High-Speed File Transfer Software Suite - pixelstream.ch

High-Speed File Transfer Software Suite 

www.asperasoft.com

“The performance and bandwidth control of Aspera’s file transfer software, combined with our 

investment in high bandwidth network connectivity and state-of-the-art computing and 

storage facilities, is enabling EFILM to provide our customers with the highest quality and most 

cost-effective digital laboratory services worldwide, with unprecedented turnaround times.” 

Robert Eicholz, Vice President of Technology & Corporate Development, EFILM 

“I must say that our experiences here in Europe with your 

software package have been remarkable. Frankly, it is 

hard to imagine going back to the 'way it used to be'. Very 

much impressed indeed.” 

Shawn Layden, Vice President, SONY Computer 

Entertainment Europe 

“We were able to fully utilize our bandwidth while protecting 

other critical applications using the same link. We ran 

Aspera transfers twelve or more hours each day, transferring 

an average of 20 gigabytes per day, and achieved a 

speed improvement of about 20 times over FTP.” 

Adam Shand, Digital Operations Manager, Weta Digital 

“With terabytes of sensitive data constantly being transferred, we 

need a solution that will let us sleep at night. Aspera is a proven 

high-performance transport solution recommended by our 

partners that enables us to contain our costs, and maintain a very 

aggressive production schedule.” 

Jon Landau, Film Producer, Titanic, Avatar 

“The Aspera software has eliminated the transfer bottlenecks of the past, cutting the total 

turnaround time for content by about one half, with complete security. Our operators can track the 

transfer throughout the process and manage the bandwidth used as needed. Additionally, we own 

the software, so there are no ongoing fees or penalties as we deliver more data. For us, Aspera has 

been a huge step forward in efficiency and cost-savings.” 

Geoff Burdick, Vice President Production Services & Technology, Lightstorm Entertainment 

“Never before in web-based downloads have we 

or our clients been able to truly maximize bandwidth 

and quick throughput until now. Digital 

distribution of today's video requirements for 

promotional material would not be possible 

without Aspera.” 

John Libby, Chief Technology Officer, EPK.tv 

“We evaluated a number of network acceleration 

technologies and file transfer products and 

solutions. Aspera was the best combination of 

performance, flexibility and cost-effectiveness.” 

David Benson, Director of Research and 

Development, Technicolor 

"We relied on the Aspera solution throughout the Torino games and 

were delighted at the full integration with our Avid workflow. Highspeed 

transfer capability is essential for file-based remote event 

production, and we intend to deploy our Aspera solution in support 

of future events, such as the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008." 

Antony Duboyce, Senior Manager, Systems Development and 

Integration, CBC Technology 

"The results we're seeing from GLOBALxfer [the high-speed file transfer add-on for 

GLOBALedit powered by Aspera] are astonishing. In typical cross country upload tests with 

clients moving multi-gigabyte files, we are able to reduce upload time of high resolution 

files from over 1 hour using a standard FTP connection down to only 6 minutes using 

GLOBALxfer. This is truly a game changer that creates new possibilities for collaboration 

regardless of the distance between locations." 

Aaron Holm, Vice President of Development and Integration, GLOBALedit

Company 

Aspera 

High-Speed File Transfer Technologies 

Aspera’s Mission 

Transferring large data sets via inexpensive 

IP networks, instead of shipping 

hard drives, tapes, discs, or film, is 

changing the way digital content is being 

produced, managed and distributed. The 

need for a flexible, next generation file 

transfer technology is universal and 

exploding as individuals and corporations 

exchange more data, file sizes 

increase and network capacities grow. 

Aspera’s mission is to create innovative 

software technologies to address the 

need for next-generation global transfers 

on existing wide area network infrastructure, 

providing maximum speed and 

advanced management in any application, over any network, from 

consumer broadband to Gigabit core. Aspera’s breakthrough transport 

technology, fasp, has quickly become the market leader for 

high-speed data transfer in media and entertainment, and is extensively 

deployed throughout a variety of industries, as well as 

government and defense markets, worldwide. 

Extensive Technology Deployments 

All stages of the digital supply chain in the media and entertainment 

space – ingest, production, distribution and consumption – rely on 

network transfer of file-based assets, often at global distances. 

Used by major Hollywood studios and service companies; postproduction 

houses; broadcasters and other content providers; 

cable, satellite, and on-demand media networks, as well as game 

developers, Aspera solutions are supporting global organizations in 

their successful transition to all-digital operations. 

Contents 

The Aspera-Enabled Digital Media Supply Chain 

Aspera deployments also support data transfer in critical defense 

and intelligence operations around the world, the automobile 

industry, pharmaceutical development, software distribution, 

scientific data distribution and global IT solutions companies. 

Numerous global outsourcing companies and their US partners in 

finance, data processing and engineering design, rely on Aspera 

technology for their business-critical movement of data. 

