Create and Manage Dropboxes

The IBM Aspera Faspex on Demand dropbox feature acts as a distribution list within Faspex. Packages sent to a dropbox are distributed to the inbox of each member of the dropbox. Dropboxes also offer the following capabilities:
  1. To create a dropbox, go to Workgroups from the Faspex menu and select Create New > Dropbox.
  2. Name your dropbox and enter instructions for submitters.
  3. Optional: Choose a metadata profile.
    Note: The Metadata profile option only appears when an admin has created metadata profiles for Faspex.
    Metadata is additional information that a user can send with a file package. An administrator can designate which metadata profile each dropbox's Submit Package page uses, based on configured metadata profiles. Every dropbox you create can use a unique metadata profile. For more information on setting up your metadata profiles for dropboxes and normal package submissions, see Creating Metadata Profiles.
  4. Optional: Save metadata to file.
    Note: The Save metadata to file option only appears when an admin has created metadata profiles for Faspex.
    Faspex saves the metadata included in this package to the root directory as the file aspera-metadata.xml. If SaveMetadataInPackage is also set to "true" in the faspex.yml configuration file, aspera-metadata.xml is instead inserted inside packages, and is visible when the package contents are viewed in Faspex. For more information about faspex.yml options, see Configuring Faspex with faspex.yml.
  5. Optional: Require encryption-at-rest.
    Note: The Require encryption-at-rest option only appears when enabled for dropboxes by an admin. For more information on encryption-at-rest, see Configuring Encryption. .
    Encryption-at-rest
    • Use server default
    • Always
    • Never
    • Optional
  6. Allow submission of packages from a public URL.
    Important: The Allow submission via public URL option only appears when enabled for dropboxes by an admin. For more information on public URLs, see Configuring Public URLs.

    A Public URL can be used by external senders to submit packages to both registered Faspex users and dropboxes. Public URLs allow external senders to submit a package without being individually invited to submit a package. When a Public URL is enabled and sent to an email, instant message, website, and so on, the following workflow occurs:

    • The external sender clicks the Public URL for the dropbox.
    • The sender is directed to page where he or she is asked to enter and submit an email address.
    • A private link is automatically emailed to the sender.
    • The sender clicks the private link and is automatically redirected to the dropbox package submission page.
    • Once the package is submitted through the private link, the dropbox receives the package.

    Select Allow to enable the Public URL feature for this dropbox. Select Deny to disable the feature for this dropbox. Changing the dropbox setting overrides the system default set in the Faspex Server settings.

  7. Choose your dropbox's inbox destination. Packages sent to the dropbox are stored at this location.
    • Server default: Use the node and directory set by the administrator as the server default.
    • Custom: Choose from the list of local and remote nodes and the directory on your chosen node.
    When selecting a Custom inbox destination, note the following:
    • Only Faspex administrators can set the location of a dropbox inbox. Dropbox administrators do not have this power.
    • Incoming packages are stored in two locations: the custom location and the server default location. When packages are deleted from the default location through the Web UI, they are not automatically removed from the custom location.
      Tip: If you do not want packages stored in two locations, you can select Senders upload directly to custom inbox. When this feature is enabled, packages sent to this dropbox are not stored in the default location but only in the custom inbox.
    • Packages are never deleted from a custom dropbox inbox if it is different from the default inbox. Settings for automatic deletion of packages when they are downloaded or when they expire do not apply.
    • Even if symbolic links are enabled for a storage location, packages sent to a dropbox with a custom inbox will not be symbolic links. The default inbox location contains symbolic links, but custom inboxes contain actual files.
  8. Optional: Enable file relay.

    File relay enables you to forward all packages sent to a workgroup or dropbox to multiple remote destinations. When you create or modify a workgroup or dropbox, you can select multiple file relay destinations. You can also specify for each destination whether override is enabled and the list of users to be notified.

    All packages sent to this workgroup or dropbox are uploaded to the local Faspex server. They are then relayed to a custom inbox (if set up), preserving directory structures, and then sent to remote destinations without any directory structures.

    Note: If a custom inbox and a remote destination are used at the same time, files are relayed to both synchronously. The custom inbox shows the transfer status until the transfer succeeds. After that, the status to the remote destination is displayed. However, if the transfer to the custom inbox fails, the custom inbox shows an error, and the status of the transfer to the remote destination is not available.

    In the Server > Notifications section, you can use the Relay Started CC email template to notify users when package forwarding is started, a Relay Finished CC email template to let users know when package forwarding is completed, and a Relay Error CC email template to notify users when package forwarding has failed. For details see Configuring Email Notifications.

  9. Set permissions for dropbox admins and users.
    You can give dropbox admins permission to take the following actions:
    • Add existing Faspex users to the dropbox and remove dropbox members as long as they are not dropbox administrators.
    • Invite or remove outside submitters.
    • Create new users as members of this dropbox and edit, delete, or remove them after their creation.
    • Add or remove directory service groups as members of this dropbox.
    You can also give standard dropbox users the ability to invite outside submitters.
  10. Click the Create button
    Your new dropbox should now be listed on the Workgroups page along with any other existing dropboxes or workgroups.