Microsoft® File Transfer Manager
File transfer support provided by Microsoft Operations Services
Welcome to Microsoft File Transfer Manager web site. Here we will provide you the
information necessary to familiarize yourself with FTM functionality, explain
features introduced with the new release and some trouble shooting tips.
 Attention Vista Users!!! FTM Workaround for Downloads
Description: Vista’s enhanced security prevents user from downloading files to pre-created, system owned folders on your hard drive using FTM.
An error message displays “Unable to open file on client.”
Resolution:
1. Create a download folder on your hard drive.
2. Launch FTM.
3. Click Options.
4. Select the General tab.
5. In the section that says “Files received will be placed in this folder”, click Browse and select the download folder that you created in step #1.
6. Click OK.
Overview of Microsoft File Transfer Manager (FTM)
FTM is a client-side application whose purpose is to provide secure and
guaranteed delivery when downloading or uploading large files over the
internet.
- Suspend/Resume capability allows users to:
- Resume interrupted transfers
- Pause and resume a file transfer as needed
- Multiple file transfers can be queued and prioritized
- Up to four transfer packages can be
transferred concurrently to overcome the impact of network latency
- Built-in error checking and recovery from corruptions
introduced in transport
New features in FTM 5.0 release
Download Acceleration
The goal of download acceleration is to make optimum use of your network bandwidth by
overcoming network latency as much as possible. As a result, those users who
have not been getting their bandwidth fully utilized due to internet latency are
expected to see an increase in download speed. Transfers in your current
transfer list that meet a certain criteria are eligible for download acceleration.
FTM automatically determines which queued transfers meet that criteria and uses
the download acceleration while transferring them.
How does it work?
To accelerate downloads, FTM splits a large file into multiple segments and simultaneously
downloads as many segments as possible within some constraints such as your
available network bandwidth, any speed limits that you have set (explained
below) and server side controls that may exist occasionally during peak
demands.
Controls
In FTM 5.0, download acceleration is enabled by default and is set to make the most of
your available bandwidth. If you are in an environment where you need to share
bandwidth with others and would like to set a limit
on the bandwidth consumed by FTM or disable
the download acceleration altogether, you can do so from FTM Options
dialog.
Occasionally during heavy download demands, there may be server side constraints that could
limit the download speed. The status bar on FTM client will indicate the
presence of any limits set by you or constraints on the server side.
The transfer should be a download (not upload) and should have at least one file
which is more than 2 MB in size. Files smaller than 2 MB in size will not
attempt to use multi-segment download acceleration, but all of the existing
suspend/resume features are still available.
FTM is a service used by multiple Microsoft programs. A few programs do not offer download
acceleration yet. If you are downloading files from those program sites using FTM,
then those transfers will not utilize download acceleration.
Concurrent Transfers
You can queue multiple transfers in your Current Transfers list and have
up to four active transfers running at the same time (the earlier limit was
two). The allowed number of concurrent active transfers is configurable in FTM Options
dialog by setting Maximum Concurrent Transfers.
Please note than even though Maximum Concurrent Transfers is set to more
than one, the transfers that are eligible for download acceleration will be
processed serially one transfer at a time. In those instances, the latency is
overcome by splitting each file into segments and transferring multiple
segments simultaneously.
The benefit of concurrent transfers will be realized by those transfers that are
not eligible for download acceleration. By running more than one such transfers
concurrently, FTM facilitates in overcoming network latency and making good
utilization of bandwidth.
How does FTM maintain the pool of active transfers?
- While selecting
the queued transfers from Current Transfers list, FTM will
identify which are eligible for download acceleration and which are not.
- The transfers
that are eligible for download acceleration will be processed one at a time.
- Transfers that
are not eligible for download acceleration will be processed concurrently as
long as there is a slot available in active transfer pool.
- FTM will
maintain the active transfer pool in such a way that the total number of active
transfers (with and without download acceleration) at any given time does not
exceed Maximum Concurrent Transfers.
File Validation after
Download
FTM validates the file integrity after downloading each file, before considering
the download as complete. The progress of this file validation is displayed on
the FTM status bar. In a transfer that consists of multiple files, the validation
occurs after each file is downloaded before the download of next file begins.
Upload Confirmation
If you are doing an upload, FTM will perform some additional confirmations on the
server side to ensure that the file has been successfully received before
considering the upload as completed.
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