What`s New | Fall 2014

Transcript

FA L L 2 01 4 W H AT ’ S NEW What’s New | Fall 2014 Moving the World’s Digital Content at Maximum Speed Aspera, an IBM Company and creator of technologies that move the world’s data at maximum speed, has expanded its unique software platform for moving media and Big Data with new capabilities that allow media enterprises to transfer, synchronize and stream content across distributed cloud and on premises systems, meeting variable demands in real time with speed, control and ease. ASPERA TRANSFER PLATFORM Aspera Auto-Scaler Built directly into the core Aspera transfer software stack, the Aspera Auto-Scale platform automatically matches the actual transfer capacity with the transfer demand in real time, based on user-defined criteria. As transfer throughput demand increases, the software automatically adds new server instances and moves highly utilized servers out of availability, and as demand subsides, releases and spins down excess servers. This avoids over- or under-provisioned scenarios, ensuring both smooth delivery of video content and the most efficient utilization of the cloud resources. The system is fault tolerant to multi-node failures and functions independently of the particular cloud infrastructure provider, with first versions available for IBM SoftLayer and Amazon AWS. The Auto-Scale platform is complemented by Aspera ScaleDB, a new scale out data store for distributed, high throughput collection, aggregation and reporting of all transfer performance statistics and file details across the auto cluster, and cluster-wide transfer reporting through a new generation REST API. Customers can query this API to create audit-based reports on transfer history and to verify delivery SLAs. The new Aspera Analytics platform ingests ScaleDB archives and Aspera logs to create visualizations of content and usage patterns, transfer performance, and service levels, giving vivid insight on key metrics and new troubleshooting capabilities. FASPStream APIs The new FASPStream APIs allow 3rd party applications to now use Aspera FASP for real-time video and data transmission, in addition to bulk file transfer, as a high-speed, distance neutral alternative to TCP. FASPStream provides a very predictable rate over even the most difficult WANs (with high latency and packet loss) such as international long haul and wireless data connections. This allows real time applications such as live video capture and remote processing and play out, and video distribution over distance (CDNs), to use inexpensive IP networks while guaranteeing arrival time of high definition video feeds and achieving smooth processing and play out without glitches or “buffering”. The APIs are available as software libraries (C++) and as local socket-style interfaces for applications in C#, Java, and C++. “a4” Gen4 Transfer Engine When file sizes are very small, the file metadata (names, attributes, etc.) can be as large as the data itself, and sending it over a non-FASP TCP channel that collapses in throughput over the WAN can create an artificial bottleneck in overall transfer speed. Similarly, when transferring very small files at very high rates, file scan and read times on storage are invariably a transport bottleneck. Aspera’s new fourth generation transfer engine, “a4”, solves both problems and is designed to achieve the fastest possible performance in moving large sets of small files (<10MB) over the WAN. The architecture achieves 1-10 Gigabit/s transfers of files as small as 150 KB on average over intercontinental WANs (300 ms / 5% packet loss) – 10,000X faster than the speed of scp or rsync. Configurable parallel I/O and an original pipelined architecture deliver very fast speeds on even slow mounted storage volumes. Aspera FASP Core 3.5 New versions of Enterprise and Connect Server, Pointto-Point and Client software are built on top of the latest version of FASP 3.5, and support a breadth of new features and capabilities for on premise and on cloud deployment. Native connections for direct transfer to Akamai NetStorage, SoftLayer, Google and OpenStack Swift have been added, complementing the existing support for AWS S3 and Microsoft Azure BLOB built into the software. All products support over-the-wire encryption, encryption at rest, secure file transfer, browsing, resume, and HTTP fallback with all CDN and cloud platforms, as well as enterprise storage. FA L L 2 01 4 W H AT ’ S NEW Additional features include enhanced hot folder performance, 2X faster transfers in encrypted mode on hosts supporting Intel AES-NI optimizations, md5sum reporting and preservation of ACLs and other native file system attributes. The new releases also feature enhanced user authorization and management fully integrated with Aspera Shares, and new file sharing capabilities with API support for share-to-share transfer. Aspera Sync 1.6 Aspera Sync – the high-performance, multidirectional file replication and synchronization software – is now available in version 1.6. This latest architecture supports Windows, Linux, OS X and Solaris, and has ultra-fast snapshot performance allowing for synchronization updates of giant file stores (1 million and above) with performance that is significantly faster for systems with very large numbers of files and slow storage (e.g. VMs). The snapshot feature allows file sets with millions of items to update within very tight time windows, reducing rsync update times dramatically – as much as days reduced to hours, and hours to minutes. Additional key features include: • New one way synchronization support to Amazon Web Service S3 object storage • New compression and multi-transfer session options for optimal speed in synchronizing large sets of small files on small BW networks • File de-duplication supported in bi-directional in addition to one way synchronization • Windows ACLs and OS X extended attributes are preserved across syncs, and bi-directional synchronization