1

Version : 4.14.0

Laurent/2016-2023

This gem provides the ascli Command Line Interface to IBM Aspera software.

ascli is a also great tool to learn Aspera APIs.

Ruby Gem: https://rubygems.org/gems/aspera-cli

Ruby Doc: https://www.rubydoc.info/gems/aspera-cli

Minimum required Ruby version: >= 2.6.

Deprecation notice: the minimum Ruby version will be 3.0 in a future version.

Aspera APIs on IBM developer Link 2

Release notes: see CHANGELOG.md

2 BUGS, FEATURES, CONTRIBUTION

Refer to BUGS.md and CONTRIBUTING.md.

One can also create one’s own plugin.

3 When to use and when not to use

ascli is designed to be used as a command line tool to:

• Execute commands remotely on Aspera products
• Transfer to/from Aspera products

So it is designed for:

• Interactive operations on a text terminal (typically, VT100 compatible), e.g. for maintenance
• Scripting, e.g. batch operations in (shell) scripts (e.g. cron job)

ascli can be seen as a command line tool integrating:

• A configuration file (config.yaml)
• Advanced command line options
• cURL (for REST calls)
• Aspera transfer (ascp)

If the need is to perform operations programmatically in languages such as: C, Go, Python, nodejs, … then it is better to directly use Aspera APIs

• Product APIs (REST) : e.g. AoC, Faspex, node
• Transfer SDK : with gRPC interface and language stubs (C, C++, Python, .NET/C#, java, Ruby, etc…)

Using APIs (application REST API and transfer SDK) will prove to be easier to develop and maintain.

For scripting and ad’hoc command line operations, ascli is perfect.

4 Notations, Shell, Examples

Command line operations examples are shown using a shell such: bash or zsh.

Command line parameters in examples beginning with my_, like my_param_value are user-provided value and not fixed value commands.

ascli is an API Client toward the remote Aspera application Server (Faspex, HSTS, etc…)

Some commands will start an Aspera-based transfer (e.g. upload). The transfer is not directly implemented in ascli, rather ascli uses an external Aspera Client called Transfer Agents.

Note: The transfer agent is a client for the remote Transfer Server (HSTS). The transfer agent may be local or remote… For example a remote Aspera Server may be used as a transfer agent (using node API). i.e. using option --transfer=node

5 Quick Start

This section guides you from installation, first use and advanced use.

First, follow the section: Installation (Ruby, Gem, FASP) to start using ascli.

Once the gem is installed, ascli shall be accessible:

ascli --version

4.14.0

5.1 First use

Once installation is completed, you can proceed to the first use with a demo server:

If you want to test with Aspera on Cloud, jump to section: Wizard

To test with Aspera demo transfer server, setup the environment and then test:

ascli config initdemo

ascli server browse /

+------------+-----------+-----------+-------+---------------------------+-----------------------+
| zmode      | zuid      | zgid      | size  | mtime                     | name                  |
+------------+-----------+-----------+-------+---------------------------+-----------------------+
| drwxr-xr-x | asperaweb | asperaweb | 90112 | 2023-04-05 15:31:21 +0200 | Upload                |
| dr-xr-xr-x | asperaweb | asperaweb | 4096  | 2022-10-27 16:08:16 +0200 | aspera-test-dir-large |
| dr-xr-xr-x | asperaweb | asperaweb | 4096  | 2022-10-27 16:08:17 +0200 | aspera-test-dir-small |
| dr-xr-xr-x | asperaweb | asperaweb | 4096  | 2022-10-27 16:08:17 +0200 | aspera-test-dir-tiny  |
+------------+-----------+-----------+-------+---------------------------+-----------------------+

If you want to use ascli with another server, and in order to make further calls more convenient, it is advised to define a option preset for the server’s authentication options. The following example will:

• create a option preset
• define it as default for server plugin
• list files in a folder
• download a file

ascli config preset update myserver --url=ssh://demo.asperasoft.com:33001 --username=asperaweb --password=my_password_here

updated: myserver

ascli config preset set default server myserver

updated: default → server to myserver

ascli server browse /aspera-test-dir-large

+------------+-----------+-----------+--------------+---------------------------+-------+
| zmode      | zuid      | zgid      | size         | mtime                     | name  |
+------------+-----------+-----------+--------------+---------------------------+-------+
| -r-xr-x--- | asperaweb | asperaweb | 104857600    | 2022-10-27 16:06:38 +0200 | 100MB |
| -r-xr-x--- | asperaweb | asperaweb | 10737418240  | 2022-10-27 16:08:12 +0200 | 10GB  |
| -r-xr-x--- | asperaweb | asperaweb | 500000000000 | 2022-10-27 16:06:26 +0200 | 500GB |
| -r-xr-x--- | asperaweb | asperaweb | 524288000    | 2022-10-27 14:53:00 +0200 | 500MB |
| -r-xr-x--- | asperaweb | asperaweb | 1048576000   | 2022-10-27 16:06:37 +0200 | 1GB   |
| -r-xr-x--- | asperaweb | asperaweb | 5368709120   | 2022-10-27 14:53:47 +0200 | 5GB   |
| -r-xr-x--- | asperaweb | asperaweb | 209715200    | 2022-10-27 14:52:56 +0200 | 200MB |
+------------+-----------+-----------+--------------+---------------------------+-------+

ascli server download /aspera-test-dir-large/200MB

Time: 00:00:02 =========================================================== 100% 100 Mbps Time: 00:00:00
complete

5.2 Going further

Get familiar with configuration, options, commands : Command Line Interface.

Then, follow the section relative to the product you want to interact with ( Aspera on Cloud, Faspex, …) : Application Plugins

6 Installation

It is possible to install either directly on the host operating system (Linux, macOS, Windows) or as a container (docker).

The direct installation is recommended and consists in installing:

• Ruby
• aspera-cli
• Aspera SDK (ascp)

Ruby version: >= 2.6.

Deprecation notice: the minimum Ruby version will be 3.0 in a future version.

The following sections provide information on the various installation methods.

An internet connection is required for the installation. If you don’t have internet for the installation, refer to section Installation without internet access.

6.1 Container

The container image is: martinlaurent/ascli. The container contains: Ruby, ascli and the Aspera Transfer SDK. To use the container, ensure that you have podman (or docker) installed.

podman --version

6.1.1 Container: quick start

Wanna start quickly ? With an interactive shell ? Execute this:

podman run --tty --interactive --entrypoint bash martinlaurent/ascli:latest

Then, execute individual ascli commands such as:

ascli conf init
ascli conf preset overview
ascli conf ascp info
ascli server ls /

That is simple, but there are limitations:

• Everything happens in the container
• Any generated file in the container will be lost on container (shell) exit. Including configuration files and downloaded files.
• No possibility to upload files located on the host system

6.1.2 Container: Details

The container image is built from this Dockerfile: the entry point is ascli and the default command is help.

If you want to run the image with a shell, execute with option: --entrypoint bash, and give argument -l (bash login option to override the help default argument)

The container can also be executed for individual commands like this: (add ascli commands and options at the end of the command line, e.g. -v to display the version)

podman run --rm --tty --interactive martinlaurent/ascli:latest

For more convenience, you may define a shell alias:

alias ascli='podman run --rm --tty --interactive martinlaurent/ascli:latest'

Then, you can execute the container like a local command:

ascli -v

4.14.0

In order to keep persistency of configuration on the host, you should specify your user’s config folder as a volume for the container. To enable write access, a possibility is to run as root in the container (and set the default configuration folder to /home/cliuser/.aspera/ascli). Add options:

--user root --env ASCLI_HOME=/home/cliuser/.aspera/ascli --volume $HOME/.aspera/ascli:/home/cliuser/.aspera/ascli

Note: if you are using a podman machine, e.g. on macOS , make sure that the folder is also shared between the VM and the host, so that sharing is: container → VM → Host: podman machine init ... --volume="/Users:/Users"

As shown in the quick start, if you prefer to keep a running container with a shell and ascli available, you can change the entry point, add option:

--entrypoint bash

You may also probably want that files downloaded in the container are directed to the host. In this case you need also to specify the shared transfer folder as a volume:

--volume $HOME/xferdir:/xferfiles

Note: ascli is run inside the container, so transfers are also executed inside the container and do not have access to host storage by default.

And if you want all the above, simply use all the options:

alias asclish="podman run --rm --tty --interactive --user root --env ASCLI_HOME=/home/cliuser/.aspera/ascli --volume $HOME/.aspera/ascli:/home/cliuser/.aspera/ascli --volume $HOME/xferdir:/xferfiles --entrypoint bash martinlaurent/ascli:latest"

export xferdir=$HOME/xferdir
mkdir -p $xferdir
chmod -R 777 $xferdir
mkdir -p $HOME/.aspera/ascli
asclish

6.1.3 Container: Sample start script

A convenience sample script is also provided: download the script dascli from the GIT repo :

Note: If you have installed ascli, the script dascli can also be found: cp $(ascli conf gem path)/../examples/dascli ascli

Some environment variables can be set for this script to adapt its behavior:

The wrapping script maps the folder $ASCLI_HOME on host to /home/cliuser/.aspera/ascli in the container. (value expected in the container). This allows having persistent configuration on the host.

