Comtech EF Data VIPERSAT File Streamer User Manual
VFS v1.2.x
VIPERSAT File Streamer
USER GUIDE
Part Number MN/12917 Revision 1.0
VFS v1.2.x
VIPERSAT File Streamer
User Guide
Part Number MN/12917
Document Revision 1.0
Software version 1.2.x
March 05, 2007
COMTECH EF DATA
VIPERSAT Network Products Group
3215 Skyway Court
Fremont, CA 94539
USA
Phone: (510) 252-1462
Fax: (510) 252-1695
www.comtechefdata.com
Part Number: MN/12917
Revision: 1.0
Software Version 1.2.x
©2007 by Comtech EF Data, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be copied or
reproduced by any means without prior written permission of Comtech EF Data.
All products, names and services are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies.
Comtech reserves the right to revise this publication at any time without obligation to provide
notification of such revision. Comtech periodically revises and improves its products and
therefore the information in this document is subject to change without prior notice. Comtech
makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including but limited to the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. No responsibility for any errors
or omissions that may pertain to the material herein is assumed. Comtech makes no
commitment to update nor to keep current the information contained in this document.
Printed in the United States of America
Document Revision History
Revision Description
1.0 Initial Release
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
General
How to Use This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Manual Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Chapter 1 — General . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Chapter 2 — Installation . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Chapter 3 — Using VFS . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Appendix A — Glossary . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Conventions and References . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Product Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Simplicity of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Client PC Components . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Satellite Network Components . . . . . . . 1-6
Customer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Contact Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Reader Comments / Corrections . . . . . . 1-7
Chapter 2
VFS Installation
Installing VFS on Client Workstation . . . . . . . . 2-1
VFS Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
WinVfs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
VfsService. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
VFS Feature Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Vipersat Modem Configuration . . . . . . . . . 2-9
VMS Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-10
View Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Starting VFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Verify VFS Status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
VFS Gateway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Creating a VFS Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Global Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
New Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Parameter Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Session Progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Progress Detail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
VMS Indications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Event Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Change Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Appendix A
Glossary
Index
Chapter 3
Using VFS
Main Window Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Menu Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Tool Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
i
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ii VFS User Guide
List of Figures
Chapter 1 Figures
Figure 1-1 VFS Application on a Vipersat Network
1-4
Chapter 2 Figures
Figure 2-1 VFS Installation Files . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Figure 2-2 VFS Setup, Installation Options . . . 2-2
Figure 2-3 VFS Setup, Installation Folder . . . . 2-2
Figure 2-4 VFS Setup, Installation Progress . . 2-3
Figure 2-5 VFS Setup, Session Default Settings .
2-3
Figure 2-6 VFS Setup, Installation Status . . . . 2-5
Figure 2-7 VFS Setup, Installation Completed 2-6
Figure 2-8 VFS Setup, Completed Details . . . 2-6
Figure 2-9 Files Installed in VFS Directory . . . 2-7
Figure 2-10 Windows Services . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Figure 2-11 Vipersat File Streamer Properties 2-8
Figure 2-12 Feature Configuration, CDM-570L 2-9
Figure 2-13 VMS Policy Configuration, Remote
Subnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Chapter 3 Figures
Figure 3-13 VFS Session Configuration Example .
3-11
Figure 3-14 New Session Listing. . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Figure 3-15 Session Listing, Schedule View . 3-12
Figure 3-16 Progress View, Transmit . . . . . . 3-13
Figure 3-17 Detail Progress View, Transmit . 3-13
Figure 3-18 VMS, Example of Vipersat Network . .
3-14
Figure 3-19 VMS Bandwidth View. . . . . . . . . 3-14
Figure 3-20 Log View, Event Status . . . . . . . 3-15
Figure 3-1 VFS Main Window, Functional Areas .
3-1
Figure 3-2 About Vipersat File Streamer window .