Industry-Leading Partners 

Aspera enjoys strong ties with numerous industry-leading partners 

– technology innovators, systems integrators, and services and 

solutions providers – who make use of its next-generation highspeed 

transport technology. In addition to an all-software platform, 

easily deployable on any standard computing device and existing 

IP network infrastructure, Aspera offers a world-class software 

development kit to enable third parties to integrate superior transport 

capabilities with their applications or systems. 

• Company .................................................................................................... Page 1 

• Core Technology ......................................................................................... Page 2 

• Solutions ..................................................................................................... Page 4 

• High-Speed Server Software ....................................................................... Page 6 

• Server Software Add-Ons ........................................................................... Page 10 

• High-Speed Client Software ........................................................................ Page 13 

• Technology Integration ................................................................................ Page 16 

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Core Technology 

Overview 

The emergence of global network file transfer processes in all 

industries is calling for a technological solution that provides 

guaranteed delivery services capabilities in the electronic domain – 

speed, commitment on delivery times, priority service levels – with 

uncompromising security, as well as comprehensive management, 

tracking and reporting. Aspera's high-speed file transfer solutions 

are built on fasp transport technology, an innovative, ultrareliable 

protocol designed to meet the speed, bandwidth control, 

and security requirements of business-critical file transfer over any 

IP network (LAN, WAN, satellite, and wireless). fasp-based solutions 

perform large transfers with speed and predictability unattainable 

with conventional protocols or acceleration devices, fully utilizing 

bandwidth, saving time, and enabling powerful new opportunities 

to deliver large data sets over inexpensive wide area networks. 

Existing transfer protocols – such as FTP – suffer from inherent 

bottlenecks that significantly limit throughput as distance and 

packet loss increase. fasp simply eliminates the bottlenecks, and 

dramatically increases transfer speeds – up to 1000x over standard 

FTP. Furthermore, fasp transport delivers predictable, guaranteed 

delivery times regardless of network conditions, and uses adaptive 

rate control to fully use available bandwidth while remaining fair to 

other applications (VOIP, web, email, other Aspera transfers). fasp 

also includes comprehensive, open-standards security, failure 

protection, and logging of transfer details for easy integration into 

monitoring and billing systems. 

The Aspera Advantage 

While various strategies to accelerate file delivery over IP networks 

exist, they still fall short of the performance advantage of Aspera’s 

fasp protocol. Bandwidth is still wasted on long distance transfers, 

and deadlines are missed when congestion builds. CPU 

power, memory and disk usage are monopolized on the transferring 

computer, and other network applications suffer as bandwidth is 

effectively stolen away by the acceleration mechanism. In the worst 

case, whole networks are taken down. In addition to these performance 

shortcomings, most acceleration solutions do not provide 

the critical security, tracking, management and integration capabilities 

of Aspera software. Even dedicated network services that 

promise larger available bandwidth and low congestion still suffer 

from TCP’s inherent bottlenecks and limitations and are associated 

with unreasonable costs. 

fasp technology is unique to Aspera and outperforms software 

and hardware transfer acceleration solutions in real-life applications 

everyday. Aspera’s groundbreaking technology has been 

ranked first in every benchmark study in which it was evaluated for 

file transfer throughput and bandwidth control over wide area 

networks – including thorough evaluations by US government 

contractors. One Hollywood studio customer recently commented: 

“TCP acceleration appliances work very well for enterprise applications 

– SAP, email, eRooms. However, these tools are not even 

close to Aspera for moving files…nothing we’ve tried is.” 

Maximum TCP Speed 

fasp Speed

Features 

Maximum Transfer Speed 

• Full bandwidth utilization, regardless of network conditions and distance 

• Large collections of small files transfer equally as fast as single big files without any pre-archiving 

• Lightweight implementation ensures high transfer speeds without specialized hardware 

• True Gigabit transfer speeds over the WAN* 

• Perfect progressive-style transfers, ideal for media playback applications 

* Requires server clusters or multi-core CPUs, with RAID or clustered file systems 

Unprecedented Bandwidth Control 

• Guaranteed transfer times with precise rate control (pre-set and on-the-fly) 

• Automatic adaptive rate control for full bandwidth utilization and protection of other traffic 

• Fast, automatic discovery of bandwidth capacity between transfer source and destination 

• Configurable bandwidth utilization caps as a proportion of bandwidth capacity 

• On-the-fly configurable bandwidth sharing and priority policies 

• Aggregate bandwidth management for all Aspera transfers on a server or cluster 

• Aggregate bandwidth control by policy groups (user groups, etc.) † 

• Comprehensive bandwidth scheduling by time of day † 

Uncompromising Security and Reliability 

• Secure endpoint authentication using the standard secure shell (SSH) 

