Aspera Showcases Next-generation Transport Technologies at IBC 2008

Introducing Enterprise-scale Management Over Global File Transfer Networks with Aspera Console.

IBC 2008, Amsterdam (Hall 12P Booth A40)—September 12, 2008 – Aspera, creators of next-generation software technologies that move the world’s digital assets at maximum speed regardless of file size, transfer distance or network conditions, today introduces Aspera Console, an enterprise-scale management platform that allows media professionals to monitor, control, and automate high-speed Aspera transfers. Aspera is also showcasing the latest generation of its industry-standard high-performance fasp™ file transfer solutions, with enhanced security, improved usability, and more integration options.

Based on its patent-pending fasp™ protocol, only Aspera software fully utilizes existing infrastructures to deliver the fastest, fully predictable, end-to-end file transfer experience. Aspera’s innovative core technology delivers unprecedented control over bandwidth, complete security and uncompromising reliability. Its flexible, open architecture provides multiple deployment options, including purpose-built software applications, easy integration with internal systems, and direct compatibility with numerous solutions from industry-leading technology partners.

The new Aspera Console – generally available in Q4 2008 – enhances Aspera high-performance file transfer applications with a global management platform providing centralized monitoring, control, and automation of Aspera transfers – within an enterprise and externally with content partners. From a single browser-based interface, administrators can configure any managed Aspera node – Aspera Enterprise Server, Aspera Connect Server, Aspera faspex™ server, or Aspera Point-to-Point. Authorized users can activate Aspera transfers between nodes within an enterprise and with Aspera servers at external sites – including transfers to multiple destinations, as well as scheduled and automated repetitive transfer jobs. Aspera Console allows users to view and control all transfers passing through these nodes, control bandwidth usage and priority for transfers per flow and in aggregate, and report on transfer history.

Aspera Console is designed for multi-user access and allows administrators to easily set up groups of users with capabilities appropriate to their organizational role and configurable by transfer path. For example, a group of transfer operators can be enabled to activate and monitor their own transfers on permitted paths, while view-only users can be granted monitoring and reporting capability alone.

"Aspera Console has been developed in close collaboration with our major media customers in an effort to meet their needs to scale out Aspera high-speed transfer within their organization and with their partners. We are very excited about the results and look forward to sharing the new product with the broader market place, and building on the platform into the future," said Michelle Munson, Aspera President and Co-founder.

Hundreds of organizations across a variety of industries, including government agencies and the major Hollywood studios, rely on Aspera for the business-critical transport of their digital assets, while maximizing network bandwidth and IT infrastructure investments. By facilitating a successful transition to all-digital operations, Aspera is empowering individuals and corporations to dramatically increase productivity, minimize operational costs, expand revenues and explore new business models.

Aspera personnel will be on hand for non-stop presentations at IBC 2008, Hall 12P, Booth A40. In addition to the new Aspera Console, demonstrations will be highlighting the following new capabilities recently added to Aspera’s high-performance file transfer solutions:

• Encryption at Rest – this extension of Aspera transport security provides secure storage for valuable digital assets as they move across un-trusted endpoints in an enterprise, multi-company supply chain, or content distribution network.

• Virtual Link – a patent-pending technology building on Aspera’s adaptive rate control takes enterprise-wide bandwidth management to the next level by allocating and maintaining bandwidth targets for all transfers to an Aspera server or server farm, or by individual user.

  The technology ensures that transfers maintain, but do not exceed, the allocated bandwidth, receive a fair allocation of this bandwidth, and achieve stable, high throughput, even as many concurrent transfers share the same path. Individual transfers can be prioritized or given a guaranteed speed as needed.

• HTTP Fallback – to ensure universal connectivity in highly restrictive networks, HTTP fallback provides a seamless alternate transfer path for Aspera Connect clients, allowing transfers to run over HTTP with complete proxy support.

The Aspera fasp 2.0 SDK has been extended with a redistributable core for all major operating systems and Java, .NET, C++, SOAP and SQL interfaces for embedding fasp transport in 3rd party applications. Media service buses such as IBM Media Hub and the popular cineSync remote review and approval system are introducing integrations of Aspera transport for the first time at IBC 2008. Aspera technology is also showcased by Microsoft within the Interactive Media Manager platform (IMM) and by Isilon Systems as a native application for OneFS clustered storage.