To add local storage as a volume, you can use the env var docker_args:

Example of use:

curl -o ascli https://raw.githubusercontent.com/IBM/aspera-cli/main/examples/dascli
chmod a+x ascli
export xferdir=$HOME/xferdir
mkdir -p $xferdir
chmod -R 777 $xferdir
export docker_args="--volume $xferdir:/xferfiles"

./ascli conf init

echo 'Local file to transfer' > $xferdir/samplefile.txt
./ascli server upload /xferfiles/samplefile.txt --to-folder=/Upload

Note: The local file (samplefile.txt) is specified relative to storage view from container (/xferfiles) mapped to the host folder $HOME/xferdir

Note: Do not use too many volumes, as the AUFS limits the number.

6.1.4 Container: Offline installation

• First create the image archive:

podman pull martinlaurent/ascli
podman save martinlaurent/ascli|gzip>ascli_image_latest.tar.gz

• Then, on air-gapped system:

podman load -i ascli_image_latest.tar.gz

6.1.5 Container: aspera.conf

ascp’s configuration file aspera.conf is located in the container at: /aspera_sdk/aspera.conf (see Dockerfile). As the container is immutable, it is not recommended to modify this file. If one wants to change the content, it is possible to tell ascp to use another file using ascp option -f, e.g. by locating it on the host folder $HOME/.aspera/ascli mapped to the container folder /home/cliuser/.aspera/ascli:

echo '<CONF/>' > $HOME/.aspera/ascli/aspera.conf

Then, tell ascp to use that other conf file:

--transfer-info=@json:'{"ascp_args":["-f","/home/cliuser/.aspera/ascli/aspera.conf"]}'

6.1.6 Container: Singularity

Singularity is another type of use of container.

On Linux install:

dnf install singularity-ce

Build an image like this:

singularity build ascli.sif docker://martinlaurent/ascli

The use like this:

singularity run ascli.sif

Or get a shell with access to the tool like this:

singularity shell ascli.sif

6.2 Ruby

Use this method to install on the native host.

A Ruby interpreter is required to run the tool or to use the gem and tool.

Required Ruby version: >= 2.6.

Deprecation notice: the minimum Ruby version will be 3.0 in a future version.

Ruby can be installed using any method : rpm, yum, dnf, rvm, brew, windows installer, … .

In priority, refer to the official Ruby documentation:

• Download Ruby
• Installation Guide

Else, refer to the following sections for a proposed method for specific operating systems.

The recommended installation method is rvm for Unix-like systems (Linux, AIX, macOS, Windows with cygwin, etc…). If the generic install is not suitable (e.g. Windows, no cygwin), you can use one of OS-specific install method. If you have a simpler better way to install Ruby : use it !

6.2.1 Generic: RVM: single user installation (not root)

Use this method which provides more flexibility.

Install rvm: follow https://rvm.io/ :

Execute the shell/curl command. As regular user, it install in the user’s home: ~/.rvm .

\curl -sSL https://get.rvm.io | bash -s stable

Follow on-screen instructions to install keys, and then re-execute the command.

If you keep the same terminal (not needed if re-login):

source ~/.rvm/scripts/rvm

It is advised to get one of the pre-compiled Ruby version, you can list with:

rvm list --remote

Install the chosen pre-compiled Ruby version:

rvm install 3.2.2

Ruby is now installed for the user, go to Gem installation.

6.2.2 Generic: RVM: global installation (as root)

Follow the same method as single user install, but execute as “root”.

As root, it installs by default in /usr/local/rvm for all users and creates /etc/profile.d/rvm.sh. One can install in another location with :

curl -sSL https://get.rvm.io | bash -s -- --path /usr/local

As root, make sure this will not collide with other application using Ruby (e.g. Faspex). If so, one can rename the login script: mv /etc/profile.d/rvm.sh /etc/profile.d/rvm.sh.ok. To activate Ruby (and ascli) later, source it:

source /etc/profile.d/rvm.sh.ok

rvm version

6.2.3 Windows: Installer

Install Latest stable Ruby:

• Navigate to https://rubyinstaller.org/ → Downloads.
• Download the latest Ruby installer with devkit. (Msys2 is needed to install some native extensions, such as grpc)
• Execute the installer which installs by default in: C:\RubyVV-x64 (VV is the version number)
• At the end of the installation procedure, the Msys2 installer is automatically executed, select option 3 (msys and mingw)

6.2.4 macOS: pre-installed or brew

macOS 10.13+ (High Sierra) comes with a recent Ruby. So you can use it directly. You will need to install aspera-cli using sudo :

sudo gem install aspera-cli

Alternatively, if you use Homebrew already you can install Ruby with it:

brew install ruby

6.2.5 Linux: package

If your Linux distribution provides a standard Ruby package, you can use it provided that the version supported.

Example: RHEL 8+, Rocky Linux 8+, Centos 8 Stream: with extensions to compile native gems

• Check available ruby versions:

  dnf module list ruby

• If ruby was already installed with an older version, remove it:

  dnf module -y reset ruby

• Install packages needed to build native gems:

  dnf install -y make automake gcc gcc-c++ kernel-devel

• Enable the Ruby version you want:

  dnf module -y enable ruby:3.1
  dnf install -y ruby-devel

Other examples:

yum install -y ruby ruby-devel rubygems ruby-json

apt install -y ruby ruby-dev rubygems ruby-json

One can cleanup the whole yum-installed Ruby environment like this to uninstall:

gem uninstall $(ls $(gem env gemdir)/gems/|sed -e 's/-[^-]*$//'|sort -u)

6.2.6 Other Unixes (AIX)

Ruby is sometimes made available as installable package through third party providers. For example for AIX, one can look at:

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/aix-toolbox-open-source-software-downloads-alpha#R

If your Unix does not provide a pre-built Ruby, you can get it using one of those methods.

For instance to build from source, and install in /opt/ruby :

wget https://cache.ruby-lang.org/pub/ruby/2.7/ruby-2.7.2.tar.gz

gzip -d ruby-2.7.2.tar.gz

tar xvf ruby-2.7.2.tar

cd ruby-2.7.2

./configure --prefix=/opt/ruby

make ruby.imp

make

make install

If you already have a Java JVM on your system (java), it is possible to use jruby:

https://www.jruby.org/download

Note: Using jruby the startup time is longer than the native Ruby, but the transfer speed is not impacted (executed by ascp binary).

6.3 aspera-cli gem

Once you have Ruby and rights to install gems: Install the gem and its dependencies:

gem install aspera-cli

To upgrade to the latest version:

gem update aspera-cli

ascli checks every week if a new version is available and notify the user in a WARN log. To de-activate this feature, globally set the option version_check_days to 0, or specify a different period in days.

To check if a new version is available (independently of version_check_days):

ascli conf check_update

6.4 FASP Protocol

Most file transfers will be done using the FASP protocol, using ascp. Only two additional files are required to perform an Aspera Transfer, which are part of Aspera SDK:

• ascp
• aspera-license (in same folder, or ../etc)

This can be installed either be installing an Aspera transfer software, or using an embedded command:

ascli conf ascp install

If a local SDK installation is preferred instead of fetching from internet: one can specify the location of the SDK file:

curl -Lso SDK.zip https://ibm.biz/aspera_sdk

ascli conf ascp install --sdk-url=file:///SDK.zip

The format is: file:///<path>, where <path> can be either a relative path (not starting with /), or an absolute path.

If the embedded method is not used, the following packages are also suitable:

• IBM Aspera Connect Client (Free)
• IBM Aspera Desktop Client (Free)
• IBM Aspera High Speed Transfer Server (Licensed)
• IBM Aspera High Speed Transfer EndPoint (Licensed)

For instance, Aspera Connect Client can be installed by visiting the page: https://www.ibm.com/aspera/connect/.

ascli will detect most of Aspera transfer products in standard locations and use the first one found. Refer to section FASP for details on how to select a client or set path to the FASP protocol.

Several methods are provided to start a transfer. Use of a local client (direct transfer agent) is one of them, but other methods are available. Refer to section: Transfer Agents

6.5 Installation in air gapped environment

Note: no pre-packaged version is provided.