• On-the-fly encryption using 128-bit AES cryptography 

• Integrity verification for each transmitted data block 

• Secured storage of transferred content with per-recipient encryption † 

• Compatible with standard system authentication and file access control 

• Automatically resumes partial transfers and retries failed transfers 

• Automatic HTTP fallback † 

Comprehensive Administration 

• End-to-end real-time transfer progress and performance reporting 

• Detailed transfer history for monitoring and billing 

• Custom pre- and post-transfer processing 

• Native authentication directory support (Active directory domain, LDAP, etc.) † 

Flexible, Lightweight, Open Architecture 

• Uses standard, unmodified IP networking 

• Software-only implementation for easy deployments 

• Lightweight, platform-native implementation 

• Flexible open architecture 

• Supports interoperable file and directory transfers between all major operating systems 

• Complete, modern software API to build upon 

Comprehensive Platform Support 

• Microsoft Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista (32bit/64bit) 

• Mac OS X 10.4 or higher (Intel & PPC) 

• Solaris 8 or higher (SPARC & Intel) 

• Linux 2.4 kernel or higher (32bit/64bit) 

• Isilon OneFS 4.5 or higher 

• FreeBSD (32bit/64bit) 6.2 and higher 

• IBM AIX 5.3 or higher† 

• Linux on Itanium 

† Upcoming functionality, expected in 2008 

For more detailed information on fasp 2.0 technology, please visit www.asperasoft.com/technology 

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Solutions 

High-Speed File Transfer Software Suite 

The Aspera-Enabled Global Transfer Network 

Aspera Endpoint at Partner 

Overview 

Central Console 

Aspera’s product line is a suite of cross-platform applications built 

on Aspera’s groundbreaking fasp transport technology – highspeed 

servers, add-on software and high-speed clients – fully 

integrated, scalable and interoperable to power any file transfer 

network, regardless of application, file size or type, network 

infrastructure or number and type of clients. Embedding Aspera 

technology as a superior transport option for your software system 

or product is also possible thanks to Aspera’s software development 

kit. 

Purchasing 

Custom Web Application 

Application 

Transfer History Database 

Aspera Enterprise Server 

Aspera Point-to-Point 

Management Data 

High Priority 

Los Angeles 

Normal Priority 

Aspera high-speed server products (Aspera Enterprise Server and 

Aspera Point-to-point) and the Aspera Client are sold on a bandwidth 

cap basis so that they take full advantage of your existing 

network infrastructure without artificial costs and can easily be 

upgraded when your capacity increases. 

Aspera’s advanced network-wide transfer management application, 

Aspera Console, is available as a software add-on for the 

Aspera Enterprise Server. Aspera faspex is also sold as an 

add-on to existing Aspera Enterprise Server owners, or as a 

bundled solution with Aspera Enterprise Server; pricing scales with 

your workflow needs by number of active accounts. 



Application 




London 

Aspera Connect is a browser-based client, available for download 

directly from the Aspera website. It works in conjunction with 

Aspera Enterprise Servers or third-party systems built on the 

Aspera SDK with the Aspera Enterprise Server Web Option 

enabled. 

Aspera high-speed file transfer solutions can be purchased directly 

from Aspera or our channel partners. For more information on 

purchasing, to schedule a demonstration or request a product 

evaluation, please contact sales@asperasoft.com. 

To learn more about the Aspera SDK and to plan the integration of 

Aspera technology within your software product or system, please 

contact partners@asperasoft.com. 

Customer Service 


Remote User 

Aspera Connect 

Browser Plug-In 

Remote User 

Aspera Client 

Aspera prides itself on outstanding customer service and provides 

maintenance options tailored to best suit your business needs. 

Premium contracts include product upgrades and extended hours 

for telephone and email support. Please contact Aspera sales for 

more information on support and maintenance options.

High-Speed Server Software 

Server Software Add-Ons 

Technology Integration 

Aspera Enterprise Server – Universal File Transfer Server 

High-performance, secure file transfer server with exceptional transfer management features for enterprise 

and consumer-scale applications. 

Aspera Point-to-Point – Complete File Transfer Solution 

Standalone file transfer solution designed for business-critical point-to-point data transfers of any size, 

demanding maximum speed, predictability and security. 

Aspera Console – Advanced Network-wide Transfer Management 

Advanced management interface allowing comprehensive, centralized control over global network environments 

running Aspera high-speed transfers. 

