Get Started as a Transfer Client

Aspera transfer clients connect to a remote Aspera transfer server and request a transfer with that server. Your Aspera application can be used as a client to initiate transfers with Aspera servers, as described in the following steps.

  1. Review the system requirements and install HSTE, if you have not already done it
    See Requirements and Installing HSTS.
  2. Configure the firewall, if it is not already configured.
    See Configuring the Firewall.
  3. Test a locally-initiated transfer to a server to confirm your installation and firewall configuration are operational.
    For instructions, see Testing a Locally Initiated Transfer. This provides a simple walk through of how to set up a connection with a server and transfer.
  4. If you need to authenticate to the remote server with an SSH key, create an SSH key and send the public key to the server admin.
    For instructions on creating an SSH key, see Creating SSH Keys.
  5. To run transfers from the command line, review the instructions for the Aspera command line clients.
    Your Aspera product comes with two command line clients: ascp and ascp4. They are similar but have different capabilities. For a comparison, see Comparison of Ascp and Ascp4 Options.
Once you confirm that you can transfer with your server, your basic set up is complete.
  • If you want to automatically distribute files and folders to clients when they are added to a specific folder on the server, see Introduction to Watch Folders and the Aspera Watch Service.
  • If you want to synchronize files with your server, with the ability to synchronize bidirectionally, see Introduction. The async tool requires an additional license on each to run.

For a comparison of automatic transfer tools, see Comparison of Aspera File Delivery and Synchronization Tools.