September 4, 2012

Security Bulletin

Java 7 issue affecting applets

An issue with the latest versions of Java have introduced some security vulnerabilities to Java applet technology which affects our products. If you are using Unlimi-Tech or FileCatalyst applets, please immediately read the following article to see how you and your users may be affected, and how you may address the vulnerability:

Link to knowledge base article

What's New

Android App, Webmail and Workflow Update, HotFolder Tweak

We have added a new member to the FileCatalyst Direct client application suite with the addition of our mobile uploader for Android. See this link for more details: new Android app

FileCatalyst Webmail and FileCatalyst Workflow have been updated, bringing some minor bug fixes to the 4.8.1 branch. Details found here: Webmail and Workflow 4.8.1 b58

The latest version of HotFolder adds the ability to use congestion control without a start rate. This means that rather than slowly ramping up to the target rate, the HotFolder start transmitting at the target rate, and then quickly detect the target receive rate and slow down as required.

Tips and Tricks

Adjust memory limit for Java in OSX

If you are using Mac with FileCatalyst Direct products and you are spotting a memory error with transfers in your Java console there is a solution. Mac does not handle the concept of no memory limit within Java very well. Select the FileCatalyst application, open the package contents, then open the contents folder. Select info.plist and edit with TextEdit or another text editor. You will find a section that is already commented out; you need to modify this portion so that it is no longer commented:

<key>(user specific information)</key>

<string>Xms128M – Xmx1024</string>

(add this)

In the first line, the --> makes that whole line into a comment. In the last line, the <!-- makes that line into a comment. The remaining lines are no longer commented. Alternatively, you could simply delete the first and last lines. However, keeping the text intact will make changing it back easier.

From the Blog

New and useful posts

Quicklink and FileCatalyst - iOS and iPhone apps: two great and complementary apps are available for iOS and iPhone: Quicklink's LNG HD Pro and FileCatalyst Upload.

Using 3rd-party FTP clients with Webmail or Workflow: some users are comfortable with their 3rd-party FTP clients, and wish to continue using them. Here's how an administrator can enable this option for those users.

Feature of the Month

HotFolder Transfer Cache

When using FileCatalyst HotFolder, you may want to continuously monitor a working folder for changes, and not have to worry about files being sent repeatedly. FileCatalyst HotFolder provides a "transfer cache" that remembers if a file was sent before. There are other ways to do this in HotFolder, such as using the "Incremental" feature, however incremental has some drawbacks. First, it must send calculate the MD5 sum for both the local and remote copy of the file to see if they match, and this incurs CPU penalties meaning it can take a while, and bog down you system. Second, if you remove the file at the destination, the file will be sent again because the MD5 will not match.

Transfer cache works differently. After a file has been uploaded or downloaded, FileCatalyst will save the timestamp and size of the file it just transferred. The next time the task runs, it uses this information to see if the file has changed. It does this with much less effort than calculating a checksum for each file. Even if the file is deleted from the destination folder, you will be sure that the file is not sent again using this feature. So depending on your use case, transfer cache may be worth enabling to make your task much more efficient.

Customer Spotlight

Tata Communications

Tata Communications is a leading global provider of a new world of communications. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

Tata Communications implements FileCatalyst as part of their larger asset management portfolio. Using FileCatalyst as a transport mechanism solves the inherent problems of TCP-based transfers.

"Since using FileCatalyst, we have seen a marked improvement in file transfer rates. The auto reconnect and resume features have also proved to be very powerful, particularly in regions of the world where networks have frequent outages..."
–Julian Wheeler, VP Global Media and Entertainment