Introduction - IBM Aspera HST Admin Manual

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 launched 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:
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 if 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 HST Server, IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Endpoint (which permits one client
connection),
• a HST Server installed as part of IBM Aspera Faspex, or
• an HST Server 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 with the Aspera server. Aspera applications that can act as
clients include:
• Desktop Client,
• IBM Aspera Drive,
• IBM Aspera Connect,
• IBM Aspera Command-Line Interface,
• HST Server and HST Endpoint
What is FASP?
At the heart of your Aspera ecosystem are the FASP transfer engines Ascp and Ascp 4. Ascp maximizes data
transport over any network and is particularly suited to large files. It is a powerful command-line tool and also drives
transfers 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 HST Server, HST Endpoint, and Desktop
Client.
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