3-3
Figure 3-3 VFS Tool Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Figure 3-4 VFS Main Window, Initial . . . . . . . . 3-5
Figure 3-5 VFS Event Log, Initial . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Figure 3-6 Connect to VFS Gateway dialog . . 3-6
Figure 3-7 Global Configuration Settings, Hub
Gateway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Figure 3-8 Global Configuration Settings, Remote
Gateway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Figure 3-9 Session Configuration, Remote Gateway
3-8
Figure 3-10 Session Configuration, Hub Gateway
3-9
Figure 3-11 VFS Directory Browser . . . . . . . 3-10
Figure 3-12 VFS File Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
iii
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iv VFS User Guide
GENERAL
How to Use This Manual
This manual documents the features and functions of the Vipersat File Streamer
software application, and guides the user in how to use this product in a Vipersat network.
Workstation users, as well as network administrators and operators responsible
for the configuration and maintenance of the Vipersat satellite network, are the
intended audience for this document.
C
HAPTER
Manual Organization
This User Guide is organized into the following sections:
Chapter 1 — General
Contains VFS product description, customer support information, and manual
conventions and references.
Chapter 2 — Installation
Covers the steps for installing the VFS client software application on a host PC/
workstation, and enabling the VFS feature option on Vipersat modems.
Chapter 1 - General 1-1
How to Use This Manual
Chapter 3 — Using VFS
Describes using VFS for streaming data files over the Vipersat network at high
transmission rates between PC hosts running the VFS application.
Appendix A — Glossary
A glossary of terms that pertain to Vipersat satellite network technology.
Conventions and References
The following conventions are utilized in this manual to assist the reader:
NOTE
Note: Provides important information relevant to the accompanying
text.
Tip: Provides complementary information that facilitates the
associated actions or instructions.
Caution: Provides explanatory text that notifies the reader of
possible consequences of an action.
Warning: Provides precautionary text that describes a potentially
hazardous situation. Failure to take or avoid a specified
action may result in damage to equipment.
The following documents are referenced in this manual, and provide supplementary information for the reader:
• Vipersat CDM-570/570L User Guide (Part Number 22125)
• Vipersat CDD-56X Series User Guide (Part Number 22137)
• Vipersat Management System User Guide (Part Number 22156)
1-2 VFS User Guide
Product Description
Introduction
Vipersat File Streamer (VFS) is a software application that allows rapid file
transfers over the Comtech EF Data Vipersat network between host PCs that are
running the VFS application. VFS runs on a Microsoft Windows-based PC/
workstation and, together with the Vipersat Management System (VMS),
utilizes the bandwidth-on-demand capabilities of the system for applications
such as file transfers.
VFS, in conjunction with Vipersat-enabled IP modems and the VMS, can
stream large files from one workstation to another workstation over the satellite
network. VFS overcomes the limitations of TCP/IP over satellite links by implementing an efficient and reliable datagram protocol, while at the same time
having the ability to request dynamic SCPC (dSCPC) satellite bandwidth.
Simplicity of Operation
Through its graphical user interface, VFS simplifies the file transfer process by
allowing the operator to select which files or folders are to be transferred and
where they are to be stored. Files or folders can be dragged from the desktop or
Windows Explorer™ and dropped into the VFS window to create a new transfer
session. Transfers can be scheduled on a periodic basis or performed immediately. Scheduled transfers during non-peak hours aid in avoiding network
congestion.
Product Description
Overview
Designed to transfer files across the Vipersat network over satellite, VFS uses
UDP as a transport layer protocol together with the proprietary Streamload
protocol rather than using TCP, a common standard for computer communications. The advantages that TCP/IP provides for typical internet communications
can become limitations when passing traffic over a satellite network, where
inherent delays can be mistaken for congestion or low bandwidth, resulting in
compromised transmission rates. Instead of constantly monitoring for acknowledgements and retransmission of bad or lost data, the Streamload protocol
streams all data packets and performs any necessary retransmission only at the
end of the session.