A method to build one is provided here:

The procedure:

• Follow the non-root installation procedure with RVM, including gem
• Archive (zip, tar) the main RVM folder (includes ascli):

cd $HOME && tar zcvf rvm-ascli.tgz .rvm

• Get the Aspera SDK.

ascli conf --show-config --fields=sdk_url

• Download the SDK archive from that URL.

curl -Lso SDK.zip https://ibm.biz/aspera_sdk

• Transfer those 2 files to the target system

• On target system

cd $HOME

tar zxvf rvm-ascli.tgz

source ~/.rvm/scripts/rvm

ascli conf ascp install --sdk-url=file:///SDK.zip

• Add those lines to shell init (.profile)

source ~/.rvm/scripts/rvm

7 Command Line Interface: ascli

The aspera-cli Gem provides a command line interface (CLI) which interacts with Aspera Products (mostly using REST APIs):

• IBM Aspera High Speed Transfer Server (FASP and Node)
• IBM Aspera on Cloud (including ATS)
• IBM Aspera Faspex
• IBM Aspera Shares
• IBM Aspera Console
• IBM Aspera Orchestrator
• and more…

ascli provides the following features:

• Supports most Aspera server products (on-premise and SaaS)
• Any command line options (products URL, credentials or any option) can be provided on command line, in configuration file, in env var, in files
• Supports Commands, Option values and Parameters shortcuts
• FASP Transfer Agents can be: local ascp, or Connect Client, or any transfer node
• Transfer parameters can be altered by modification of transfer-spec, this includes requiring multi-session
• Allows transfers from products to products, essentially at node level (using the node transfer agent)
• Supports FaspStream creation (using Node API)
• Supports Watchfolder creation (using Node API)
• Additional command plugins can be written by the user
• Supports download of faspex and Aspera on Cloud “external” links
• Supports “legacy” ssh based FASP transfers and remote commands (ascmd)

Basic usage is displayed by executing:

ascli -h

Refer to sections: Usage.

Not all ascli features are fully documented here, the user may explore commands on the command line.

7.1 ascp command line

If you want to use ascp directly as a command line, refer to IBM Aspera documentation of either Desktop Client, Endpoint or Transfer Server where a section on ascp can be found.

Using ascli with plugin server for command line gives advantages over ascp:

• automatic resume on error
• configuration file
• choice of transfer agents
• integrated support of multi-session

Moreover all ascp options are supported either through transfer spec parameters and with the possibility to provide ascp arguments directly when the direct agent is used (ascp_args).

7.2 Command line parsing, Special Characters

ascli is typically executed in a shell, either interactively or in a script. ascli receives its arguments from this shell (through Operating System).

7.2.1 Shell parsing for Unix-like systems: Linux, macOS, AIX

Linux command line parsing is easy: It is fully documented in the shell’s documentation.

On Unix-like environments, this is typically a POSIX shell (bash, zsh, ksh, sh). In this environment the shell parses the command line, possibly replacing variables, etc… See bash shell operation. The shell builds the list of arguments and then fork/exec Ruby with that list. Ruby receives a list parameters from shell and gives it to ascli. So special character handling (quotes, spaces, env vars, …) is handled by the shell for any command executed.

7.2.2 Shell parsing for Windows

MS Windows command line parsing is not easy: It is not hasndled by the shell (cmd.exe), not handled by the operating system, but it is handled by the application (here Ruby).

As far as ascli is concerned: it is close to a Linux shell parsing.

Thanksfully, ascli provides a command to check the value of an argument after parsing: config echo. One can also run ascli with option --log-level=debug to display the command line after parsing.

The following examples give the same result on Windows:

• single quote protects the double quote

   conf echo @json:'{"url":"https://..."}'

• triple double quotes are replaced with a single double quote

   conf echo @json:{"""url""":"""https://..."""}

• double quote is escaped with backslash within double quotes

   conf echo @json:"{\"url\":\"https://...\"}"

On Windows, cmd.exe is typically used to start . cmd.exe handles some special characters: ^"<>|%&. Basically it handles I/O redirections (<>|), shell variables (%), multiple commands (&) and handles those special characters from the command line. Eventually, all those special characters are removed from the command line unless escaped with ^ or ". " are kept and given to the program.

Then, Windows CreateProcess is called with just the whole command line as a single string, unlike Unix-like systems where the command line is split into arguments by the shell.

It’s up to the program to split arguments:

• Windows: How Command Line Parameters Are Parsed
• Understand Quoting and Escaping of Windows Command Line Arguments

is a Ruby program, so Ruby parses the command line into arguments and provides them to the program. Ruby vaguely follows the Microsoft C/C++ parameter parsing rules. (See w32_cmdvector in Ruby source win32.c) :

• space characters: split arguments (space, tab, newline)
• backslash: \ escape single special character
• globbing characters: *?[]{} for file globbing
• double quotes: "
• single quotes: '

7.2.3 Extended Values (JSON, Ruby, …)

Some of the ascli parameters are expected to be Extended Values, i.e. not a simple strings, but a complex structure (Hash, Array). Typically, the @json: modifier is used, it expects a JSON string. JSON itself has some special syntax: for example " is used to denote strings.

7.2.4 Testing Extended Values

In case of doubt of argument values after parsing, one can test using command config echo. config echo takes exactly one argument which can use the Extended Value syntax. Unprocessed command line arguments are shown in the error message.

Example: The shell parses three arguments (as strings: 1, 2 and 3), so the additional two arguments are not processed by the echo command.

ascli conf echo 1 2 3

"1"
ERROR: Argument: unprocessed values: ["2", "3"]

config echo displays the value of the first argument using Ruby syntax: it surrounds a string with " and add \ before special characters.

Note: It gets its value after shell command line parsing and ascli extended value parsing.

In the following examples (using a POSIX shell, such as bash), several sample commands are provided when equivalent. For all example, most of special character handling is not specific to ascli: It depends on the underlying syntax: shell , JSON, etc… Depending on the case, a different format is used to display the actual value.

For example, in the simple string Hello World, the space character is special for the shell, so it must be escaped so that a single value is represented.

Double quotes are processed by the shell to create a single string argument. For POSIX shells, single quotes can also be used in this case, or protect the special character (space) with a backslash.

ascli conf echo "Hello World" --format=text
ascli conf echo 'Hello World' --format=text
ascli conf echo Hello\ World --format=text

Hello World

7.2.5 Using a shell variable, parsed by shell, in an extended value

To be evaluated by shell, the shell variable must not be in single quotes. Even if the variable contains spaces it makes only one argument to ascli because word parsing is made before variable expansion by shell.

Note: we use a shell variable here: the variable is not necessarily an environment variable (export).

MYVAR="Hello World"
ascli conf echo @json:'{"title":"'$MYVAR'"}' --format=json
ascli conf echo @json:{\"title\":\"$MYVAR\"} --format=json

{"title":"Hello World"}

7.2.6 Double quote in strings in command line

Double quote is a shell special character. Like any shell special character, it can be protected either by preceding with a backslash or by enclosing in a single quote.

ascli conf echo \"
ascli conf echo '"'

"

Double quote in JSON is a little tricky because " is special both for the shell and JSON. Both shell and JSON syntax allow to protect ", but only the shell allows protection using single quote.

ascli conf echo @json:'"\""' --format=text
ascli conf echo @json:\"\\\"\" --format=text
ascli conf echo @ruby:\'\"\' --format=text

"

Here a single quote or a backslash protects the double quote to avoid shell processing, and then an additional \ is added to protect the " for JSON. But as \ is also shell special, then it is protected by another \.

7.2.7 Shell and JSON or Ruby special characters in extended value

Construction of values with special characters is done like this:

• First select a syntax to represent the extended value, e.g. JSON or Ruby

• Write the expression using this syntax, for example, using JSON:

{"title":"Test \" ' & \\"}

or using Ruby:

{"title"=>"Test \" ' & \\"}
{'title'=>%q{Test " ' & \\}}

Both " and \ are special characters for JSON and Ruby and can be protected with \ (unless Ruby’s extended single quote notation %q is used).

• Then, since the value will be evaluated by shell, any shell special characters must be protected, either using preceding \ for each character to protect, or by enclosing in single quote:

ascli conf echo @json:{\"title\":\"Test\ \\\"\ \'\ \&\ \\\\\"} --format=json
ascli conf echo @json:'{"title":"Test \" '\'' & \\"}' --format=json
ascli conf echo @ruby:"{'title'=>%q{Test \" ' & \\\\}}" --format=json

{"title":"Test \" ' & \\"}

7.2.8 Reading special characters interactively

If ascli is used interactively (a user typing on terminal), it is easy to require the user to type values:

ascli conf echo @ruby:"{'title'=>gets.chomp}" --format=json

gets is Ruby’s method of terminal input (terminated by \n), and chomp removes the trailing \n.

7.2.9 Command line arguments from a file

If you need to provide a list of command line argument from lines that are in a file, on Linux you can use the xargs command:

xargs -a lines.txt -d \\n ascli conf echo

This is equivalent to execution of:

ascli conf echo [line1] [line2] [line3] ...

If there are spaces in the lines, those are not taken as separator, as we provide option -d \\n to xargs.

7.2.10 Extended value using special characters read from environmental variables or files

Using a text editor or shell: create a file title.txt (and env var) that contains exactly the text required: Test " ' & \ :

export MYTITLE='Test " '\'' & \'
echo -n $MYTITLE > title.txt

Using those values will not require any escaping of characters since values do not go through shell or JSON parsing.

