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Status Functionality already exists
Workspace Aspera Ideas
Created by Guest
Created on Jun 2, 2021

Headless Aspera Connect

We currently have Aspera Connect running 24/7 on a virtual machine to run all our automated transfers. Allowing Connect to run in a headless mode would better fit this use case. We currently need to keep a user logged into the local console session on the server to run the GUI application.

In the past, it has been suggested by Aspera support to use Aspera Cargo instead. Cargo works fine for package downloads, but does not support sync. We are using both Packages and Sync modes in Connect, so we need a headless application that supports both.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Mar 30, 2023
    Hi Seth. Please try the Aspera CLI, which should do everything you want to do with Cargo.
    You can find it here: this is an opensource project.

    https://github.com/IBM/aspera-cli

    I’m interested in how it goes for you.
    Wishing you well,
    +a+
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Nov 18, 2021
    Thank you, Chris. We’ll add to docs.

    Seth, we have a new release of Cargo and Connect coming up soon and they are getting closer to unified.
    I will let you know once async is on for Cargo.
  • Guest
    Reply
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    Nov 18, 2021
    Let's see if this cnp's correctly. 1. Generate private key: openssl genrsa -out /Users/[user]/.ssh/private-key.pem 4096 2. Create public from private: openssl rsa -in /Users/[user]/.ssh/private_key.pem -pubout -out /Users/[user]/.ssh/aoc_key.pub.pem 3. Add Public to AOC User prefs on "AOC Account settings" via web browser to get Publlic Key Text: cat /Users/[user]/.ssh/aoc_key.pub.pem 4. Create AOC Conf file: ~/Applications/Aspera\ Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/asperaconnect -w /Users/[user]/Desktop/example_aoc.conf 5. Edit conf file - add account info: { "conf": { "accounts": [ { "authentication_type": "JWT", "host": "https://wb.ibmaspera.com", "name": "Example AOC", "private_key": "/Users/[user]/.ssh/private-key.pem", "user": "user@blahmail.com", } ], 6. Kill all connect services 8. Wipe Connect current users: ~/Applications/Aspera\ Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/asperaconnect -u 7. Load conf file ~/Applications/Aspera\ Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/asperaconnect -f /Users/[user]/Desktop/example_aoc.conf 8. Setup remaining Account prefs in Connect GUI
  • Guest
    Reply
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    Nov 18, 2021
    Thanks, Chris. Do you mind attaching the conf file?
  • Guest
    Reply
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    Nov 18, 2021

    FYI. We found out how to do this based on Cargo's documentation. Use a PEM key in AoC, then make this conf file and it will work headlessly (anecdotal confirmation from our UK office).

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Nov 16, 2021

    Hi Anya,

    Apologies for not responding sooner, apparently I don't get notified of guest comments. Short answer is yes, we still need this. I will reply to a few points in the previous comments as well:


    Do you have Connect 4.0? They integrated Aspera Drive into it. That means it can download/sync with you in a "headless" way like Aspera Cargo.

    I do have Connect 4.0, but as far as I know, it does not support running in a headless mode. I just tried creating a Windows service pointing to asperaconnect.exe and it does not start. If this is already possible and I'm just missing something, please let me know.


    If I understand well, you need to "sync" a client against "Aspera on Cloud Files app".
    The application for that is Connect 4.x (replaces Drive 3.x).

    Sort of. We need to sync a headless client against AoC Files. Connect 4.x/Drive 3.x work fine in a graphical mode, we've been using them for many years (and also had a private feature request in for headless Drive for many years before this site was created).


    Note that headless operations against AoC Files can be done using ascli : https://github.com/IBM/aspera-cli

    This is interesting, I had not seen this project before. Is this intended to be a replacement for the official Aspera CLI client offered on the Aspera website? It seems to be much more fully-featured.

    That said, I don't think it is appropriate for our use case. I want a service that will run continuously in the background, whereas this seems to be more for one off operations. I'm sure it's possible to write a script that accomplishes what I'm looking for by leveraging this cli tool, but I don't want to reimplement all the logic that Drive/Connect already do for me.


    In the past I have seen Drive running as a service (through a wrapper).

    I considered this as well, and could probably get it working, but I would prefer an officially supported solution, especially considering that an official headless client already exists, but does not support all the features of the graphical client. I'm basically looking for a unified Connect and Cargo.


    Also, Connect 4.x supports JWT private key-based authentication to AoC , so that should also allow headless (unless the GUI disallows that)

    The limitation here isn't anything to do with authentication methods. As I mentioned above, asperaconnect.exe will not start as a Windows service. If you know a solution to this, please let me know.


    Cheers,

    Seth

  • Guest
    Reply
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    Nov 16, 2021
    Hi Seth, I am checking in about this. What did you end up doing? We are considering your original ask (sync in Cargo); please let me know if you still need that.
  • Guest
    Reply
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    Oct 15, 2021

    If I understand well, you need to "sync" a client against "Aspera on Cloud Files app".

    The application for that is Connect 4.x (replaces Drive 3.x).

    Pure HSTS/HSTE do not really solve this.

    Note that headless operations against AoC Files can be done using ascli : https://github.com/IBM/aspera-cli

    In the past I have seen Drive running as a service (through a wrapper).

    Also, Connect 4.x supports JWT private key-based authentication to AoC , so that should also allow headless (unless the GUI disallows that)

  • Guest
    Reply
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    Sep 27, 2021

    Do you have Connect 4.0? They integrated Aspera Drive into it. That means it can download/sync with you in a "headless" way like Aspera Cargo.

  • Guest
    Reply
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    Jun 7, 2021

    Hi Brian,

    Our use case is to automatically download all files sent to us on Aspera. We are transferring against Aspera on Cloud.

    I'll investigate High-Speed Transfer Server or High-Speed Transfer Endpoint, I've never used them before but if that's the suggestion solution, we can probably make it work.

    Thanks for the suggestion, I'll let you know how it goes.

  • Admin
    Brian Din
    Reply
    |
    Jun 7, 2021

    Hi,


    Can you confirm what your use case is? Are you transferring against Aspera on Cloud or a customer hosted High-Speed Transfer Server?

    Also, if you are interested in a headless transfer, you could use High-Speed Transfer Server or High-Speed Transfer Endpoint. Have you considered these options?


    Thanks