Introduction

Thanks for choosing Aspera® and welcome to the world of unbelievably fast and secure data transfer.

The basics

Aspera high-speed transfers begin when an Aspera client authenticates to an Aspera server and requests a transfer. If the client user has authorization, then transfer tools are started on the client and server and the transfer proceeds.

For example, an IBM Aspera Desktop Client user connects to an IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Server and initiates a transfer:


example of IBM Aspera Desktop Client connecting to an IBM Aspera High-Speed Server

Depending on the user's transfer request, files and folders can be transferred to the server from the client (uploaded) or transferred to the client from the server (downloaded). The source and destination can be cloud storage, an NFS or CIFS mount, and IBM Spectrum® Scale storage, to name a few.

What is the server?

The Aspera server receives transfer requests from Aspera clients, determines whether the user has permission to access the server and authorization to the target area of the file system (source or destination with read or write access), and participates in transfers. The server can be:

  • An on-premises installation of IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Server (HSTS), IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Endpoint (HSTE), which permits one client connection.
  • An HSTS installed as part of IBM Aspera Faspex, or
  • An HSTS deployed in object storage as an IBM Aspera On-Demand instance, an IBM Aspera on Cloud transfer service node, or an IBM Aspera Transfer Cluster Manager node.

What is the client?

The Aspera client is the program that requests a transfer to the Aspera server. Aspera applications that can act as clients include:

What is FASP?

At the heart of your Aspera ecosystem are the FASP® transfer engines Ascp and Ascp4.

Ascp maximizes data transport over any network and is suited to large files. It is a powerful command line tool and also drives transfers that are started in the GUI.

Ascp 4 is another command-line transfer tool that is optimized for both large files and transfers of thousands to millions of small files, handling large amounts of file metadata as part of the high-speed transfer.

Both Ascp and Ascp 4 are installed and enabled with your installation of HSTS, HSTE, and Desktop Client.

The Aspera transfer server

Your Aspera transfer server is a powerful, customizable hub for your high-speed transfer activity. Configuration settings allow you to control which clients have access for uploading or downloading data, how much bandwidth their transfers can use, the priority of those transfers, and how data is secured during and after transfer. The transfer queue can be managed in real time, enabling you to adjust as priorities change. You can also monitor transfers and receive email notifications when transfer sessions or individual file transfers start and stop.

The Aspera Server GUI

The Aspera desktop GUI is primarily a client transfer tool, but it also offers a user-friendly interface for managing users and configuring your server on supported platforms (Windows™, Linux®, macOS). Security settings, bandwidth use policies, and file handling rules can all be set in the GUI. Configurations can be applied to all users (globally), to groups, or to individual users.

HSTS Web Portal

Your HSTS can be made even more accessible to clients by hosting a web-based storage directory. Authorized clients can browse files by using any modern web browser, and transfer using the free, automatically installed Connect.

Asconfigurator: The Aspera Configuration Tool

If you are unfamiliar with the XML formatting that is required for your Aspera server's configuration file, or need to configure settings that are not available in the GUI, you can edit your configuration with confidence by using asconfigurator. These commands ensure that the XML structure is correctly maintained when you add or change settings.

Tap into the Aspera Ecosystem

If you have various data storage systems and internal and external customers who need access to the content in that storage, HSTS can be incorporated into a scalable Aspera data transfer ecosystem that meets your needs. Your Aspera server can be monitored and managed by IBM Aspera Console, and added as a node to IBM Aspera Faspex, IBM Aspera Shares, IBM Aspera on Cloud, and IBM Aspera Application for Microsoft SharePoint.

The Aspera Client transfer tools

Your installation includes the following transfer tools, some of which require an additional license for activation.

The Aspera client GUI

The Aspera desktop GUI offers a simple, intuitive way to create connections with Aspera servers, and to start and manage your high-speed transfers. The transfer job queue shows real-time progress and allows on-the-fly reordering and bandwidth control.

The FASP transfer engines: ascp and ascp4

These command line tools enable you to run transfers to any server to which you have access, and to customize the transfers (within the parameters set by the server). They are scriptable, supporting unattended data transfer and custom pre- and post-transfer file processing.

Hot Folders: Automatic data transfer in the GUI

Sending or receiving files can be even easier and faster by using Hot Folders. Available only on FASP Windows, you can set up a Hot Folder to watch for and automatically transfer any new files that are added to that folder. Automatically send files to a server as they are added to a folder on your own desktop, or receive files as they are added to a folder on the server. Transfers use Ascp and are easily managed from the GUI.

Watch Folders: Automatic content delivery at any scale

Using the Aspera Watch service and Watch Folders creates a powerful, efficient file system monitoring and automatic transfer tool that can comfortably handle millions of files and "growing" sources. Automatically transfer files as they are added to a source folder. With a REST API interface, you have full programmatic control for custom, automatic transfer processing.

Watch Folders offer the same transfer and bandwidth management options as ascp, and can be monitored and managed through Console. Watch Folders are enabled in your HSTS or HSTE.

IBM Aspera Sync: Directory synchronization at the speed of FASP

When everyone needs to see the same files or you need to be sure that every file is replicated, Aspera Sync provides a high-speed tool to do it. Unique among Aspera transfer tools, Aspera Sync supports bidirectional synchronization for optimum collaboration and consistency between computers.

Aspera Sync uses efficient file system monitoring and change detection to minimize redundant data transfer and to reduce database storage requirements. Aspera Sync offers the same transfer and bandwidth management options as ascp, and can be monitored and managed through Console.

Aspera Sync is installed with your HSTS and HSTE, but both the client and server require a Aspera Sync-enabled license.