A Store-and-Forward, "Drop-Box" Depository Mailbox System for Internets, Intranets & Extranets
IntroductionTCP/IP has emerged as the dominant protocol in corporate networks. CTI's virtual Mailbox System operates over LANs and WANs
and the Internet for Document Exchange.
CTI’s IP oriented Mailbox System gives companies, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), financial institutions, divisions, departments, governmental offices, law firms, medical facilities,
EDI Software Manufactures, or other types of operations a way to exchange data files quickly between inside locations (over LANs and WANs) and outside locations using high-speed modems over either standard dial-up, or T1 telephone lines
over the Internet.
No more sending "runners." No more delivering paper documents, floppy/zip disks, or cutting mag-tapes No more midnight deliveries.
The FastSync Mailbox System is a powerful, microprocessor oriented Data Management and Store-and-Forward Mailbox System that supports data sharing / data transmissions in a very secure client/server virtual FTP server application environment that would otherwise have to be handled by an expensive mainframe computer system.
Different departments, branch offices, other divisions, clients and others can be provided important data through the FastSync seamless and automated delivery system. Finally you have a system that provides maximum file control management.
CTI's IP based electronic mailbox system is specifically targeted toward sites that require fast and secure file transfers along with comprehensive audit trails.
Especially important - broken files are re-linked from the point of break - file transfers don't have to start over from the beginning of the file. Automatic restart from the point of failure provides for maximum efficiency within the enterprise.
The system begins where conventional E-mail systems end with their short text based messages and occasional attached file.
The FastSync Mailbox system is to Parcel Post (large package/large file) what E-mail is to the U.S. Mail (a letter).
And the system provides a total file management audit trail for every file sent and/or received within the mailbox system. Log files are created at the beginning of each month and maintained for the year. Logs include who sent what and when - was the transmission successful - was it picked-up by the receiving party - when and where were the files archived - when were the files purged from the system - etc.
This system of non-repudiation - is a guaranteed proof of document delivery - you know that a specific transaction took place at such and such time. And, the system knows exactly who was involved in the transaction and writes the event into a comprehensive transaction log.
Automation is another important feature that is part of the Mailbox System. Any individual mailbox can be automated to perform incremental tasks. Plus, you are provided a powerful Event Scheduler program as well as an ftpXfer program (an FTP utility allows FTP put and get operations to be performed from single command line - the single command line capability makes it useful in performing automated file transfers in unattended environments) that can completely automate functions throughout the enterprise that would otherwise have to be handled manually. The extreme flexibility of the Event Scheduler combined with ftpXfer capabilities provides the capability to configure virtually any type of event to occur at virtually any time. Here is one example of an Extranet using the Mailbox System
in a dial-up environment. The preferred alternative today would be to
use the Internet - which is free.
In dial-up situations, CTI's mailbox systems are ideally suited to the newest 56Kbps (V.90)
standard analog modems. In an I.P. LAN/WAN environment the individuals, departments, and divisions have the security, control and speed they need to operate successfully in today's business marketplace.
Available Mailbox Versions. There are two Server Mailbox "'Post Office" versions. The standard TCP/IP (FTP) based Mailbox Server, and a Web Server both of which run upon NT based platform(s). There are three Client Mailbox models - the GUI based TCP/IP model supporting 32 bit Windows 95, 98 and NT Workstation users, and two browser interface models.
To use one of the web clients, you'll need to have either Netscape Navigator and Communicator 3.02 or later, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or later.
Mailbox Overview. Built-in firewall security and audit trail reporting, in addition to such file transfer features as native binary transfers, transmission progress indication and automatic resumption of interrupted transmissions make this system the ideal vehicle for large binary file transfers. Industry standard TCP/IP, PPP [also Microsoft's PPTP], and FTP protocols allow this IP based system to be used over the Internet, or to ride “piggy-back” on the corporate Intranet.
The Web based Client packages allow for certain browsers on any UNIX based system to interface into a FastSync Web Server Mailbox system. However, for users who prefer the standard TCP/IP Client software interface, yet still operate from RISC based platforms, the client software may be operated through SoftWindows98 from Insignia Solutions, Inc on the following platforms:
HP 9000s running HP/UX 10.20
IBM RS/6000s running AIX 4.1.4
Sun SPARCstation systems running Solaris 2.5 or SunOS 4.1.4 and
SGI systems running IRIX 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4."