If the value is to be assigned directly to an option of ascli, then you can directly use the content of the file or env var using the @file: or @env: readers:

ascli conf echo @file:title.txt --format=text
ascli conf echo @env:MYTITLE --format=text

Test " ' & \

If the value to be used is in a more complex structure, then the @ruby: modifier can be used: it allows any Ruby code in expression, including reading from file or env var. In those cases, there is no character to protect because values are not parsed by the shell, or JSON or even Ruby.

ascli conf echo @ruby:"{'title'=>File.read('title.txt')}" --format=json
ascli conf echo @ruby:"{'title'=>ENV['MYTITLE']}" --format=json

{"title":"Test \" ' & \\"}

7.3 Commands, Options, Positional Values

Command line arguments are the units of command line, as parsed by the shell, typically separated by spaces (and called “argv”).

ascli considers three types of command line arguments:

• Commands
• Options
• Positional Values

ascli command subcommand --option-name=VAL1 VAL2

• executes command: command subcommand
• with one option: option_nameand its value: VAL1
• the command has one additional mandatory argument: VAL2

When the value of a command, option or argument is constrained by a fixed list of values. It is possible to use the first letters of the value only, provided that it uniquely identifies a value. For example ascli conf ov is the same as ascli config overview.

The value of options and arguments is evaluated with the Extended Value Syntax.

7.3.1 Commands

Commands are typically entity types or verbs to act on those entities.

Example:

ascli conf ascp info

• ascli is the executable executed by the shell
• conf is the first level command, and is also the name f the plugin to be used
• ascp is the second level command, and is also the name of the component (singleton)
• info is the third level command, and is also the action to be performed

Typically, commands are located at the beginning of the command line. Order is significant. The provided command must match one of the supported commands in the given context. If a wrong , or no command is provided when expected, an error message is displayed and the list of supported commands is displayed.

7.3.2 Options

All options, e.g. --log-level=debug, are command line arguments that:

• start with --
• have a name, in lowercase, using - as word separator in name (e.g. --log-level=debug)
• have a value, separated from name with a =
• can be used by prefix, provided that it is unique. E.g. --log-l=debug is the same as --log-level=debug (avoid)

Exceptions:

• some options accept a short form, e.g. -Ptoto is equivalent to --preset=toto, refer to the manual or -h.

• some options (flags) don’t take a value, e.g. -r

• the special option -- stops option processing and is ignored, following command line arguments are taken as arguments, including the ones starting with a -. Example:

  ascli config echo -- --sample

  "--sample"

Note: Here, --sample is taken as an argument, and not as an option, due to --.

Options may have an (hardcoded) default value.

Options can be placed anywhere on command line and evaluated in order.

Options are typically either:

• optional : typically to change the default behavior
• mandatory : typically, connection information are options that are mandatory (so they can be placed in a config file)

The value for any options can come from the following locations (in this order, last value evaluated overrides previous value):

• Configuration file.
• Environment variable
• Command line

Environment variable starting with prefix: ASCLI_ are taken as option values, e.g. ASCLI_OPTION_NAME is for --option-name.

Options values can be displayed for a given command by providing the --show-config option: ascli node --show-config

7.3.3 Positional Values

Positional Values are typically mandatory values for a command, such as entity creation data.

If a Positional Values begins with -, then either use the @val: syntax (see Extended Values), or use the -- separator (see above).

The advantages of using a positional value instead of an option for the same are that the command line is shorter(no option name, just the position) and the value is clearly mandatory.

The disadvantage is that it is not possible to define a default value in a config file or environment variable like for options. Nevertheless, Extended Values syntax is supported, so it is possible to retrieve a value from the config file or environment variable.

7.4 Interactive Input

Some options and parameters are mandatory and other optional. By default, the tool will ask for missing mandatory options or parameters for interactive execution.

The behavior can be controlled with:

• –interactive=<yes|no> (default=yes if STDIN is a terminal, else no)
  • yes : missing mandatory parameters/options are asked to the user
  • no : missing mandatory parameters/options raise an error message
• –ask-options=<yes|no> (default=no)
  • optional parameters/options are asked to user

7.5 Output

Command execution will result in output (terminal, stdout/stderr). The information displayed depends on the action.

7.5.1 Types of output data

Depending on action, the output will contain:

• single_object : displayed as a 2 dimensional table: one line per attribute, first column is attribute name, and second is attribute value. Nested hashes are collapsed.
• object_list : displayed as a 2 dimensional table: one line per item, one column per attribute.
• value_list : a table with one column.
• empty : nothing
• status : a message
• other_struct : a complex structure that cannot be displayed as an array

7.5.2 Format of output

By default, result of type single_object and object_list are displayed using format table. The table style can be customized with parameter: table_style (horizontal, vertical and intersection characters) and is :.: by default.

In a table format, when displaying “objects” (single, or list), by default, sub object are flattened (option flat_hash). So, object {“user”:{“id”:1,“name”:“toto”}} will have attributes: user.id and user.name. Setting flat_hash to false will only display one field: “user” and value is the sub hash table. When in flatten mode, it is possible to filter fields by “dotted” field name.

Object lists are displayed one per line, with attributes as columns. Single objects are transposed: one attribute per line. If transposition of single object is not desired, use option: transpose_single set to no.

The style of output can be set using the format parameter, supporting:

• text : Value as String
• table : Text table
• ruby : Ruby code
• json : JSON code
• jsonpp : JSON pretty printed
• yaml : YAML
• csv : Comma Separated Values

7.5.3 Option: select: Filter on columns values for object_list

Table output can be filtered using the select parameter. Example:

ascli aoc admin res user list --fields=name,email,ats_admin --query=@json:'{"sort":"name"}' --select=@json:'{"ats_admin":true}'

+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+-----------+
|             name              |              email               | ats_admin |
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+-----------+
| John Curtis                   | john@example.com                 | true      |
| Laurent Martin                | laurent@example.com              | true      |
+-------------------------------+----------------------------------+-----------+

Note: select filters selected elements from the result of API calls, while the query parameters gives filtering parameters to the API when listing elements.

7.5.4 entity identifier

When a command is executed on a single entity, the entity is identified by a unique identifier that follows the command: e.g. ascli aoc admin res user show 1234 where 1234 is the user identifier.

Note: The legacy option id is deprecated: --id=1234 as it does not provide the possibility to have sub-entities.

Only some commands provide the following capability: If the entity can also be uniquely identified by a name, then the name can be used instead of the identifier, using the percent selector: ascli aoc admin res user show %name:john where john is the user name.

Syntax: %<field>:<value>

7.5.5 Verbosity of output

Output messages are categorized in 3 types:

• info output contain additional information, such as number of elements in a table
• data output contain the actual output of the command (object, or list of objects)
• erroroutput contain error messages

The option display controls the level of output:

• info displays all messages: info, data, and error
• data display data and error messages
• error display only error messages.

By default, secrets are removed from output: option show_secrets defaults to no, unless display is data, to allows piping results. To hide secrets from output, set option show_secrets to no.

7.5.6 Selection of output object properties

By default, a table output will display one line per entry, and columns for each entries. Depending on the command, columns may include by default all properties, or only some selected properties. It is possible to define specific columns to be displayed, by setting the fields option to one of the following value:

• DEF : default display of columns (that’s the default, when not set)
• ALL : all columns available
• a,b,c : the list of attributes specified by the comma separated list
• Array extended value: for instance, @json:‘[“a”,“b”,“c”]’ same as above
• +a,b,c : add selected properties to the default selection.
• -a,b,c : remove selected properties from the default selection.

7.6 Extended Value Syntax

Some options and arguments are specified by a simple string. But sometime it is convenient to read a value from a file, or decode it, or have a value more complex than a string (e.g. Hash table).

The extended value syntax is:

<0 or more decoders><nothing or some text value>

Decoders act like a function of value on right hand side. Decoders are recognized by the prefix: @ and suffix :

The following decoders are supported:

To display the result of an extended value, use the config echo command.

Example: read the content of the specified file, then, base64 decode, then unzip:

ascli config echo @zlib:@base64:@file:myfile.dat

Example: Create a value as a hash, with one key and the value is read from a file:

ascli config echo @ruby:'{"token_verification_key"=>File.read("mykey.txt")}'

Example: read a csv file and create a list of hash for bulk provisioning:

cat test.csv

name,email
lolo,laurent@example.com
toto,titi@tutu.tata

ascli config echo @csvt:@file:test.csv

+------+---------------------+
| name |        email        |
+------+---------------------+
| lolo | laurent@example.com |
| toto | titi@tutu.tata      |
+------+---------------------+

Example: create a hash and include values from preset named “config” of config file in this hash

ascli config echo @incps:@json:'{"hello":true,"incps":["config"]}'

{"version"=>"0.9", "hello"=>true}

Note: @incps:@json:'{"incps":["config"]}' or @incps:@ruby:'{"incps"=>["config"]}' are equivalent to: @preset:config

7.7 Structured Value

Some options and parameters expect a Extended Value, i.e. a value more complex than a simple string. This is usually a Hash table or an Array, which could also contain sub structures.