High-Speed Client Software 

– Digital Package Delivery 

Powerful, easy-to-use, file delivery system for individuals and groups 

Aspera Enterprise Server Web Option – Unlimited Accelerated Web Transfers 

fasp high-speed transfer technology for web transfers 

Aspera Client – Advanced Desktop Client 

Advanced desktop client application for Aspera transfers 

Aspera Connect – fasp Web Transfers 

Browser plug-in enabling Aspera fasp web transfers 

Aspera Cargo Plug-Ins – Integrated Aspera Transfers for Media Production Software 

Application plug-ins for fasp uploads of projects and associated media 

Aspera Plug-In for Avid® Interplay® Transfer and Avid Unity TransferManager 

Integrated Aspera transfers for remote Avid workgroups 

Aspera SDK – Aspera Power 

fasp 2.0 engine, Javascript, web services and C/C++/Java interfaces for embedding Aspera technology 

in your software systems 

5



Universal File Transfer Server 

Aspera Endpoint at Partner 


Overview 


Application 



The Aspera Enterprise Server is a universal file transfer server 

combining high-speed, secure transport with exceptional transfer 

management features for enterprise and consumer-scale applications. 

Consisting of a core fasp transfer server installed on the 

serving computers (e.g. in the data center) and a suite of built-in 

management capabilities, the Aspera Enterprise Server supports 

transfers with any Aspera endpoint, as well as clients embedded in 

third-party software products. The Aspera Enterprise Server 

supports all common transfer models, such as upload and download 

directly from a graphical user interface (GUI), automatic push 

and pull through hot folders (Windows), and programmatically, 

using a web services API. 

High-Performance Server 

Aspera 

Enterprise Server 


The Aspera Enterprise Server delivers uncompromising transfer 

performance for individual high-bandwidth transfers, as well as 

multiple concurrent transfers at broadband speed. Thanks to 

fasp, the Aspera Enterprise Server provides maximum speed 

with unparalleled bandwidth control. Moreover, a new file streamlining 

technique allows transfers of large sets of small files to obtain 

full bandwidth utilization without any time-consuming pre-archiving. 

Through enhanced protocol performance and new parallel transfer 

capabilities on clusters of servers and multi-core machines, the 

Aspera Enterprise Server is capable of achieving individual transfers 

at 1 Gbps+, even over international WANs. 

Comprehensive Administration Capabilities 

All fasp transfers on a server can be managed remotely from the 

optional Aspera Console and locally from a built-in desktop 

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interface. These provide a common graphical interface for monitoring 

active transfers, controlling transfers speeds and bandwidth 

used, and automating jobs. Administrators can visually monitor 

individual flow rates and aggregate bandwidth, and adjust 

individual transfer speeds and bandwidth sharing policies on the 

fly. All transfer details are logged to an SQL database (Aspera or 

customer-provided) for flexible reporting. Through a simple web 

services API, the Aspera Enterprise Server supports seamless 

authorization of client requests with third-party user databases, 

and authenticates users and user groups† through Microsoft Active 

Directory. Per-user sandboxing and standard system user authentication 

and access control are built-in. Support for email notification 

filtered by transfer attribute, such as user, client IP, or filename, and 

customizable pre and post-processing capabilities are provided. 

The server software supports installation on multi-node clusters for 

“high availability” deployments. 

Extended Functionality 

While Aspera Enterprise Server is a full-featured server product, 

including a comprehensive administration interface, its functionality 

can be enhanced with advanced management capabilities via 

the optional Aspera Console; with a simple, yet extremely powerful 

digital package delivery system, faspex; and with a web option 

allowing an unlimited number of upload/download clients through 

Aspera’s free browser plug-in, Aspera Connect. 

† Upcoming functionality, expected in 2008

Applications 

• Consumer media delivery applications (IP television, VOD) 

• Electronic video and imagery distribution to global partners and licensees 

• Centralized content push to remote stations or broadcast head-ends 

• Electronic news or media contribution from remote field locations 

• Global, enterprise-wide file delivery 

Features 

Scalability and Performance 

• fasp transport technology 

• Unlimited number of users and concurrent transfers 

• Bi-directional (send/receive) file transfers and recursive directory transfers 

• Upload/download with all Aspera clients 

• Scheduled transfer† and continuous push and pull to remote sites through Asperasync, including hot folder functionality* 

Comprehensive Administration 

• On-the-fly bandwidth control: set bandwidth priority and sharing policy per transfer, maximum bandwidth caps per transfer 

and in aggregate, guaranteed minimum transfer rates, and bandwidth scheduling† by time of day 

• Complete transport and content† encryption 

• Configurable file operations and access control permissions 

• Transfer manifest and email notification confirming delivery 

• Bandwidth, encryption, file operations, and notifications configurable for single users or groups of users (created locally 

and/or authenticated through Active Directory or LDAP) † 

• Transfer history logging to an SQL database of remote peer, user and content metadata, transfer status and detailed performance 

statistics 

Transfer Management Options 

• Built-in desktop user interface for graphical control and monitoring of all transfers with remote clients 

• Optional Aspera Console allows comprehensive remote management and monitoring of multi-server networks 

• Management API (SOAP web services) for transfer initiation, monitoring, and control 

• Customizable pre and post transfer actions 

* Asperasync is available on Windows only; similar functionality available via customized scripting on Mac OSX and Linux 