workflows on Windows will tolerate files open by users during synchronization Aspera Sync is available standalone and powers the synchronization capabilities in Aspera Drive. ASPERA COLLABORATION SUITE FOR MEDIA AND BIG DATA End users and media enterprises are bombarded with new desktop “drive” applications for file sharing and synchronization in Windows and Mac desktops. However every product on the market to date is built on TCP transport and comes saddled with either literal limits in files sizes or numbers, or practical limits due to slow and unreliable sharing and sync over the WAN — unworkable for large and valuable media. Aspera Drive for OS X 1.1 Released first for Windows in April 2014, the new Aspera Drive for OS X 1.1 breaks boundaries and brings an elegant, high-speed desktop experience for sharing of big data, even the largest and most valuable media content. • Built on Aspera FASP transport and Aspera Sync technology, to support the transfer, sharing, and sync of the largest files and directories regardless of distance and network conditions • Remote browsing, drag-and-drop transfer, right-click sending to email addresses, and bi-directional sync from the Mac desktop • Content sharing of any size from any remote cloud or on premises storage (IBM Softlayer, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google, or on premises) • Reported speeds over 40X faster and with greater reliability than the most common file sharing and sync tools Aspera Drive Mobile for Android and iOS 1.0 The new mobile versions of Aspera Drive for Android and iOS platforms allow users to remotely browse and transfer files with the speed and robustness of FASP over high latency and stretched wireless mobile connections. • Up to 10X standard HTTP over typical wireless data links • Adaptive rate control to protect limited wireless bandwidth • Secure authentication and authorization to browse files and directories that are managed through Aspera Shares on the backend • Drag-and-drop transfers from any Aspera server (on premises or on cloud) to/from any mobile device with integrated pause, resume and background resume on network handoff • Integrated video options to select encoding settings and automatically upload videos and photos for sharing Aspera faspex 3.8 and Aspera Shares 1.8 The Aspera Drive user experience is powered by new releases of Aspera faspex and Aspera Shares, the web-based application platforms that together enable a complete suite of collaboration capabilities with Aspera technology at their core. • Full integration with Aspera server software running on premises and in the cloud • Easy-to-manage and easy-to-use hybrid deployment possibilities • All transfer paradigms are transparent to storage location Shares 1.8 • New capability to delegate user management and share authorization to authorized users • Single sign-on of users and groups via SAML 2.0 and just-in-time user provisioning • New Shares API and in-browser drag-and-drop transfer of files and directories between shares FA L L 2 01 4 W H AT ’ S NEW faspex 3.8 • New capability to link dropboxes directly to Aspera Shares or other Aspera endpoints (on premises or on cloud) and invite users to upload content that transfers directly to this destination on arrival with integrated email notification and tracking end-to-end • Single sign-on via SAML 2.0 and just in time faspex user provisioning • New options for customizable user fields that dynamically read from SAML on user login as well as automatic expiration of idle users • New customization options for package emails for mobile clients • Expanded APIs for publishing content from any storage location for faspex delivery A new version of the faspex Mobile App for iOS features new high resolution video encoding options for uploading video recorded in 720p using FASP transport. ASPERA MEDIA WORKFLOW ORCHESTRATION AND MANAGEMENT Aspera Orchestrator 2.1 The Orchestrator file-based workflow orchestration platform automates the collection, processing and distribution of large volumes of file-based digital media assets. The latest release includes many new features that enhance the ease-of-use, accessibility and scalability of the platform, as well as its compliance with digital delivery standards such as ADI and DPP. New plug-ins augment the extensive library of 50+ thirdparty applications that can be invoked within Orchestrator workflows. • Improved visual editor for intuitive workflow design, publishing and documentation • Built-in CableLabs ADI and DPP file format validation and transfer workflows • Active/Active high-availability configuration and advanced scalability • New portlet framework to easily create custom top-level progress views • Online resources now available at the Orchestrator automation and solutions user forum • New plug-ins: ADI.XML CableLabs verification, ISM and M3u8 verification, ThePlatform media management, vidchecker verification, mediainfo and SNMP monitoring Aspera Console 2.3 Aspera Console enables centralized monitoring, management, and reporting of the entire Aspera transfer environment. Console 2.3 now includes SAML single sign-on, several new capabilities within the automatic Console-driven Smart Transfers for transfers initiated behind an Aspera proxy, easier to manage permission settings and license management within the web UI. ASPERA NEW TECHNOLOGY PREVIEW Aspera Analytics Aspera Files The new Aspera Analytics is a cloud-based visualization and reporting platform that allows Aspera business users, administrators and operators to dynamically upload Aspera logs and generate vivid reports of transfer analytics for usage reporting, resource analysis and troubleshooting. The next generation file sharing application combines the personal and group-based file sharing of Aspera Shares with the package sending and receiving capabilities of Aspera faspex. • Scale out cloud architecture supports fast analysis of log files and interactive zoom over