With the addition of VFS into the Vipersat Network solution, channel utilization
efficiencies improve dramatically over standard FTP file transfers.
VFS is a peer-to-peer application where each host in the network can directly
communicate with any other host. With VFS, there is no centrally located server
required to manage file transfers in the network. VFS authorization is controlled
Chapter 1 - General 1-3
Product Description
by enabling a FAST feature code within the gateway modems at each endpoint
in the network.
VFS receives authorization from the local CDM terminal, which serves as a
proxy between VFS and the VMS, then utilizes VESP to request switches from
VMS to support the required bandwidths for file transfers. Any number of transfers—incoming or outgoing—can be handled at any time. Because VFS runs as
a Windows service on the host PC, logging in is not required and file transfers
are managed unattended.
The VFS GUI configuration tool is used to schedule session transfers of individual files or entire directories, and even set up “hot” directories where any file
placed into that directory is immediately sent to its destination.
A typical network configuration diagram is shown in figure 1-1, below. File
transfers can be executed between the Hub and a Remote, as well as between
two Remotes utilizing a mesh application.
NOTE
Note: For meshed circuits, an expansion unit is required at the receiving
Remote and at the Hub. When transferring a file from a Remote to the
Hub, an expansion unit is required at the Hub only. A file transfer originating at the Hub and sent to a Remote will utilize the TDM outbound,
and no expansion unit is required.
Figure 1-1
1-4 VFS User Guide
VFS Application on a Vipersat Network
Product Description
Features
• Maximize (up to 99%) channel utilization of satellite bandwidth for all bit
rates
• Significant reduction in file transfer time when compared to TCP/IP-based
solutions such as FTP or HTTP
• Integrates with the Vipersat Management System, providing dynamic
SCPC satellite bandwidth for all file transfers
• Eliminates the requirement for additional hardware devices such as PEP
products or accelerators
• Improved OPEX savings
• Simple GUI interface and ease of setup
• Files can be distributed on a schedule or immediately
• Event logging of file transfers and real time transfer status indicators
• Runs in the background as a Windows Service, even when user is not
logged onto host PC
File Transfer Status
The progress of sending and receiving file transfers is visually displayed
through the Progress View screen. Progress bars exist for the duration of the
transfer. Progress bars use color coding to indicate transmission state. Blue indicates a normal transfer state, while yellow indicates missing packets are being
resent.
Event Log
VFS maintains a log of files transferred in both sent and received directions.
Information contained in the event log indicates the size of the file, the source
and destination locations, as well as the allocated bandwidth.
System Requirements
VFS is a Windows™ based application that can be run from any client PC using
Windows 2000 or higher and must meet the hardware and software requirements listed below:
Chapter 1 - General 1-5
Product Description
Client PC Components
• CPU – Pentium IV, 3.0 GHz or higher
• Operating System – Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server
• RAM – 1 GB
• Bus Speed – 100 MHz
• Hard Disk Space – 20 GB
• Video – XVGA, 1280 x 1024, 75 Hz
• Network Interface – Ethernet 10/100 Base-T NIC
Satellite Network Components
• Satellite Modem(s):
• Vipersat Management System – VMS v3.3 or greater
Gateway Modem – Vipersat IP Modem with VFS FAST option enabled
Expansion Unit(s) – as required per application
1-6 VFS User Guide
Customer Support
Contact Information
Contact Comtech Vipersat Networks Customer Support for information or
assistance with product support, service, or training on any Vipersat product.
Mail: 3215 Skyway Court
Phone: 1+510-252-1462
Fax: 1+510-252-1695
Email: support@comtechefdata.com
Web: www.comtechefdata.com
Reader Comments / Corrections
If the reader would like to submit any comments or corrections regarding this
manual and its contents, please forward them to a Comtech Vipersat Customer
Support representative. All input is appreciated.
Customer Support
Fremont, CA 94539
USA
Chapter 1 - General 1-7
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