For instance, a transfer-spec is expected to be a Extended Value.

Structured values shall be described using the Extended Value Syntax. A convenient way to specify a Extended Value is to use the @json: decoder, and describe the value in JSON format. The @ruby: decoder can also be used. For an array of hash tables, the @csvt: decoder can be used.

It is also possible to provide a Extended Value in a file using @json:@file:<path>

7.8 Configuration and Persistency Folder

ascli configuration and other runtime files (token cache, file lists, persistency files, SDK) are stored [config folder]: [User's home folder]/.aspera/ascli.

Note: [User's home folder] is found using Ruby’s Dir.home (rb_w32_home_dir). It uses the HOME env var primarily, and on MS Windows it also looks at %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH% and %USERPROFILE%. ascli sets the env var %HOME% to the value of %USERPROFILE% if set and exists. So, on Windows %USERPROFILE% is used as it is more reliable than %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%.

The [config folder] can be displayed using :

ascli config folder

/Users/kenji/.aspera/ascli

It can be overridden using the environment variable ASCLI_HOME.

Example (Windows):

set ASCLI_HOME=C:\Users\Kenji\.aspera\ascli

ascli config folder

C:\Users\Kenji\.aspera\ascli

When OAuth is used (AoC, Faspex4 api v4, Faspex5) ascli keeps a cache of generated bearer tokens in [config folder]/persist_store by default. Option cache_tokens (yes/no) allows to control if Oauth tokens are cached on file system, or generated for each request. The command config flush_tokens deletes all existing tokens. Tokens are kept on disk for a maximum of 30 minutes (TOKEN_CACHE_EXPIRY_SEC) and garbage collected after that. Tokens that can be refreshed are refreshed. Else tokens are re-generated if expired.

7.9 Configuration file

On the first execution of ascli, an empty configuration file is created in the configuration folder. Nevertheless, there is no mandatory information required in this file, the use of it is optional as any option can be provided on the command line.

Although the file is a standard YAML file, ascli provides commands to read and modify it using the config command.

All options for ascli can be set on command line, or by env vars, or using option presets in the configuration file.

A configuration file provides a way to define default values, especially for authentication parameters, thus avoiding to always having to specify those parameters on the command line.

The default configuration file is: $HOME/.aspera/ascli/config.yaml (this can be overridden with option --config-file=path or equivalent env var).

The configuration file is simply a catalog of pre-defined lists of options, called: option presets. Then, instead of specifying some common options on the command line (e.g. address, credentials), it is possible to invoke the ones of a option preset (e.g. mypreset) using the option: -Pmypreset or --preset=mypreset.

7.9.1 Option preset

A option preset is simply a collection of parameters and their associated values in a named section in the configuration file.

A named option preset can be modified directly using ascli, which will update the configuration file :

ascli config preset set|delete|show|initialize|update <option preset>

The command update allows the easy creation of option preset by simply providing the options in their command line format, e.g. :

ascli config preset update demo_server --url=ssh://demo.asperasoft.com:33001 --username=asperaweb --password=my_password_here --ts=@json:'{"precalculate_job_size":true}'

• This creates a option preset demo_server with all provided options.

The command set allows setting individual options in a option preset.

ascli config preset set demo_server password my_password_here

The command initialize, like update allows to set several parameters at once, but it deletes an existing configuration instead of updating it, and expects a Structured Value.

ascli config preset initialize demo_server @json:'{"url":"ssh://demo.asperasoft.com:33001","username":"asperaweb","password":"my_pass_here","ts":{"precalculate_job_size":true}}'

A full terminal based overview of the configuration can be displayed using:

ascli config preset over

A list of option preset can be displayed using:

ascli config preset list

A good practice is to not manually edit the configuration file and use modification commands instead. If necessary, the configuration file can opened in a text editor with:

ascli config open

Note: this starts the editor specified by env var EDITOR if defined.

Older format for commands are still supported:

ascli config preset set|delete|show|initialize|update <name>
ascli config preset over
ascli config preset list

7.9.2 Special Option preset: config

This preset name is reserved and contains a single key: version. This is the version of ascli which created the file.

7.9.3 Special Option preset: default

This preset name is reserved and contains an array of key-value , where the key is the name of a plugin, and the value is the name of another preset.

When a plugin is invoked, the preset associated with the name of the plugin is loaded, unless the option –no-default (or -N) is used.

Note: Special plugin name: config can be associated with a preset that is loaded initially, typically used for default values.

Operations on this preset are done using regular config operations:

ascli config preset set default _plugin_name_ _default_preset_for_plugin_

ascli config preset get default _plugin_name_

"_default_preset_for_plugin_"

7.9.4 Plugin: config: Configuration

Plugin config provides general commands for ascli:

• Option preset, config file operations
• wizard
• vault
• ascp

The default configuration for config is read for any plugin invocation, this allows setting global options, such as --log-level or --interactive. When ascli starts, it looks for the default Option preset and checks the value for config. If set, it loads the option values for any plugin used.

Note: If no global default is set by the user, the tool will use global_common_defaults when setting global parameters (e.g. conf ascp use)

Show current default (global) Option preset (config plugin):

$ ascli conf preset get default config
global_common_defaults

ascli conf preset set global_common_defaults version_check_days 0

If the default global Option preset is not set:

ascli conf preset set default config global_common_defaults

7.9.5 Config sample commands

config ascp connect info 'Aspera Connect for Windows'
config ascp connect list
config ascp connect version 'Aspera Connect for Windows' download 'Windows Installer' --to-folder=.
config ascp connect version 'Aspera Connect for Windows' list
config ascp connect version 'Aspera Connect for Windows' open documentation
config ascp errors
config ascp info --sdk-folder=Tsdk_test_dir
config ascp install --sdk-folder=Tsdk_test_dir
config ascp products list
config ascp show
config ascp spec
config check_update
config coffee
config coffee --ui=text
config detect --url=https://faspex4.example.com/path
config detect --url=https://my_aoc_org.ibmaspera.com
config detect --url=https://node_simple.example.com/path
config doc
config doc transfer-parameters
config echo 'hello'
config echo @base64:SGVsbG8gV29ybGQK
config echo @csvt:@stdin:
config echo @env:USER
config echo @lines:@stdin:
config echo @list:,1,2,3
config echo @uri:/etc/hosts
config echo @uri:file:/etc/hosts
config echo @uri:http://www.ibm.com
config echo @uri:https://www.ibm.com
config echo @val:@file:no_such_file
config echo @zlib:@stdin:
config email_test --notif-to=my_recipient_email
config export
config flush_tokens
config genkey mykey
config plugin create mycommand T
config plugin list
config proxy_check --fpac=@file:examples/proxy.pac https://eudemo.asperademo.com
config wiz --url=https://my_aoc_org.ibmaspera.com --config-file=SAMPLE_CONFIG_FILE --pkeypath= --username=my_aoc_user_email --test-mode=yes
config wiz --url=https://my_aoc_org.ibmaspera.com --config-file=SAMPLE_CONFIG_FILE --pkeypath= --username=my_aoc_user_email --test-mode=yes --use-generic-client=yes

7.9.6 Format of file

The configuration file is a hash in a YAML file. Example:

config:
  version: 0.3.7
default:
  config: cli_default
  server: demo_server
cli_default:
  interactive: no
demo_server:
  url: ssh://demo.asperasoft.com:33001
  username: asperaweb
  password: my_password_here

We can see here:

• The configuration was created with ascli version 0.3.7
• the default option preset to load for server plugin is : demo_server
• the option preset demo_server defines some parameters: the URL and credentials
• the default option preset to load in any case is : cli_default

Two option presets are reserved:

• config contains a single value: version showing the version used to create the configuration file. It is used to check compatibility.
• default is reserved to define the default option preset name used for known plugins.

The user may create as many option presets as needed. For instance, a particular option preset can be created for a particular application instance and contain URL and credentials.

Values in the configuration also follow the Extended Value Syntax.

Note: if the user wants to use the Extended Value Syntax inside the configuration file, using the config preset update command, the user shall use the @val: prefix. Example:

ascli config preset set my_aoc_org private_key @val:@file:"$HOME/.aspera/ascli/my_private_key"

This creates the option preset:

...
my_aoc_org:
  private_key: @file:"/Users/laurent/.aspera/ascli/my_private_key"
...

So, the key file will be read only at execution time, but not be embedded in the configuration file.

7.9.7 Options evaluation order

Some options are global, some options are available only for some plugins. (the plugin is the first level command).

Options are loaded using this algorithm:

• If option --no-default (or -N) is specified, then no default value is loaded for the plugin
• else it looks for the name of the plugin as key in section default, the value is the name of the default option preset for it, and loads it.
• If option --preset=<name or extended value hash> is specified (or -Pxxxx), this reads the option preset specified from the configuration file, or of the value is a Hash, it uses it as options values.
• Environment variables are evaluated
• Command line options are evaluated

Parameters are evaluated in the order of command line.

