HTTP vs. HTTPS with syncserv

[jp01]

I have 2.1.1.28 running under Apache on Linux. After enabling HTTPS in the Apache configs, I changed the URL from http:// to https:// on a Nokia N70 and performed a successful sync.

It turned out though, that suddenly duplicate contact entries appeared in the MySQL database; of originally 164 contacts, there were suddenly 88 more. After syncing again, another 80-84 appeared! A large number of additional duplicates also appeared when syncing with a Nexthaus BlackBerry client.

Is there a fundamental difference between running syncserv on HTTP and HTTPS?

Should I have left the URL on the mobile phone untouched? Could that be a reason?

I've since set `slowsyncstrategy' to "newer-wins" in the hope that duplicates won't be created.

Please help me understand what went wrong. Thank you.

-JP

[luz]

Probably changing the URL caused the N70 to think this was a different server and therefore it did a slow sync.

A slow sync should not create duplicates generally, but if the comparison rules are too tight (too many fields included), this might cause duplicates - depending on the device's way of handling data. Usually, comparing first and last name (see "compare" attribute of the <field> config) is sufficient for matching the right records and reduces the risk of duplicates.

Setting <slowsyncstrategy> to "newer wins" only helps if the duplicate is created not because of not finding a matching record during slow sync, but due to actually different data. And it only works if the device actually sends the last-changed data (not many clients do). So the problem is probably in the slow sync comparison, not the <slowsyncstrategy>.

[jp01]

Thank you for your helpful answer and also for the email I just got from you! ;-)

For what it is worth, I've just changed the URL on a Nokia N70 from http to httpS and you are right: the phone performs a slow sync, but apart from that, the database on the server remains identical.

Regards,
-JP

[crespowu]

Is there any affect if switching http to https?