Content by: Shreyas Hiremath, IBM Aspera
In today’s fast-paced, data-driven world, the ability to transfer massive amounts of data quickly, securely, and reliably is critical. IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Server delivers exactly that. Leveraging its proprietary FASP® (Fast Adaptive Secure Protocol) technology, Aspera eliminates the bottlenecks of traditional TCP-based tools to enable lightning-fast transfers over any network, regardless of latency or packet loss. Whether you're moving large files, streaming data in real-time, or synchronizing directories across global locations, Aspera empowers you to maximize bandwidth and achieve unparalleled transfer speeds.
One of the standout features of IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Server is Aspera Sync (Async), a cutting-edge synchronization solution designed for high-performance data sync across distributed environments. Async combines the power of Aspera’s FASP technology with intelligent, efficient workflows, ensuring that your files and directories stay synchronized across multiple nodes with speed and precision.
Async isn’t just a feature—it’s a game-changer for businesses needing reliable, WAN-optimized synchronization. From large-scale content distribution to global collaboration, Async ensures your data is always in sync, regardless of distance or network conditions.
IBM Aspera’s Async, included as a separate binary with the High-Speed Transfer Server (HSTS) installation, offers a powerful solution for automatic synchronization between folders across servers. Let’s illustrate this with an example:
Imagine you have Folder A on Server 1 containing file1, file2, file3, file4, and file5, while Folder B on Server 2 contains file3 and file4. Instead of manually transferring the missing files from Folder A to Folder B, Async automates the process. By running Async on Server 1, the contents of Folder A and Folder B will automatically synchronize, ensuring both folders have the same data.
Async supports two operational modes:
- One-Time Sync: A single, on-demand synchronization.
- Continuous Sync: Ongoing synchronization that updates files as changes occur.
Additionally, Async offers three direction modes:
- Uni-Directional: Sync files in one direction, from source to destination (push and pull mode).
- Bi-Directional: Synchronize changes between both locations.
Why Async is a Game-Changer
- High-Speed Transfers with FASP
Async utilizes Aspera's FASP protocol to transfer new data between remote hosts at full bandwidth capacity, unaffected by round-trip delays, packet loss, or large file sizes.
- Efficient Synchronization with Local Snapshots
Instead of slow, WAN-based comparisons of remote file systems, Async compares against a local snapshot, significantly reducing overhead and speeding up the sync process.
- Smart Change Detection
Async recognizes file system changes such as renames or moves and propagates these efficiently. Unlike traditional tools that treat these operations as deletions and retransfers, Async ensures minimal data movement, saving time and bandwidth.
- Flexible Topologies
Async supports complex synchronization topologies, including bidirectional and multi-directional syncs, enabling seamless workflows across distributed environments.
- Real-Time Change Monitoring
Where supported, Async uses file system notifications for immediate updates, avoiding unnecessary scans.
- Stable File Transfers
Async waits for files to stabilize before initiating a transfer, preventing the syncing of incomplete or partially written files. The waiting period is fully configurable.
Async is more than just a synchronization tool—it’s an integral feature of the IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Server, designed to streamline data management across servers with unmatched speed, efficiency, and reliability.