According to Insignia, SoftWindows95/98 V4 for UNIX eliminates the need for a second desktop computer by allowing all Microsoft Windows 95/98 applications to run on UNIX workstations. Office automation suites (such as Lotus SmartSuite, Corel Office Professional, and MS Office) and PC based messaging systems (such as cc: Mail, Lotus Notes, MS Exchange, and CTI's FastSync Mailbox Hub) all become available to the UNIX desktop running alongside existing UNIX applications.
SoftWindows95/98 for UNIX also allows the end user to share files with PC co-workers and includes extensive networking support that integrates the UNIX workstation into the PC environment.
Types of Mailboxes. Any number of different kinds of mailboxes can be defined and made available at the host Server. For example:
Conventional client and group mailboxes for sending and obtaining any type of data files such as engineering drawings like CAD files, heavy duty graphic files, database records of all types, etc;
Public for special types of data that can be downloaded as required by the Client to keep abreast of changes like Engineering Specifications and/or general company activities such as schedules, meetings, EDI Format changes, marketing information et cetera - these types of mailboxes are easy to establish and new clients can be added when necessary.
Up-date Directory Mailboxes (for receiving software distribution and up-grades, broadcast mailboxing for receiving special information from the Server host site such as Holiday Messages, General Information Updates, and Down-time Notices).
Corporate-wide Data Warehouse and Data Mart information (transportation schedules, open jobs, stock prices, employee phonebooks, company history, current marketing ads, corporate policies and procedures, employee handbooks, technical information, product schedules, even weekly cafeteria menus). Everything is available within a couple of clicks.
Preferred Server Platform - Question --- Why did CTI select Microsoft's NT as the preferred platform for its FastSync® Server IP Mailbox System?
Answer - A Windows NT® Server 4.0 offers a complete and integrated Internet, Intranet, and Extranet platform. This allows a company to expand an existing network to include the Internet and Intranet with Windows NT Server 4.0 programs including: Internet Information Server, FrontPage web authoring tool, along with Index Server. All available free off the Web from Microsoft. Innovations such as PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol), MultiLink Remote Access and DNS (Distributed File Network) make it even easier by offering secure, flexible, high-bandwidth communication access the Internet.
Even IBM, in a recent turnabout from their anti-Microsoft stance, has announced support for Microsoft's NT on Servers, office suites, and even their AS/400e mini-computer system.
Click here for more information (use your BACK key to return here).
Why use PPTP? Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), is a
networking technology that allows you to use the Internet as your own secure virtual private network (VPN). PPTP is integrated with the Remote Access Services (RAS) server which is built into Windows NT Server. With PPTP, your users can dial into a local ISP, or connect directly to the Internet, and access their network just as easily and securely as if they were at their desks.
Attention Internet Service Providers. Are you feeling the heat of having to keep-up with standard E-mail messages that are getting bigger with more file attachments or embedded graphics and multimedia?
Did you know that an attached binary file grows by about 40% because of the MIME? Have you been asked by your business oriented customers to provide a file transfer service that is targeted specifically toward large, binary files (not short e-mail based text files)? With total security? And, have the ability to provide a complete audit trail of who sent what, when, and was it picked-up, and if so, when? Along with a reporting capability that includes the size of the file and the total number of bytes of all files transferred? Then, the FastSync Mailbox Server system on an NT server may be your answer for your site. It can be easily integrated into your existing system with a simple Ethernet connection into your router equipment.
Lists of specific clients (including LAN/WAN users, remote client sites and remote groups) connected to the central mailbox Server.
Total administrative control functions like assigning both Client users and Group IDs along with passwords and Firewall access permissions.
Control over length of Passwords.
Date and time of last session time stamps.
Optional Sign-On Messages displayed to incoming clients.
Detailed information as to what transactions have occurred within the mailbox system including Reports by Traffic, Busy Signals, Sessions (who, date/time logged on/off, action occurring), User Directory (each user can be assigned a separate directory for security purposes), File names both sent and received, how many bytes transmitted, along with date and time stamps, et cetera. User Mail boxes, Group Mailboxes, User Directories, Purged Files (delivered and undelivered), Purge Warnings (delivered and undelivered), and so forth.
Detailed reporting functions over a 12 month period are broken down by month. Reports can be printed for each client (or group) that includes a complete description of everything that went on including the number of bytes sent and received.
System Purging Intervals with automatic scheduling capabilities.