large time scales. • Generate reports to view trends, verify delivery SLAs, and troubleshoot transfer performance • Built on the FASP high-speed platform, Aspera Files delivers maximum transfer speed, support for all file sizes and data sets, and distance independence • Supports direct transfer and content storage with any major cloud platform or on premises Aspera server • Interactive zoom and filter capabilities provide a view of the data across dimensions of time, user, IP, and other factors • New workspaces for group-based collaboration provide private content sharing, and all functions are available through a RESTful API in addition to the easy to use web interface • Drill down into key metrics such as bytes transferred, bandwidth used, and aggregate and individual content and file statistics over time • The platform will support all Aspera clients including Aspera Drive, Connect browser plug-in, Microsoft Outlook plugin, Cargo, and the new Drive Mobile clients powered by NEW MEDIA SOLUTIONS Aspera Upload Acceleration for Akamai NetStorage The Aspera Upload Acceleration option leverages Aspera FASP directly integrated within the Akamai CDN to speed file and directory transfers directly into NetStorage many times faster than traditional methods. The Aspera GUI has built-in connection information for the Akamai NetStorage service, and the FASP software is tightly integrated into NetStorage for a seamless high-speed transfer experience to the legacy and new Akamai storage platform. The resulting performance significantly reduces the time required to make time-sensitive content, high quality video files, and large content libraries available for delivery using the Akamai Intelligent Platform. Pantone + Solid Coated 2623 Process Match C 70 M 100 Y 28 K 16 FASP transfers for Grass Valley® GV STRATUS® Reliable, secure, and rapid ingest of data is essential for production workflows. Grass Valley has worked with Aspera to add FASP high-speed and secure transfer capability to enable customers to ingest production data in to their GV STRATUS platform. The integration of Aspera technology allows customers to get productions running quicker and smoother than ever before. Process Black C 0 M 0 Y 0 K 100 Fortium MediaSeal integration with faspex Fortium Technologies, a leading provider of content protection solutions for the film, entertainment and broadcast industries, has integrated Aspera faspex so that customers can initiate high-speed transfers that will call Fortium’s MediaSeal to encrypt and protect files before transit. The integrated solution will then distribute packages of files via faspex at FASP speeds and limit file access to receivers who have proper credentials. FilmTrack high-speed content delivery FilmTrack is using the cloud to transform how customers manage, monetize, measure and deliver content and assets across every point in the media and entertainment industry IP value chain. In partnership with Aspera, FilmTrack is now using FASP high-speed transport technology to securely and quickly distribute content from the cloud to the customer ecosystem, accelerating access to production digital media assets by sales and partners. Sony Media Cloud Services Ci Sony MCS has updated their Ci integration to use the latest Aspera Connect JavaScript and Node APIs. With Aspera high-speed file transfer embedded directly into Ci, creative professionals can upload and download full resolution media and meta-data from a secure browser-based user interface, making it simple for people to assemble teams online, work on projects and access files from locations around the world. Vizrt media production and asset management A new service combining Vizrt’s Media Asset Management (MAM), Viz One and Aspera FASP highspeed transfer, running on IBM SoftLayer helps studios, filmmakers, and broadcasters produce and manage assets throughout their content lifecycle, entirely in the cloud. Aspera Plug-in for Avid Interplay FASP Plug-in for the Avid Interplay Transfer Manager and Interplay Delivery Service enables integrated, high-speed transport of full resolution media between Avid production workgroups. Users can share media and associated metadata between remote workgroups across the WAN, regardless of distance. The Aspera solution is optimized for Avid ISIS® storage and supports the complete checkout/check-in process required for coordinated transfers and collaboration. Elemental Technologies FASPStream-enabled video encoding Elemental’s leading video processing solutions for multiscreen content delivery combined with the new Aspera FASPStream technology enables the transport, processing, and delivery of video and live data feeds over global Internet WANs in real-time with predictable speeds, enabling live and near live production on remote cloud systems. Microsoft Azure adds faspex on Demand Aspera is expanding its Microsoft Azure cloud services to include faspex on Demand. In addition to its existing Application Platform On Demand service, faspex on Demand for Azure provides an emailstyle file and package delivery system for large files that includes user management, storage access control, transfer monitoring and notification in one simple easy-to-use web interface. About Aspera Aspera, an IBM Company, is the creator of next-generation transport technologies that move the world’s data at maximum speed regardless of file size, transfer distance and network conditions. Based on its patented, Emmy® award-winning FASP™ protocol, Aspera software fully utilizes existing infrastructures to deliver the fastest, most predictable file-transfer experience. Aspera’s core technology delivers unprecedented control over bandwidth, complete security and uncompromising reliability. Organizations across a variety of industries on six continents rely on Aspera software for the business-critical transport of their digital assets. Please visit www.asperasoft.com and follow us on Twitter @asperasoft for more information.