Software Add-Ons 

• Aspera Console 

• faspex 

• Aspera Enterprise Server Web Option 

Supported Clients 

• Aspera Client 

• Aspera Connect 

• Aspera Cargo Plug-ins 

Platforms 





• Isilon OneFS 4.5 or higher 

• FreeBSD (32bit/64bit) 6.2 or higher 

• IBM AIX 5.3 or higher † 



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Complete File Transfer Solution 

Overview 

Aspera Point-to-Point is a complete file transfer software solution 

designed for business-critical data transfers of any size, demanding 

maximum speed, predictability and security. Aspera Point-to- 

Point is a client and server application installed on both endpoints 

of a file transfer – a wireless laptop, a desktop PC on the LAN, or 

file servers in the data center. Aspera Point-to-Point provides 

server functionality and can accept incoming connections from 

other Aspera-enabled computers. Aspera Client is a client-only 

configuration for initiating transfers with Aspera Point-to-Point 

endpoints or Aspera Enterprise Servers. 

Aspera Point-to-Point supports interactive and automated file and 

directory transfers from multiple endpoints at up to 1000x the 

Win 2k 

Sydney 

45 Mb/s 

45 Mb/s 

Gigabit Ethernet 

Linux 

Win 2k Win 2k 

Solaris 

Los Angeles 



Mac OS X Mac OS X 

speed of standard FTP, with 100% interoperability between all 

major operating systems. A graphical desktop application is 

available for Windows and Mac, command-line, hot folder, and web 

services (SOAP) automation interfaces are available for all major 

operating systems. Aspera Point-to-Point performs individual file 

and batch transfers to single and multiple endpoints, push and pull, 

with no file size limitations. Aspera Point-to-Point supports any 

data set size and scales with your bandwidth needs through a 

software license upgrade. 

Win 2k 

Linux Linux 

T3 (45 Mb/s) 


New York 

802.11g 

802.11g 

T3 (45 Mb/s) 

Mac OS X

Applications 

• High-speed transfers over long-haul networks 

• Automated, scheduled replication of large data sets to remote sites 

• High-speed file sharing between global facilities 

• Remote content ingest or checkout from asset management systems 

• Global electronic media distribution on varied broadband, satellite, and wireless networks 

Features 


• Interactive browsing of remote file systems and saving of preferred endpoints 


• Automated, scheduled multi-endpoint “push” transfers † 

• Scriptable command line interface for unattended transfers 

• Scheduled† and continuous push and pull to remote sites through Asperasync, including hot folder functionality * 

• Centralized automation through the SOAP API or the optional Aspera Console † 

• Queuing of transfer requests within a bandwidth limit or concurrent number † 

• Admission of high priority transfers to the front of the queue † 



• Comprehensive bandwidth monitoring for client and server side† transfers 


• Detailed, per-transfer reporting and logging of transfer and network performance statistics 

• Custom pre- and post-processing steps 

• Transfer manifest† and email notification confirming delivery 

* Asperasync is available on Windows only; functionality is available via customized scripting on Mac OSX and Linux 


• Aspera Client 

Platforms 





• FreeBSD 6.2 or higher (32bit/64bit) 

• IBM AIX 5.3 or higher † 



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Aspera Console 

Advanced Network-wide Transfer Management 

Overview 

Aspera Console is Aspera’s new advanced management 

interface, allowing comprehensive, centralized 

control over global network environments running 

Aspera high-speed transfers. Through Aspera 

Console, administrators have the ability to centrally 

configure all Aspera endpoints on a given network 

(Aspera Enterprise Server and Aspera Point-to- 

Point), initiate and automate transfer jobs, and 

precisely control all transfer and bandwidth utilization 

parameters. Aspera Console provides users 

with advanced visibility over all file transfer activity 

within an Aspera network environment, as well as 

comprehensive reporting capabilities. 

Features 

Centrally Configure All Aspera Endpoints 

• Bandwidth priority and sharing policy per transfer 

• Aggregate and per transfer bandwidth caps 

• Guaranteed minimum transfer rates 

• Bandwidth scheduling by time of day 

• Transport and content encryption requirements 

• Allowed file operations and access control permissions 

• Transfer manifest and email notification confirming delivery 

• All settings configurable for single users or groups (created locally and/or authenticated through Active Directory or LDAP) 

Initiate and Automate Transfer Jobs Across Endpoints 

• Remotely browse all managed Aspera endpoints 

• Set up one-time, scheduled and repeatable file or directory transfers 

• Point-to-Point, Multi-endpoint Push, and Chained Multi-hop transfers including Pipelining capability † 

• Configure comprehensive post-transfer operations (email notification, file operations, custom scripts) 

Control All Transfer Parameters 

• Pause, resume, or change the speed or bandwidth sharing policy of individual transfers 

• Create aggregate, per server, per user group bandwidth utilization caps 

• Assign and adjust individual transfer priorities on-the-fly within utilization groups 

