Review: experimenting with the RocketStream beta
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Dec 3, 2007 at 7:26pm
RocketStream, a developer of technologies and solutions to accelerate digital content delivery over high-bandwidth IP networks, will release a Mac-compatible version of its RocketStream file transfer acceleration software near the end of the year. Macsimum News received an advance copy. Here’s the low-down.
RocketStream is a file transfer acceleration solution that’s fast and relatively simple to use (despite some Windows elements that show through). You can use it in scenarios where you might otherwise use FTP to transfer files, either in a client/server fashion or in point-to-point configurations. Why would you do this? RocketStream uses two proprietary protocols to overcome the detrimental effects of network latency on TCP throughput, making data throughput almost independent of geography or router hops. At least that’s what the folks at RocketStream say. Regardless, the service is indeed swift.
You see, you can’t always transfer data using the full bandwidth of your network connection because the TCP protocol throttles back the speed of data transfer when it detects latency, either due to network congestion or simply because of long distances. RocketStream is designed to restore throughput speed and maximize usage of the user’s pipe.
Its runs on any IP network, including broadband, wireless, and satellite, and is designed to reach speeds reaching 1Gbps. Of course, for most of us, 1Gbps isn’t a realistic goal, or even a possibility, because of our network access.
The all-software RocketStream suite works with Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and is composed of three products: Uplink (a client), Server (a server), and Station (a combination client and mini-server). Note that RocketStream must be running on both ends of a link in order to transfer a file. The product is designed to help anyone who has large files to transfer and long distances or network congestion in the way. It’s primarily targeted at enterprises, SMBs, mobile workers, and prosumers that send files from one location to another.
During the beta period (when we tested it), both computers running RocketStream required an active Internet connection. Once the software is fully release, this restriction will be lifted, and RocketStream will also run over private networks without requiring a public Internet connection.
RocketStream Station contains both a client and a server in one application. For our basic evaluation we used our copy of RocketStream Station as a client to connect to a remote RocketStream Server. If you have two machines available with a WAN or WAN emulator between them, you can use one copy of RocketStream Station as a client and the other as a server.
All documentation for RocketStream is available from within the application. You select “Help & Support” at the bottom of the screen, and select online documentation.
The folks at RocketStream say the software can reach speeds 10-100 times faster than FTP, and that, the faster the pipe, and the higher the latency, the greater the performance gain. We never saw speeds anywhere close to 100 times faster than FTP, but we did see boosts of 23-50 percent. It was interesting comparing UDP, PDP, and standard TCP speeds. The farther away you are from the server, the worse the performance with TCP will be—and the more benefit you will see from RocketStream.
Another nice feature: digital payloads are verified at the packet level, all protocol messages are encrypted, payloads can be further secured and even compressed in transit without pre-processing. Transfers aborted in mid session may be resumed at the next sequential byte upon reconnection.
RocketStream allows access to remote files and folders through a concept it calls Shares. A Share is a virtual name that maps to a physical directory located (or accessible by) the Server. It’s a way of describing and isolating access to files, similar to how a “root” directory on a web site is mapped to a physical directory on a web server.
Shares may be given friendly names like “Sales Reports” or “Graphics Uploads,” but every share must have a Folder assigned to it. A Folder defines where the Share is mapped to, and can be a local directory, a CD drive, a network share (UNC syntax), a floppy drive, or even a USB drive.
When a Server starts up, it validates every Share to make sure it’s accessible by users. If the Share is offline, the Share is considered unavailable.
RocketStream clients such as Uplink and Station organize their access through Connection Profiles which define the parameters needed to connect and work with remote Servers and Stations. A Connection Profile defines where the client is connecting, the credentials used to gain access (the User Account), and how to operate while connected. Connecting to a remote Server is as easy as defining a Connection Profile and clicking Connect.
A tabbed interface allows access to Computer, Personal Server, and any one of multiple active sessions. The Button Bar at the bottom of the user interface provides access to global functions. Selectors within Computer and Personal Server tabs provide grouped access to functions and data.
At Macsimum News, we don’t rate software until it’s finished. We’ll assign a “Macsimum ” rating to RocketStream when the final product is released and pricing is announced. However, so far we’re pleased with what we’ve seen.
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