Naming capability for all inbound and outbound files.
Inbound mailboxes can be automated --- for example, a mailbox can be established to automatically re-route incoming files to leased or ISDN lines at other locations.
Server Hardware. For potential Server users who would like to see a recommended Pentium Server Hardware system,click here.
Speed. CTI’s Mailbox is designed for high-speed
over the Internet - even over dial-up lines. This Mailbox system can also support Microsoft's MultiLink Point-to-Point Protocol which can further improve throughput by automatically attaching additional modems for calling into the Mailbox Post Office Server Hub.
Security for Client TCP/IP Dial-Ups.
TCP/IP by nature is an “open” system and therefore subject to security problems. Outlined below is a brief discussion of the security options available for the FastSync Mailbox system. A detailed description of these options can be found in the document entitled “The FastSync Firewall: Pros and Cons” that is available from CTI. There are three basic configurations for the FastSync Mailbox Server system, listed in order of increasing security implementation:
Non-Firewall, Shared Directory
Non-Firewall, Private Directory
FastSync Firewall
The FastSync Firewall implementation of the CTI FastSync Post Office Hub Mailbox file transfer system is a fast, easy-to-manage system providing virtually foolproof security. This is the recommended implementation for any file transfer system in which security is an issue. Although the Non-Firewall implementations are somewhat faster, and the Non-Firewall, Shared Directory implementation is easier to manage, the lax security afforded by these models makes them suitable only on systems where security is not a major issue.
Client sites receive automatic up-dates sent to their system during each connect into the Server (i.e., the client will receive a list of Server(s) and Client(s) that the central host will allow them to connect with).
Client sites have the choice of either automatically receiving all files from the Server, or merely obtaining a list of the files waiting in their mailbox, or receiving selected files only. The same capability exists for sending files. And, everything can be automated. Remote client sites may have a secure FTP link to the Post Office (Server) for authenticated and controlled access to proprietary and/or confidential files.
Client sites have the capability and choice of sending files to multiple FastConnect Server sites. Also, they may send to other client sites through the Server (this assumes that the Administrator at the central hub Server will allow this “pass-through” to occur, but it is definitely possible).
Client sites can confirm that the files were delivered to other sites (Servers and/or Clients), and can also see exactly when they were picked-up. It’s just like having Certified Mail.
Client sites have the capability of operating into Servers
supporting either high-speed internet DSL, Cable or analog dial-up
modems.
Client sites have the ability to re-link “broken” files rather than having to start a file transfer from the beginning again. This is a special feature of all the FastSync mailbox systems and not standard as part of TCP/IP. In other words, if a 10 megabyte file is being sent and 9 megabytes have been sent when the system goes down (for whatever reason such as a lightening hit or electrical failure), only the balance of the file (1 megabyte) will be sent, thus saving time and money.
The Browser based client interfaces do not have all the features and capabilities of the conventional client interface. Click here for Client Comparisons.
A sophisticated Event Scheduler program allows the user to determine when to send and/or receive files from the system. Not only that, but you can use the Scheduler program for other tasks as well. Here is one of the user screens ...
Use the Event Scheduler for other automated functions:
This overview describes two variations of the CTI FastSync Hub for Windows Post Office central server system configuration. These variations, the “Multi-Server Cluster Configuration” and the “Multi-Leg Configuration,” provide maximum flexibility for a wide variety of needs.
The “Multi-Server” (Cluster) installation uses one or more NT Servers to act as an auxiliary firewall server(s) in addition to the NT Server designated as the Post Office server. This scenario will be seen most often in large hub installations where the communications burden is too great to be borne efficiently by a single PC.
The “Multi-Leg” installation allows users from separate networks to communicate over a common network backbone. This scenario accommodates the situation where Post Office clients are pre-installed on separate networks with separate access to the Post Office. For example, an Engineering Department server using TCP/IP and another Accounting Department server using Novell’s IPX. Both scenarios are discussed in detail below.
CTI’s IP oriented Mailbox System gives companies, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), financial institutions, divisions, departments, governmental offices, law firms, medical facilities,
EDI Software Manufactures, or other types of operations a way to exchange data files quickly between inside locations (over LANs and WANs) and outside locations using high-speed modems over either standard dial-up, or T1 telephone lines
over the Internet.
Conventional client and group mailboxes for sending and obtaining any type of data files such as engineering drawings like CAD files, heavy duty graphic files, database records of all types, etc;