• Guarantee stable, rapid convergence to full bandwidth utilization for any number of concurrent transfers 

Monitor All Transfer Activity 

• All-encompassing status monitoring of the Aspera network environment 

• Rapid drill-down access to network path and endpoint performance reporting 

• Rapid drill-down access to individual transfer job progress and estimated completion time reporting 

• Immediate visibility on transfer errors and failures 

• Monitoring of individual flows and aggregate bandwidth utilization 

• Comprehensive reporting and search capabilities 



Aspera Enterprise Server Web Option 

Unlimited High-Speed Web Transfers 

Overview 

With the Aspera Enterprise Server Web Option, 

Aspera is extending the functionality of its highperformance 

file transfer server with fasp-enabled 

web transfers, eliminating the barriers to time-critical, 

global collaborations within the enterprise, and global 

content distribution to partners and consumers. 

Available as a free download from the Aspera website, 

the client software, Aspera Connect, includes a small 

browser plug-in allowing users to transfer files seamlessly 

from within their browser, using Aspera’s fasp 

high-speed transport for maximum speed and 

uncompromising security and reliability. In addition to 

classic upload/download with a centralized server, 

Aspera Connect can be redirected through embedded web links to 

upload content to other servers worldwide. 

Content providers may choose to deploy Aspera’s provided web 

application, or readily integrate Aspera Connect in any third-party 

web application or portal using a rich JavaScript API and fasp 

URL links. Content is enabled for Aspera transfer by embedding 

Aspera Connect in the application's web pages and publishing 

links with fasp-encoded URLs pointing to Aspera servers. Param- 

Applications 

• Online media distribution to global consumers (IPTV, Video-on-demand) 

• Electronic news and video contribution over broadband, satellite and wireless networks 

• Replacing FTP or tape exchange with fast, web-based transfers 

• Integration with digital asset management systems to speed remote transfers of large assets 

Features 

eters such as the transfer rate, bandwidth sharing policy, encryption 

settings, and target Aspera server and upload path, are 

encoded in the URL, and optionally locked and encrypted to 

prevent tampering. The URL can be dynamically generated per user 

or group for allocating premium speed to certain users and to target 

transfers to individual directories. The solution supports seamless 

authorization with existing authorization services via a SOAP web 

services interface, preserving single sign-on for the user. 


• Upload/download client transparently launched by web browser 

• Single file, directory, and multi-item upload/download support 

• Transfers continue even if the browser is closed 

• Automatic retry and resume of partial or failed transfers 

• Progressive transfer for smooth media playback 

• Detailed transfer and network performance reporting 

• Automated directory listing with fasp URLs for Apache and Microsoft IIS Web servers 

• Rich, JavaScript API including upload, download, and drag-and-drop for integration in any web application 

• Small, install-on-demand plug-in technology for all common browsers 



Platforms 

• Aspera Enterprise Server 

Web Application Server 


Any Aspera Endpoint 

Download 

Upload 

Remote User 

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Digital Package Delivery 

Overview 

A digital package delivery system for individuals and groups, faspex 

combines Aspera’s fasp high-speed transport technology with a 

very simple web and email interface to allow experienced and 

non-savvy users alike to exchange files, directories, and large data 

sets at global distances with maximum speed, predictable delivery 

times, and complete security. 

Easy to Setup, Easy to Use 

The simple interface and easy setup are ideal for ad hoc transfer 

needs. From a web interface, users can send digital packages 

consisting of single or multiple files and directories to other 

registered users or project groups by dragging files into a “Send” 

interface from their virtual Outbox. Similarly, recipients receive 

packages in their virtual Inbox, or as an embedded link forwarded 

to their corporate email. The packages are transferred to the 

Aspera Enterprise Server using high-speed fasp transport. 

Recipients may browse the contents of a package before downloading. 

During transfer, the sender, the recipient, and the Administrator 

view the progress in real time through the web interface. 

Once a transfer is complete, delivery confirmation is sent via email. 

Collaborative Workflow 

The “Group” function in faspex allows project managers to 

quickly establish groups of users that exchange packages, where 

each group member can send to the group, browse the contents of 

packages sent to the group, and download individual packages. 

Each user and group has a historical log of all packages transferred, 

and archived packages are available for later download. 

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Fully-Featured and Customizable 

Fully-integrated with the Aspera Enterprise Server, the interface 

allows administrators to configure Aspera transfer policies such as 

per-user, per-group and aggregate bandwidth caps and transfer 

security and bandwidth sharing settings. The administrator has a 

complete history of all file transfer transactions, including 

metadata, the conditions of the network, and the status of ongoing 

transfers, and can pause, cancel and resume individual transfers. 

The application can be customized in several areas, including 

policy-based rules for package cleanup and the look-and-feel of 

the email delivered on package receipt. 