To avoid loading the default option preset for a plugin, use: -N

On command line, words in parameter names are separated by a dash, in configuration file, separator is an underscore. E.g. –xxx-yyy on command line gives xxx_yyy in configuration file.

The main plugin name is config, so it is possible to define a default option preset for the main plugin with:

ascli config preset set cli_default interactive no

ascli config preset set default config cli_default

A option preset value can be removed with unset:

ascli config preset unset cli_default interactive

Example: Define options using command line:

ascli -N --url=_url_here_ --password=my_password_here --username=_name_here_ node --show-config

Example: Define options using a hash:

ascli -N --preset=@json:'{"url":"_url_here_","password":"my_password_here","username":"_name_here_"}' node --show-config

7.9.8 Shares Examples

For Faspex, Shares, Node (including ATS, Aspera Transfer Service), Console, only username/password and url are required (either on command line, or from config file). Those can usually be provided on the command line:

ascli shares repo browse / --url=https://10.25.0.6 --username=john --password=my_password_here

This can also be provisioned in a config file:

• Build option preset

ascli config preset set shares06 url https://10.25.0.6
ascli config preset set shares06 username john
ascli config preset set shares06 password my_password_here

This can also be done with one single command:

ascli config preset init shares06 @json:'{"url":"https://10.25.0.6","username":"john","password":"my_password_here"}'

or

ascli config preset update shares06 --url=https://10.25.0.6 --username=john --password=my_password_here

• Define this option preset as the default option preset for the specified plugin (shares)

ascli config preset set default shares shares06

• Display the content of configuration file in table format

ascli config preset overview

• Execute a command on the shares application using default parameters

ascli shares repo browse /

7.10 Secret Vault

Password and secrets are command options. They can be provided on command line, env vars, files etc. A more secure option is to retrieve values from a secret vault.

The vault is used with options vault and vault_password.

vault defines the vault to be used and shall be a Hash, example:

{"type":"system","name":"ascli"}

vault_password specifies the password for the vault. Although it can be specified on command line, for security reason you can hide the value. For example it can be securely specified on command line like this:

export ASCLI_VAULT_PASSWORD
read -s ASCLI_VAULT_PASSWORD

7.10.1 Vault: System key chain

Note: macOS only

It is possible to manage secrets in macOS key chain (only read supported currently).

--vault=@json:'{"type":"system","name":"ascli"}'

7.10.2 Vault: Encrypted file

It is possible to store and use secrets encrypted in a file.

--vault=@json:'{"type":"file","name":"vault.bin"}'

name is the file path, absolute or relative to the config folder ASCLI_HOME.

7.10.3 Vault: Operations

For this use the config vault command.

Then secrets can be manipulated using commands:

• create
• show
• list
• delete

ascli conf vault create mylabel @json:'{"password":"my_password_here","description":"for this account"}'

7.10.4 Configuration Finder

When a secret is needed by a sub command, the command can search for existing configurations in the config file.

The lookup is done by comparing the service URL and username (or access key).

7.10.5 Securing passwords and secrets

A passwords can be saved in clear in a option preset together with other account information (URL, username, etc…). Example:

`ascli` conf preset update myconf --url=... --username=... --password=...

For a more secure storage one can do:

`ascli` conf preset update myconf --url=... --username=... --password=@val:@vault:myconf.password
`ascli` conf vault create myconf @json:'{"password":"my_password_here"}'

Note: use @val: in front of @vault: so that the extended value is not evaluated.

7.11 Private Key

Some applications allow the user to be authenticated using a private key (Server, AoC, Faspex5, …). It consists in using a pair of keys: the private key and its associated public key. The same key can be used for multiple applications. Technically, a private key contains the public key, which can be extracted from it. The file containing the private key can optionally be protected by a passphrase. If the key is protected by a passphrase, then it will be prompted when used. (some plugins support option passphrase)

The following commands use the shell variable PRIVKEYFILE. Set it to the desired safe location of the private key. Typically, located in folder $HOME/.ssh or $HOME/.aspera/ascli:

PRIVKEYFILE=~/.aspera/ascli/my_private_key

Several methods can be used to generate a key pair.

The format expected for private keys is PEM.

7.11.1 ascli for key generation

The generated key is of type RSA, by default: 4096 bit. For convenience, the public key is also extracted with extension .pub. The key is not passphrase protected.

ascli config genkey ${PRIVKEYFILE} 4096

7.11.2 ssh-keygen

Both private and public keys are generated, option -N is for passphrase.

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -m PEM -N '' -f ${PRIVKEYFILE}

7.11.3 openssl

To generate a private key pair with a passphrase the following can be used on any system:

openssl genrsa -passout pass:_passphrase_here_ -out ${PRIVKEYFILE} 4096
openssl rsa -pubout -in ${PRIVKEYFILE} -out ${PRIVKEYFILE}.pub

openssl is sometimes compiled to support option -nodes (no DES, i.e. no passphrase, e.g. on macOS). In that case, add option -nodes instead of -passout pass:_passphrase_here_ to generate a key without passphrase.

If option -nodes is not available, the passphrase can be removed using this method:

openssl rsa -passin pass:_passphrase_here_ -in ${PRIVKEYFILE} -out ${PRIVKEYFILE}.no_des
mv ${PRIVKEYFILE}.no_des ${PRIVKEYFILE}

To change (or add) the passphrase for a key do:

openssl rsa -des3 -in ${PRIVKEYFILE} -out ${PRIVKEYFILE}.with_des
mv ${PRIVKEYFILE}.with_des ${PRIVKEYFILE}

7.12 SSL CA certificate bundle

ascli uses the Ruby openssl gem, which uses the openssl library. Certificates are checked against the Ruby default certificate store OpenSSL::X509::DEFAULT_CERT_FILE and OpenSSL::X509::DEFAULT_CERT_DIR, which are typically the ones of openssl on Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS, etc..).

To display the current root certificate store locations:

ascli conf echo @ruby:'[OpenSSL::X509::DEFAULT_CERT_FILE,OpenSSL::X509::DEFAULT_CERT_DIR]'

Ruby’s default values can be overridden by env vars: SSL_CERT_FILE and SSL_CERT_DIR.

ascp also needs to validate certificates when using WSS. By default, ascp uses primarily certificates from hard-coded path (e.g. on macOS: /Library/Aspera/ssl) for WSS. ascli overrides and sets the default Ruby certificate path as well for ascp using -i switch.

To update ascli trusted root certificates, just update your system’s root certificates or use env vars specified here above.

7.13 Plugins

ascli uses a plugin mechanism. The first level command (just after ascli on the command line) is the name of the concerned plugin which will execute the command. Each plugin usually represents commands sent to a specific application. For instance, the plugin faspex allows operations on the application “Aspera Faspex”.

Available plugins can be found using command:

ascli conf plugin list

+--------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
| plugin       | path                                                   |
+--------------+--------------------------------------------------------+
| shares       | ..../aspera-cli/lib/aspera/cli/plugins/shares.rb       |
| node         | ..../aspera-cli/lib/aspera/cli/plugins/node.rb         |
...
+--------------+--------------------------------------------------------+

7.13.1 Create your own plugin

By default plugins are looked-up in folders specified by (multi-value) option plugin_folder:

ascli --show-config --select=@json:'{"key":"plugin_folder"}'

You can create the skeleton of a new plugin like this:

ascli conf plugin create foo .

Created ./foo.rb

ascli --plugin-folder=. foo

7.13.2 Plugins: Application URL and Authentication

ascli comes with several Aspera application plugins.

REST APIs of Aspera legacy applications (Aspera Node, Faspex, Shares, Console, Orchestrator, Server) use simple username/password authentication: HTTP Basic Authentication.

Those are using options:

• url
• username
• password

Those can be provided using command line, parameter set, env var, see section above.

Aspera on Cloud relies on Oauth, refer to the Aspera on Cloud section.

7.14 Logging, Debugging

The gem is equipped with traces, mainly for debugging and learning APIs. By default logging level is warn and the output channel is stderr. To increase debug level, use parameter log_level (e.g. using command line --log-level=xx, env var ASCLI_LOG_LEVEL, or a parameter in the configuration file).

It is also possible to activate traces before log facility initialization using env var ASCLI_LOG_LEVEL.

By default passwords and secrets are removed from logs. Use option log_secrets set to yes to reveal secrets in logs.

Available loggers: stdout, stderr, syslog.

Available levels: debug, info, warn, error.

Note: When using the direct agent (ascp), additional transfer logs can be activated using ascp options and ascp_args, see direct.

Examples:

• display debugging log on stdout:

ascli conf pre over --log-level=debug --logger=stdout

• log errors to syslog:

ascli conf pre over --log-level=error --logger=syslog

When ascli is used interactively in a shell, the shell itself will usually log executed commands in the history file.

