FileCatalyst® Direct Comparison Matrix

FileCatalyst® Direct is a managed file transfer system designed to accelerate, automate and secure file transfers. There are a few alternatives to FileCatalyst® that are classified as competing products or alternative technologies. While evaluating these alternatives we ask you to consider the following points:

• True Cross-platform solution: FileCatalyst® is a true cross-platform solution using JAVA technology. This multi-platform support means that the server and clients can operate on any machine that supports JAVA including Windows, Macs and Unix/Linux machines.
• A complete web-based solution: FileCatalyst® acceleration technology can be packaged into a JAVA applet. This provides a true web-based solution that absolutely does not need a client-side install to accelerate file transfers. Competing products may require an application to be downloaded and installed on the client side. In addition to the hurdle of installing and configuring, the competing product would inherently be harder to upgrade as well. FileCatalyst® JAVA applets are simpler to upgrade since the upgrade is required at one central location that can be accessed by all users via the web.
• Rsync type File Deltas: FileCatalyst® technology is the only commercially available file transfer solution that offers algorithms similar to rsync. This feature significantly increases the file transfer process for files that are constantly changed and need to be uploaded frequently.
• Unparalleled Industry experience: Unlimi-Tech Software, publishers of FileCatalyst® technology have been in the business of file transfers since 2000. With over 750 installations worldwide including DELL, Disney, Ericsson, Ford, GAP, NASA, Standard Chartered Bank and the US Government, Unlimi-Tech can easily estimate an end-user base of over million users.

To summarize, FileCatalyst® Direct provides a significant advantage over competing or alternative technologies. No other application combines UDP transfers with on-the-fly compression and delta transfer. FileCatalyst Direct is the only application with Java applets for web-based transfer with no installation required. It is the only application that can run on every platform with a Java VM installed, without the need for special builds and without all the “gotchas? of other applications. FileCatalyst® is the only application that can fill your pipe out of the box with no extensive tweaking required.

Request more information about FileCatalyst here.

Listed below are the comparable metrics of FileCatalyst® technology with competing and alternative solutions. The features are described in greater detail below the matrix.

Features	FileCatalyst	FTP	BBCP	Alternative Commercial Software Accelerator	Leading WAN Accelerator
Flexible software-only deployment
Supports Windows, Linux, Solaris and OSX
Set up and ready to go in 30 min.
Doubles as FTP server for 3rd-party clients
Easy to configure
File transfer at line speed with normal RTT and packet loss
File transfer at line speed with extreme RTT and packet loss
End-to-end acceleration
Web component for ad-hoc transfers with no installation
Highly customizable web-based workflow
HotFolder application for simple drag and drop transfers
Bandwidth scheduler
Additional optimization by sending file deltas
Additional optimization through compression

Legend: Yes | No | Unknown

Flexible software-only deployment: FileCatalyst is a software-only solution. No hardware upgrades or network devices are needed, unlike WAN accelerators. This makes deployment easy and economical.

Supports Windows, Linux, Solaris and OSX: FileCatalyst uses JAVA technology and is platform agnostic.

Set up and ready to go in 30 min: FileCatalyst can be easily deployed in less than 30 minutes for point-to-point transfers from a remote location.

Doubles as FTP server for 3rd-party clients: FileCatalyst support for multiple protocols allows it to act as a FTP server for third party clients. This means that FTP-based workflows can be supported with the same FileCatalyst server as well as FileCatalyst-based transfers.

Easy to configure: FileCatalyst server and clients provide an intuitive GUI and feature rich application that can be easily configured onsite or remotely. View our GUI screenshots.

File transfer at line speed with normal RTT and packet loss and File transfer at line speed with extreme RTT and packet loss: FileCatalyst uses a patent-pending UDP-based protocol that is faster in transferring large data sets when there is high latency or packet loss over the network. Read more about how our UDP based transfers are better.

End-to-end acceleration: FileCatalyst provides end-to-end acceleration, beginning from client-side to the server-side. This guarantees file delivery, acceleration and optimization throughout the file transfer process. Learn more about how FileCatalyst accelerate file transfers.

Web component for ad-hoc transfers with no installation: FileCatalyst includes a web-component that works as a browser plug-in with no install or configuration for the end-user. This is a powerful tool that can be deployed for non-technical users that need the FileCatalyst technology without a client install. Read more about our Web Workflow product.

Highly customizable web-based workflow: FileCatalyst flexible architecture supports complex workflows with multiple file feed points, integration into third party systems and file distribution configurations. To learn more, read our deployment scenario.

HotFolder application for simple drag and drop transfers: FileCatalyst HotFolder supports a highly intuitive GUI that can be easily used by non-technical end-users. View our HotFolder screenshots.

Bandwidth scheduler: A highly configurable bandwidth scheduler allows FileCatalyst to schedule file transfers at off-peak times increasing optimum bandwidth usage.

Additional optimization by sending file deltas: If a file has changed since its last transfer, FileCatalyst can send only the “deltas? (incremental differences) of the file, rather than resending it in its entirety. Read more about file deltas.

Additional optimization through compression: FileCatalyst compresses the data it sends over the network in real time, meaning there is no time-consuming compression or decompression at the beginning or end of each transfer. File sizes may be reduced by 50% or more, creating the illusion of transfers that exceed line speed. Read more about our on-the-fly compression.

Request more information about FileCatalyst here.