DigiDelivery Server Relay † 

faspex servers now have the ability to automatically forward 

packages to DigiDelivery servers for interoperable package delivery 

with users of the secure digital file-exchange system developed by 

Avid’s Digidesign audio division and acquired by Aspera in 2007. 


Applications 

• Global creative production, review and approval workflows 

• Rich media file sharing between ad hoc teams 

• Enterprise-wide email replacement for global file exchange 

Features 


• File and directory upload through a single web interface (drag-and-drop or attachment) 

• Ability to send ad-hoc transfers to non-registered users via simple email notification 

• Simple ‘click to download’ of individual files and entire packages from the server 

• Ability to start downloading packages while upload to the server is in progress † 

• Delivery receipt notification forwarded to corporate email and web-based Inbox 

• Real-time reporting of transfer progress and performance 

• Preview browsing of received packages on the server 

• Automatic package forwarding to DigiDelivery users (server-to-server relay functionality required) † 

• Administrative web interface for establishing user accounts, project groups, and access control 



• Aspera Cargo Plug-ins 

Platforms 

• Microsoft Windows 2003/XP/Vista (32bit/64bit) 




Aspera Connect 

fasp Web Transfers 

Aspera Connect is an install on-demand browser plug-in that 

allows fasp uploads and downloads with the Aspera Enterprise 

Server or faspex server to be initiated from a web browser. 

Features 


• Upload/download client transparently launched by browser 

• Single file, directory, and multi-item upload/download 

• Transfers continue even if the browser is closed 

• Automatic retry and resume of partial or failed transfers 

• Progressive transfer for smooth media playback 

• Detailed transfer and network performance reporting 

• Rich, JavaScript API including upload, download, and 

drag-and-drop for integration in any web application 

• Small, install-on-demand plug-in technology for all 

common browsers 

Compatible Browsers 

• Internet Explorer on Windows 

• Firefox on Windows, Linux † and Mac OS X (PPC and Intel) 

• Safari on Mac OS X (PPC and Intel) 


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Aspera Client 

Advanced Desktop Client 

Aspera Client is the advanced desktop client 

application that connects to all Aspera 

high-speed servers to perform one-time, 

scheduled and repeatable push or pull transfers. 

With all of the client-side functionality 

of the Aspera Point-to-Point solution, it 

provides interactive and automated file and 

directory uploads and downloads at up to 

1000x the speed of standard FTP, with 100% 

interoperability between all major operating 

systems. A graphical desktop application is 

available for Windows and Mac, and 

command-line, hot folder, and web services 

(SOAP) automation interfaces are available 

for all major operating systems. 

Features 


• Interactive browsing of the server file system 


• Scriptable command line interface for unattended transfers 

• Scheduled† and continuous push and pull to remote sites through Asperasync, including hot folder functionality* 

• Queuing of transfer requests within a bandwidth limit or concurrent number † 

• Admission of high priority transfers to the front of the queue † 



• Comprehensive bandwidth monitoring of manual and sync transfers 


• Detailed reporting and logging of transfer and network performance statistics 

• Transfer manifest† and email notification confirming delivery 

* Asperasync is available on Windows only; functionality is available via customized scripting on Mac OSX and Linux 

Platforms 





• FreeBSD (32bit/64bit) 6.2 or higher 



Aspera Cargo Plug-Ins 

Integrated Aspera Transfers for Media Production Software 

Aspera’s breakthrough transport protocol, fasp, allows even 

the largest media files to be transferred with maximum speed, 

complete security and predictable delivery times over any network, 

at global distances. Aspera transfers can now be initiated directly 

from within industry-standard production and post-production 

applications, allowing media professionals to simply push a project 

Avid® Media Composer® and Newscutter® 

A simple menu option within the Avid Media Composer or 

Avid Newscutter user interface, allows editors to transfer 

entire projects between global locations with industryleading 

fasp transfer performance. All necessary files 

are collected, packaged and uploaded via Aspera’s new 

lightweight Aspera Cargo desktop application to any 

computer with Aspera Enterprise Server or Point-to- 

Point installed. 

Digidesign® Pro Tools® 

With Aspera’s Cargo Plug-in, the industry-standard audio 

production system is now capable of directly sending 

entire Pro Tools sessions (including session file, audio 

and MIDI, automation data, fade files etc.) to any Aspera 

server. All necessary files are collected, packaged and 

uploaded via Aspera’s new lightweight Aspera Cargo 

desktop application to any computer with Aspera Enterprise 

Server or Point-to-Point installed. 