7.15 Learning Aspera Product APIs (REST)

ascli uses mainly Aspera applications REST APIs. To display HTTP calls, use argument -r or --rest-debug, this is useful to display exact content of HTTP requests and responses.

In order to get traces of execution, use argument : --log-level=debug

7.16 HTTP socket parameters

If the server does not provide a valid certificate, use option: --insecure=yes.

HTTP socket parameters can be adjusted using option http_options:

Values are in set seconds and can be of type either integer or float. Default values are the ones of Ruby: refer to the Ruby library: Net::HTTP.

Like any other option, those can be set either on command line, or in config file, either in a global preset or server-specific one.

Example:

ascli aoc admin res package list --http-options=@json:'{"read_timeout":10.0}'

7.17 Graphical Interactions: Browser and Text Editor

Some actions may require the use of a graphical tool:

• a browser for Aspera on Cloud authentication (web auth method)
• a text editor for configuration file edition

By default ascli assumes that a graphical environment is available on windows, and on other systems, rely on the presence of the DISPLAY environment variable. It is also possible to force the graphical mode with option –ui :

• --ui=graphical forces a graphical environment, a browser will be opened for URLs or a text editor for file edition.
• --ui=text forces a text environment, the URL or file path to open is displayed on terminal.

7.18 Proxy

There are several types of network connections, each of them use a different mechanism to define a (forward) proxy:

• Ruby HTTP: REST and HTTPGW client
• Legacy Aspera HTTP/S Fallback
• Aspera FASP

Refer to the following sections.

7.19 Proxy for REST and HTTPGW

There are two possibilities to define an HTTP proxy to be used when Ruby HTTP is used.

The http_proxy environment variable (lower case, preferred) can be set to the URL of the proxy, e.g. http://myproxy.org.net:3128. Refer to Ruby find proxy.

Note: Ruby expects a URL and myproxy.org.net:3128 alone is not accepted.

export http_proxy=http://proxy.example.com:3128

The fpac option (function for proxy auto config) can be set to a Proxy Auto Configuration (PAC) javascript value. To read the script from a URL (http:, https: and file:), use prefix: @uri:. A minimal script can be specified to define the use of a local proxy:

ascli --fpac='function FindProxyForURL(url, host){return "PROXY localhost:3128"}' ...

The result of a PAC file can be tested with command: config proxy_check. Example, using command line option:

ascli conf proxy_check --fpac='function FindProxyForURL(url, host) {return "PROXY proxy.example.com:3128;DIRECT";}' http://example.com

PROXY proxy.example.com:1234;DIRECT

ascli config proxy_check --fpac=@file:./proxy.pac http://www.example.com

PROXY proxy.example.com:8080

ascli config proxy_check --fpac=@uri:http://server/proxy.pac http://www.example.com

PROXY proxy.example.com:8080

If the proxy requires credentials, then use option proxy_credentials with username and password provided as an Array:

ascli --proxy-credentials=@json:'["__username_here__","__password_here__"]' ...

ascli --proxy-credentials=@list::__username_here__:__password_here__ ...

7.20 Proxy for Legacy Aspera HTTP/S Fallback

Only supported with the direct agent: To specify a proxy for legacy HTTP fallback, use ascp native option -x and ascp_args: --transfer-info=@json:'{"ascp_args":["-x","url_here"]}'. Alternatively, set the transfer-spec parameter: EX_http_proxy_url.

7.21 FASP proxy (forward) for transfers

To specify a FASP proxy (forward), set the transfer-spec parameter: proxy (only supported with the direct agent).

7.22 FASP configuration

The config plugin also allows specification for the use of a local FASP client. It provides the following commands for ascp subcommand:

• show : shows the path of ascp used
• use : list,download connect client versions available on internet
• products : list Aspera transfer products available locally
• connect : list,download connect client versions available on internet

7.22.1 Show path of currently used ascp

ascli config ascp show

/Users/laurent/.aspera/ascli/sdk/ascp

ascli config ascp info

+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| key                | value                                                     |
+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| ascp               | /Users/laurent/.aspera/ascli/sdk/ascp                     |
...

7.22.2 Selection of ascp location for direct agent

By default, ascli uses any found local product with ascp, including SDK.

To temporarily use an alternate ascp path use option ascp_path (--ascp-path=)

For a permanent change, the command config ascp use sets the same parameter for the global default.

Using a POSIX shell:

ascli config ascp use @path:'~/Applications/Aspera CLI/bin/ascp'

ascp version: 4.0.0.182279
Updated: global_common_defaults: ascp_path <- /Users/laurent/Applications/Aspera CLI/bin/ascp
Saved to default global preset global_common_defaults

Windows:

ascli config ascp use C:\Users\admin\.aspera\ascli\sdk\ascp.exe

ascp version: 4.0.0.182279
Updated: global_common_defaults: ascp_path <- C:\Users\admin\.aspera\ascli\sdk\ascp.exe
Saved to default global preset global_common_defaults

If the path has spaces, read section: Shell and Command line parsing.

7.22.3 List locally installed Aspera Transfer products

Locally installed Aspera products can be listed with:

ascli config ascp products list

+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| name                                  | app_root                               |
+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| IBM Aspera SDK                        | /Users/laurent/.aspera/ascli/sdk       |
| Aspera Connect                        | /Applications/Aspera Connect.app       |
| IBM Aspera CLI                        | /Users/laurent/Applications/Aspera CLI |
| IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Server | /Library/Aspera                        |
+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+

7.22.4 Selection of local client for ascp for direct agent

If no ascp is selected, this is equivalent to using option: --use-product=FIRST.

Using the option use_product finds the ascp binary of the selected product.

To permanently use the ascp of a product:

ascli config ascp products use 'Aspera Connect'
saved to default global preset /Users/laurent/Applications/Aspera Connect.app/Contents/Resources/ascp

7.22.5 Installation of Connect Client on command line

ascli config ascp connect list

+-----------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+-----------+
| id                                            | title                                | version   |
+-----------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+-----------+
| urn:uuid:589F9EE5-0489-4F73-9982-A612FAC70C4E | Aspera Connect for Windows           | 3.11.2.63 |
| urn:uuid:A3820D20-083E-11E2-892E-0800200C9A66 | Aspera Connect for Windows 64-bit    | 3.11.2.63 |
| urn:uuid:589F9EE5-0489-4F73-9982-A612FAC70C4E | Aspera Connect for Windows XP        | 3.11.2.63 |
| urn:uuid:55425020-083E-11E2-892E-0800200C9A66 | Aspera Connect for Windows XP 64-bit | 3.11.2.63 |
| urn:uuid:D8629AD2-6898-4811-A46F-2AF386531BFF | Aspera Connect for Mac Intel         | 3.11.2.63 |
| urn:uuid:97F94DF0-22B1-11E2-81C1-0800200C9A66 | Aspera Connect for Linux 64          | 3.11.2.63 |
+-----------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+-----------+

ascli config ascp connect version 'Aspera Connect for Mac Intel' list

+-------------------------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------+---------------------+
| title                                     | type                     | href                                                                                    | hreflang | rel                 |
+-------------------------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------+---------------------+
| Mac Intel Installer                       | application/octet-stream | bin/IBMAsperaConnectInstaller-3.11.2.63.dmg                                             | en       | enclosure           |
| Mac Intel Installer                       | application/octet-stream | bin/IBMAsperaConnectInstallerOneClick-3.11.2.63.dmg                                     | en       | enclosure-one-click |
| Aspera Connect for Mac HTML Documentation | text/html                | https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/aspera-connect/3.11?topic=aspera-connect-user-guide-macos   | en       | documentation       |
| Aspera Connect for Mac Release Notes      | text/html                | https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/aspera-connect/3.11?topic=notes-release-aspera-connect-3112 | en       | release-notes       |
+-------------------------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------+---------------------+

ascli config ascp connect version 'Aspera Connect for Mac Intel' download enclosure --to-folder=.

Time: 00:00:02 =========================================================== 100% 27766 KB/sec Time: 00:00:02
Downloaded: IBMAsperaConnectInstaller-3.11.2.63.dmg

7.23 Transfer Clients: Agents

Some of the actions on Aspera Applications lead to file transfers (upload and download) using the FASP protocol (ascp).

When a transfer needs to be started, a transfer-spec has been internally prepared. This transfer-spec will be executed by a transfer client, here called Transfer Agent.

There are currently 3 agents, set with option transfer:

• direct : a local execution of ascp
• connect : use of a local Connect Client
• node : use of an Aspera Transfer Node (potentially remote).
• httpgw : use of an Aspera HTTP Gateway
• trsdk : use of Aspera Transfer SDK

Note: All transfer operations are seen from the point of view of the agent. For example, a node agent executing an “upload”, or “package send” operation will effectively push files to the related server from the agent node.

ascli standardizes on the use of a transfer-spec instead of native ascp options to provide parameters for a transfer session, as a common method for those three Transfer Agents.

