Named connections (database and web) get uploaded to FME Server along with the workspace but I have a lot of named connections that I've defined on Desktop that are not actively used in a workspace (ie. different versions of connections for DEV, TEST, QA, PROD) and there's no easy way to get them all up onto FME Server.
I would like a mechanism to allow me to sync named connections between Desktop and Server without needing to publish a workspace.
I am not sure that I understand the need here. Do you want to move all of DEV, TEST, QA, and PROD connections to say, a PROD FME Server? Or move all of those connections to say, a QA FME Server? Am I missing something?
Yes, and this should be bidrectional, a true sync. Desktop user Bob should be able to download Alice's connection and service definition configurations (if they've been marked public). Also, if someone modifies the connection using the FME Server UI both Bob & Alice will need to the new info.
Not the synchronisation of the connections, but the permissions.
If Bob has a Named Connection, he has 2 choices: give full permissions to Alice, which means she can change it. If Bob doesn't want Alice to change it, his only option is not to share it. More granular permission s(eg Read/Use and Full Access) would be much more convenient.