Apple® Final Cut Pro® 

Apple’s high-performance video editing software now 

fully integrates Aspera’s industry-leading transport 

technology; entire projects can be transferred directly 

from within Final Cut Pro at maximum speed. All necessary 

files are collected, packaged and uploaded via 

Aspera’s new lightweight Aspera Cargo desktop application 

to any computer with Aspera Enterprise Server or 

Point-to-Point installed. 

they completed to any Aspera server, without ever leaving their 

familiar work environment. With thousands of Aspera users in the 

media and entertainment space across the globe, the Aspera Cargo 

Plug-in is a must-have software add-on for Avid® Media 

Composer®, Avid Newscutter®, Apple® Final Cut Pro® and 

Digidesign® Pro Tools® users. 

Aspera Plug-In for Avid® Interplay® Transfer and Unity TransferManager 

The Aspera Plug-in for Avid® Interplay® Transfer and Avid 

TransferManager is the ideal solution for seamless, secure and 

reliable high-performance transfers over wide area networks 

between remote Avid workgroups – dramatically simplifying and 

speeding up collaborative broadcast and post-production workflows. 

The Aspera Plug-in solution fully integrates the Avid 

environment and allows editors to send media to remote Avid 

workgroups, or transfer files directly to any host running Aspera 

server software. Using Aspera’s fasp high-speed transfer 

technology, Avid projects, regardless of their size, can be moved 

securely and reliably within predictable timeframes, regardless 

of network conditions. 

15

16 

Technology Integration 

Aspera SDK 

Aspera Power 

The Aspera SDK is an open-architecture software development kit 

enabling third-party software applications and systems to embed 

Aspera’s fasp transfer technology as a superior alternative to 

FTP, HTTP, or custom network copy and progressive download 

protocols. The applications benefit from distance and networkindependent 

transfer performance, maximum speed with a single 

transfer stream, and exceptional bandwidth control. 

Three rich, open interfaces are provided for embedding Aspera 

transfer capability in 3rd party applications: A SOAP web services 

API, library interfaces for C, C++, .Net and Java, and a Javascript 

API for integration in web applications. In addition, a new remote 

commands API for C, C++, and Java supports the execution of file 

operations on remote Aspera endpoints – list directories, move, 

copy, rename and delete files. 

Taken together, these APIs allow for building complete file transfer 

applications around the Aspera core, or embedding Aspera transfer 

capability in virtually any interactive web application. Almost any 

transfer or distribution model is made possible: point-to-point, 

push to many endpoints, coordinated peer-to-peer, and 

upload/download including progressive-style transfers with immediate 

playback. 

Numerous Aspera customers and partners have used the fasp 

software development kit to develop applications ranging from 

high-speed database replication and online backup services, to 

medical image transfer applications, to digital media transfer and 

Applications 

management solutions. Companies like Apple, Microsoft, HP, North 

Plains, Universal Music and many more, have built systems upon 

Aspera’s SDK. 

The Aspera transfer software is readily integrated as a highperformance 

file transfer platform for OEM and embedded use. We 

welcome partnerships with system integrators seeking an improved 

data transport path to extend current systems with distanceneutral 

file transfer; technology providers needing a state-of-the-art 

file or large object transport in new applications; and service and 

solution providers, interested in offering a premium, nextgeneration 

transfer capability. 

To learn more about the Aspera SDK and to plan the integration of 

Aspera technology within your software product or system, please 

contact partners@asperasoft.com. 

Consumer Media Delivery (IP television, online movie distribution, and personal video contribution) 

• Guarantee users maximum speed downloads and full bandwidth utilization 

• Automatically adapt transfer speeds to the available capacity 

• Progressively download video with smooth, predictable playback independent of network conditions 

• Offer differentiating premium service levels with on-the-fly speed or priority increases 

• Provide end-users and network operators end-to-end visibility into individual transfer performance and bandwidth 

utilization 

Enterprise 

• Embed in video ingest applications for maximum speed, reliable transfers over even the most difficult remote broadband, 

satellite, and wireless connections 

• Offer flexible prioritization in point-to-point applications using shared links: Transfer at maximum speed when traffic is low, 

or at a transparent background rate during busy periods with guaranteed full bandwidth utilization within configurable 

maximum and minimum caps 

• Support inexpensive, centrally managed peer-to-peer distribution 

• Integrate in asset management systems for pain-free large asset transfers to global partners and licensees

Our Partners 

Integrated Products 

Business Partners

Aspera Inc. is a software development company creating innovative high-performance bulk data 

transport technologies that provide maximum speed, complete security and breakthrough bandwidth 

control at global distances over existing network infrastructures. With several thousand endpoint and 

server licenses installed worldwide, Aspera’s fasp software products are becoming the industry 

standard for high-speed transfer of digital content in the media and entertainment marketplace and the 

data transfer technology of choice for enterprise-wide deployment for Fortune 500 companies. 

www.asperasoft.com 

©2008 Aspera Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to 

change without notice. Aspera, fasp, faspex, are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Aspera Software, Inc. in the United States 

and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. 

Aspera Solutions Brochure v1.0 – April 2008

High-Speed File Transfer Software Suite - pixelstream.ch

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