SRC?

[Franca]

Um, that was supposed to be "SRC", not "Src" in the subject.... Supposedly stands for "Send/Receive Client". Anybody know about software like this? It sounds a bit similar to FTP but am wondering what the differences are and whether we want this on our computers. One of our large corporate clients has developed their own version of this software for transfer of large files to and fro. Here's the [names edited to protect the innocent] blurb:

"SRC ("Send/Receive Client") is a new tool for accessing the XXX AssetDelivery service.

This simple, downloadable application extends the full power of the XXX AssetDelivery service all the way to your PC or
Mac desktop. You can now send and receive your largest digital assets
directly from your Internet connected desktop or laptop computer."

At the moment this is all the info I have and I'm reluctant to download it willy-nilly without knowing a bit more. There may be a readme somewhere, but the link goes directly to a download. http://desktoppublishingforum.com/bb/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Oh, and what's with using the word "assets" for "files"?? Is this normal or just XXX corporate babble?

[iamback]

Um, that was supposed to be "SRC", not "Src" in the subject.... Supposedly stands for "Send/Receive Client".Why on earth would someone develop their own protocol when we already have FTP and even Secure FTP (SFTP) in various incarnations, as well as HTTP upload and download?

I would certainly not download such an application unless they make it crystal clear why you'd need it and what the supposed advantage is.

[ktinkel]

Um, that was supposed to be "SRC", not "Src" in the subject.... Don’t know anything about it, but I did fix the title, which had fallen into a vB process that seeks to prevent people from hollering.

A moderator can edit a title to all caps.

[Franca]

Don’t know anything about it, but I did fix the title, which had fallen into a vB process that seeks to prevent people from hollering.

A moderator can edit a title to all caps.I dimly recall something about that now. Something else to read up on. ;)

[Franca]

Why on earth would someone develop their own protocol when we already have FTP and even Secure FTP (SFTP) in various incarnations, as well as HTTP upload and download?My thoughts exactly. Just because they can? All we needed was for them to give us an e-mail address on a server that accepts large files. We know how to get files up there; we just would like them not to bounce. http://desktoppublishingforum.com/bb/images/smilies/tongue.gif Instead they invite us to download this piece of software they seem to be so proud of. Perhaps it's wonderful but ....

I would certainly not download such an application unless they make it crystal clear why you'd need it and what the supposed advantage is.I'm in the process of researching further.... I've discovered there is some info on their site so will read it thoroughly before deciding what to do. Or not do. ;)

[Steve Rindsberg]

From Franca's description, it's not clear that it's a protocol. It might simply be an application that "wraps" FTP and other useful functions into a friendly package that their customers/employees can use w/o having to acquire and learn several other programs. I know that Franca has used another program that did essentially that; she downloaded it from a mutual friend who was one of my beta testers while we were developing the app. ;-)

OTOH, there's a lot of really idiotic "download client" stuff floating around out there. Adobe and MS are fond of pushing down unwilling throats.

Over to you for clarifcation, Franca.

[Michael Rowley]

Steve:

It sounds as if it might be similar to Across, described as a 'standby remote client'. Across is intended for translators: the CD says, 'Ihr Zugriff auf die across Server Ihrer Auftraggeber'.

I've never used it, but I have the CD in front of me.

[Franca]

OK, seems it's kosher to post a couple of links to info about the program:

Overview (http://www.gmassetdelivery.com/downloads/src/what_it_is.html)

FAQ (http://www.gmassetdelivery.com/downloads/src/support_faq.html)

Let me know what you all think! From the FAQ it looks like it "lives" in the sys tray once installed which I'm not crazy about, but maybe there's a way to set it up so it only loads when we ask it to. ?

[iamback]

Easier, more reliable, and more secure than FTPBut is it more secure than Secure FTP? Or more reliable? There are good clients that support SFTP, so "easy" is just a function of the client you use. Reading through the overview I see no reason to use this app rather than (standard) SFTP. So why not? That's what I'd ask them...

