FileCatalyst Server

Traditional methods of transferring files—such as HTTP, FTP and email —are slow and unreliable, causing lost productivity and frustration. FileCatalyst technology can transfer up to 10Gbps, with full encryption, using commodity hardware.

FileCatalyst technology creates a connection that is immune to poor network conditions, resulting in transfers that can reach speeds up to hundreds of times faster than FTP. It takes more than simple compression to speed up file transfer; FileCatalyst offers an entirely new protocol to achieve its results, using both server and client software.

When we refer to FileCatalyst Acceleration, we are talking about the UDP-based protocol. However, additional features can optimize your transfers. For example:

• Gzip compressible files at the block (ie. on the fly) or file level.
• Transfer file deltas (partials) of previously-transferred files, usually only a tiny amount of data compared to the original.
• Separate tasks into the most efficient methods: eg., batches of small files become one archive to save “set up” and “tear down” time
• Fine-tune connection settings such as MTU, number of transfer threads, and TTL.

To learn more, please read our whitepaper and our blog series on accelerating file transfer.

FileCatalyst provides security for both data transmission and user access:

• Encrypted with industry standards: SSL for control channel and AES for data
• Brute force attack protection
• Filter by IP address for either inclusion or exclusion
• MonitoringAgent advises administrators about suspected threats
• Authenticate via LDAP or Active Directory (LDAP, LDAPS, AD, ADS)
• Ban IPs or block accounts in real time

Provisioning: Users can be provisioned either manually or automatically, using customizable defaults as a starting point. Automatic provisioning requires your organization to be using LDAP, Active Directory, or SQL authentication.

User Bandwidth: Bandwidth consumption can be set on a per-user basis, using a system based on priority and “fair usage”.

User Security: Accounts can be temporarily or permanently blocked according to account or IP. Admin may choose how aggressively to block brute force attacks (based on consecutive login attempts).

Activity may be viewed in realtime via the administrative GUI (either local or remote) in terms of performance, active sessions, and connected users.

Optional web applet allows administration from anywhere in the world, using only a web browser.

Advanced monitoring is available with the separate MonitoringAgent application, which can send out alerts via e-mail or SNMP traps.

Administrators may generate reports of transactional data based on time and user. Reports use Comma-Separated Values files for organizations that wish to sort and present the data using spreadsheets or other tools not available through the FileCatalyst UI.

In addition to managing usage at the user level (see “User Accounts”), FileCatalyst Server offers Guaranteed Delivery options. The administrator selects a session or individual file, and the FileCatalyst Server calculates the bandwidth needed for the file(s) to arrive at a particular time. For urgent situations, the administrator may select delivery ASAP, dedicating maximum available bandwidth to the session or file.

Basic email alerts can be enabled on the HotFolder by the end-user; however, it is up to the FileCatalyst Server to carry out actual communication with the SMTP server. Disabling the option on the Server also allows you to globally disable e-mail alerts for end-users.

In addition to basic e-mail alerts, more sophisticated alerts may be sent out by the MonitoringAgent, an optional FileCatalyst application.