every load. This ensures the server has the latest information which is good in case something goes wrong in the truck and for other people using Fusion. It is also helpful for the feed person to have the latest information in case their have been pen moves, ration changes, etc.

If you run into an issue where Fusion simply cannot sync first thing in the morning, you can go ahead and feed. The information Fusion has will be close enough to get the feeding done but you should still do a full sync as soon as possible. This shouldn’t become a common occurrence.

Automatic Syncing

The Preferences window in the truck computer can be used to set up automatic syncing.

Full Sync Window

The Full Sync window is shown when you launch Fusion Truck for the first time so you can point Fusion to the correct server and location. It can also be used to switch locations or entities for a truck and handle trucks that Fusion won’t allow syncing because they haven’t been used for more than a week.

First Launch

When you first launch Fusion Truck it needs to know how to communicate with your server for syncing and it needs to know which location and truck to sync for. Follow these steps to do this:

Enter the server’s IP address and connection port. The connection port is almost always 19820 so you should not have to change that. If you don’t know the server’s IP address, click the Auto Find Server button to have Fusion try to find it automatically. If it can find it, it will set the IP address. If it cannot find it, you will need to look at the Task Bar window in Fusion Server where it tells you the IP address.
Enter a username and password. The user must have previously been set up with Fusion Client with the appropriate permissions.
Click the Update Lists button. Fusion will attempt to communicate with the server and get a list of locations and trucks that have been set up with Fusion Client. If there is an error, make sure that Fusion Server is running and listening for trucks and that the network between the truck and the server is working.
Choose the correct location this truck will be feeding for and choose the truck that Fusion Truck is running in.
Click the Begin Sync button. Fusion Truck will then get the necessary information from the server for the selected location and then go to the log in window.

Note that the truck will not be able to communicate with the server if it is not set up to listen for trucks. You can check this with Fusion Client in the Preferences window under the Synchronization area. (This is also where the port can be changed if needed.)

Regular Full Sync

In most cases you will use the Push Sync and Full Sync buttons in the main menu window to take care of syncing. Often even this is automated as set up in the Preferences window to automatically sync after a load is made or a delivery is finished. But you can access the Full Sync window from the Options button in the main menu window. Click Begin Sync to do a regular full sync.

Switching Locations or Trucks

If you need to move your truck to a different location or move the computer to a different truck, follow these steps:

Make sure the truck is empty.
Make sure you at least do a push sync to make sure all the information on the truck is moved to the server.
Open the Full Sync window and choose the new location and/or truck.
Click the Begin Sync button.

Switching Entities

If you need to move a truck to another feedlot that also uses Fusion, follow these steps:

Make sure the truck is empty.
Make sure you at least do a push sync to make sure all the information on the truck is moved to the server.
Click the Forget Current Entity button.
Now you can drive the truck to the other feedlot.
Change the server IP address and port to match the other feedlot’s server. If you don’t know this information, you can try the Auto Find Server button.
Enter a username and password for someone at the other feedlot.
Click the Update Lists button and then choose the correct location and truck.
Click the Begin Sync button.

When you are finished using the truck at the other location, follow the same steps to move it back to your location.

Note that these instructions are assuming your truck is able to access the other feedlot’s network once it gets to that feedlot. If this is not the case, some network setup may be necessary. Contact the person who handles the feedlot’s network for help on this.

About the Do Not Push Information... Checkbox

If there is any information on the truck that has not been sent to the server, this will be noted in the bottom right hand corner of the window along with a count of how much information has not been sent.

On rare occasions, usually under the direction of our support team, you may have information on the truck that you do not want sent back to the server. In this situation, make sure the Do Not Push Information to the Server checkbox is checked on. When you click Begin Sync Fusion will not send any information to the server. Instead it will be deleted and all new information will be retrieved from the server.

Handling the “You Are Not Recognized As An Active Computer...” Error

As a safety precaution, Fusion will not allow syncing from a truck that has not synced in more than a week. This ensures that old and possibly incorrect data isn’t accidentally sent to the server. So if you have a truck that is in for repairs or a spare truck that is seldom used, you may see an error when you next try to sync it telling you that you are not recognized as an active computer by the sync server. There are two ways of fixing this in a safe way that ensures no bad data gets back to the server.

To do it the first way, follow these steps:

Open the Full Sync window.
Click the Forget Current Entity button.
If the Do Not Push Information... checkbox is showing in the bottom left of the window, make sure it is checked.
Click the Update Lists button.
Choose the correct location and truck and then click Begin Sync.

To do it the second way, follow these steps:

Quit Fusion Truck.
Launch Fusion Installer.
Reinstall Fusion Truck, but make sure the Remove Previous Datafile option is checked on.
Launch Fusion Truck and follow the First Launch steps listed above.