[gary]

GMAC-RFC (in neighboring Bloomington, MN) seems to be the developer (https://www.gmacrfc.com/assets/news/articles/mtech.pdf)

There once was a local outfit offering a digital content delivery "staging" service and this sounds similar.

I would guess that you need to leave it running in your SysTray to receive content sent to you, perhaps like IM file exchange, perhaps automated FTP, perhaps a bit-torrent type of service. Certainly you would need it running to send content to an associate.

I suspect it makes content delivery simpler than (S)FTP for those who up to now only knew about <shudder> attaching files to an e-mail.

[gary]

But is it more secure than Secure FTP?According to the FAQ the client uses HTTPS (port 443) to upload and download files; certainly as secure as SFTP and possibly less complex, especially given that the client uses a drag-drop interface.

[iamback]

According to the FAQ the client uses HTTPS (port 443) to upload and download files; certainly as secure as SFTP and possibly less complex, especially given that the client uses a drag-drop interface.As secure, I'll grant you that - but as far as I know HTTP is not as efficient as FTP - and the 'S' for secure in both doesn't make it less so. Lots of FTP clients also support D&D.

So my question still remains: how is this better?

[gary]

So my question still remains: how is this better?FTP clients - (1) upload file, (2) advise recipient/s (3) download file (4) check to see that everyone has downloaded file (5) delete file.

SRC works like e-mail; specify who gets which "asset". Deletion can be automatic when all recipients have retrieved the asset.

The object of FTP is *where* the files are stored.
The object of SRC appears to be "who" gets the files.

[iamback]

FTP clients - (1) upload file, (2) advise recipient/s (3) download file (4) check to see that everyone has downloaded file (5) delete file.

SRC works like e-mail; specify who gets which "asset". Deletion can be automatic when all recipients have retrieved the asset.

The object of FTP is *where* the files are stored.
The object of SRC appears to be "who" gets the files.OK - maybe not "better" but different. But I'm not sure I would like the idea of big files being pushed to my system rather than me getting a notification there is a file ready for me to retrieve - at my convenience.

At least when I download a file, I can decide at that moment where it will go - which may be essential when we're really talking about large files. If they are getting pushed to my system, it means there will be a fixed location for them - and that might cause problems if you don't know beforehand how many and how large files you are going to receive. That would actually make it less rather than more reliable than (Secure) FTP.

In other words: tell me where it is and I'll fetch it when I'm ready and store it where is most appropriate for that file.

[Steve Rindsberg]

If this is what the client uses and insists that their vendors us and it's the only software the client's employees are permitted to use, "better" is not necessarily part of the equation.

Sometimes "the only one allowed" is better than "the one that's better". :-(

[Franca]

In other words: tell me where it is and I'll fetch it when I'm ready and store it where is most appropriate for that file.This was the bit that concerned us most, especially with my husband on the road. If it were only ever used one way - us sending to them - not a big problem, but we would want to choose time and place for any incoming files. However, as Steve said, we may not have another simple option.

[Franca]

GMAC-RFC (in neighboring Bloomington, MN) seems to be the developer (https://www.gmacrfc.com/assets/news/articles/mtech.pdf)Yep, that is apparently the case.

I would guess that you need to leave it running in your SysTray to receive content sent to you, perhaps like IM file exchange, perhaps automated FTP, perhaps a bit-torrent type of service. Certainly you would need it running to send content to an associate.So perhaps it could be turned off from the systray when no activity was expected.

I suspect it makes content delivery simpler than (S)FTP for those who up to now only knew about <shudder> attaching files to an e-mail.I suppose. I've been using BulletProof FTP for so long it seems a no-brainer for me but oh well.... ;)

[Franca]

Ahhhhh, this is what we so love about giant corporate clients. Some kind soul sent us the instructions for the SRC app download hoping to solve the megafile upload problem. Well, this just in: now we find out that the person who actually needs to receive the file has never heard of the app and doesn't have it installed on her computer. http://desktoppublishingforum.com/bb/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[iamback]

this just in: now we find out that the person who actually needs to receive the file has never heard of the app and doesn't have it installed on her computer. http://desktoppublishingforum.com/bb/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif*snort*