Specific options for agents are provided with option transfer_info, cumulatively.

7.23.1 Direct

The direct agent directly executes a local ascp. This is the default agent for ascli. This is equivalent to option --transfer=direct. ascli will detect locally installed Aspera products, including SDK, and use ascp from that component. Refer to section FASP.

The transfer_info option accepts the following optional parameters to control multi-session, Web Socket Session and Resume policy:

In case of transfer interruption, the agent will resume a transfer up to iter_max time. Sleep between iterations is:

max( sleep_max , sleep_initial * sleep_factor ^ (iter_index-1) )

Some transfer errors are considered “retryable” (e.g. timeout) and some other not (e.g. wrong password). The list of known protocol errors and retry level can be listed:

ascli config ascp errors

Examples:

ascli ... --transfer-info=@json:'{"wss":true,"resume":{"iter_max":20}}'
ascli ... --transfer-info=@json:'{"spawn_delay_sec":2.5,"multi_incr_udp":false}'

Note: The direct agent supports additional transfer_spec parameters starting with EX_ (extended). But it is preferred to use the option transfer_info with parameter ascp_args.

This can be useful to activate logging using option -L of ascp. For example the option --transfer-info=@json:'{"ascp_args":["-DDL-"]}' will activate debug level 2 for ascp (DD), and display those logs on the terminal (-). This is useful if the transfer fails. To store ascp logs in file aspera-scp-transfer.log in a folder, use --transfer-info=@json:'{"ascp_args":["-L","/path/to/folder"]}'.

Note: When transfer agent direct is used, the list of files to transfer is provided to ascp using either --file-list or --file-pair-list and a file list (or pair) file generated in a temporary folder. (unless --file-list or --file-pair-list is provided using transfer_info parameter ascp_args).

In addition to standard methods described in section File List, it is possible to specify the list of file using those additional methods:

• Using the pseudo transfer-spec parameter EX_file_list

--sources=@ts --ts=@json:'{"EX_file_list":"file_list.txt"}'

• Using option transfer_info parameter ascp_args

--sources=@ts --transfer-info=@json:'{"ascp_args":["--file-list","myfilelist"]}'

Note: File lists is shown here, there are also similar options for file pair lists.

Note: Those 2 additional methods avoid the creation of a copy of the file list: if the standard options --sources=@lines:@file:... --src-type=... are used, then the file is list read and parsed, and a new file list is created in a temporary folder.

Note: Those methods have limitations: they apply only to the direct transfer agent (i.e. local ascp) and not for Aspera on Cloud.

This agent supports a local configuration file: aspera.conf where Virtual links can be configured:

On a server (HSTS), the following commands can be used to set a global virtual link:

asconfigurator -x 'set_trunk_data;id,1;trunk_name,in;trunk_capacity,45000;trunk_on,true'
asconfigurator -x 'set_trunk_data;id,2;trunk_name,out;trunk_capacity,45000;trunk_on,true'
asconfigurator -x 'set_node_data;transfer_in_bandwidth_aggregate_trunk_id,1'
asconfigurator -x 'set_node_data;transfer_out_bandwidth_aggregate_trunk_id,2'

But this command is not available on clients, so edit the file aspera.conf, you can find the location with: ascli conf ascp info --fields=aspera_conf and modify the sections default and trunks like this for a global 100 Mbps virtual link:

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<CONF version="2">
    <default>
        <transfer>
            <in>
                <bandwidth>
                    <aggregate>
                        <trunk_id>1</trunk_id>
                    </aggregate>
                </bandwidth>
            </in>
            <out>
                <bandwidth>
                    <aggregate>
                        <trunk_id>2</trunk_id>
                    </aggregate>
                </bandwidth>
            </out>
        </transfer>
    </default>
    <trunks>
        <trunk>
            <id>1</id>
            <name>in</name>
            <on>true</on>
            <capacity>
                <schedule format="ranges">1000000</schedule>
            </capacity>
        </trunk>
        <trunk>
            <id>2</id>
            <name>out</name>
            <capacity>
                <schedule format="ranges">1000000</schedule>
            </capacity>
            <on>true</on>
        </trunk>
    </trunks>
</CONF>

It is also possible to set a schedule with different time and days, for example for the value of schedule:

start=08 end=19 days=mon,tue,wed,thu capacity=900000;1000000

7.23.2 IBM Aspera Connect Client GUI

By specifying option: --transfer=connect, ascli will start transfers using the locally installed Aspera Connect Client. There are no option for transfer_info.

7.23.3 Aspera Node API : Node to node transfers

By specifying option: --transfer=node, ascli starts transfers in an Aspera Transfer Server using the Node API, either on a local or remote node. Parameters provided in option transfer_info are:

Like any other option, transfer_info can get its value from a pre-configured option preset : --transfer-info=@preset:_name_here_ or be specified using the extended value syntax : --transfer-info=@json:'{"url":"https://...","username":"_user_here_","password":"my_password_here"}'

If transfer_info is not specified and a default node has been configured (name in node for section default) then this node is used by default.

If the password value begins with Bearer then the username is expected to be an access key and the parameter root_id is mandatory and specifies the root file id on the node. It can be either the access key’s root file id, or any authorized file id underneath it.

7.23.4 HTTP Gateway

If it possible to send using a HTTP gateway, in case FASP is not allowed.

Parameters provided in option transfer_info are:

Example:

ascli faspex package recv 323 --transfer=httpgw --transfer-info=@json:'{"url":"https://asperagw.example.com:9443/aspera/http-gwy"}'

Note: The gateway only supports transfers authorized with a token.

7.23.5 Transfer SDK

Another possibility is to use the Transfer SDK daemon (asperatransferd).

By default it will listen on local port 55002 on 127.0.0.1.

The gem grpc was removed from dependencies, as it requires compilation of a native part. So, to use the Transfer SDK you should install this gem:

gem install grpc

On Windows the compilation may fail for various reasons (3.1.1): - cannot find -lx64-ucrt-ruby310 → copy the file [Ruby main dir]\lib\libx64-ucrt-ruby310.dll.a to [Ruby main dir]\lib\libx64-ucrt-ruby310.a (remove the dll extension) - conflicting types for 'gettimeofday' → edit the file [Ruby main dir]/include/ruby-[version]/ruby/win32.h and change the signature of gettimeofday to gettimeofday(struct timeval *, void *) ,i.e. change struct timezone to void

7.24 Transfer Specification

Some commands lead to file transfer (upload/download). All parameters necessary for this transfer are described in a transfer-spec (Transfer Specification), such as:

• server address
• transfer user name
• credentials
• file list
• etc…

ascli builds the transfer-spec internally, so it is not necessary to provide additional parameters on the command line for this transfer.

The transfer-spec is a Hash (dictionary), so it is described on the command line with the Extended Value Syntax.

It is possible to modify or add any of the supported transfer-spec parameter using the ts option. The ts option accepts a Structured Value containing one or several transfer-spec parameters in a Hash. Multiple ts options on command line are cumulative, and Hash is deeply merged. To remove a (deep) key from transfer spec, set the value to null.

Note: Default transfer spec values can be displayed with command: config ascp info --flat-hash=no under field ts.

It is possible to specify ascp options when the transfer option is set to direct using transfer_info option parameter: ascp_args. Example: --transfer-info=@json:'{"ascp_args":["-l","100m"]}'. This is especially useful for ascp command line parameters not supported in the transfer spec.

The use of a transfer-spec instead of ascp parameters has the advantage of:

• common to all Transfer Agent
• not dependent on command line limitations (special characters…)

7.25 Transfer Parameters

All standard transfer-spec parameters can be specified. transfer-spec can also be saved/overridden in the config file.

References:

• Aspera Node API Documentation → /opt/transfers
• Aspera Transfer SDK Documentation → Guides → API Ref → Transfer Spec V1
• Aspera Connect SDK → search The parameters for starting a transfer.

Parameters can be displayed with commands:

ascli config ascp spec
ascli config ascp spec --select=@json:'{"d":"Y"}' --fields=-d,n,c

Columns:

• D=Direct (local ascp execution)
• N=Node API
• C=Connect Client

ascp argument or environment variable is provided in description.

Fields with EX_ prefix are extensions to transfer agent direct. (only in ascli).

7.25.1 Destination folder for transfers

The destination folder is set by ascli by default to:

• . for downloads
• / for uploads

It is specified by the transfer-spec parameter destination_root. As such, it can be modified with option: --ts=@json:'{"destination_root":"<path>"}'. The option to_folder provides an equivalent and convenient way to change this parameter: --to-folder=<path> .

7.25.2 List of files for transfers

When uploading, downloading or sending files, the user must specify the list of files to transfer.

By default the list of files to transfer is simply provided on the command line.

The list of (source) files to transfer is specified by (extended value) option sources (default: @args). The list is either simply the list of source files, or a combined source/destination list (see below) depending on value of option src_type (default: list).

In ascli, all transfer parameters, including file list, are provided to the transfer agent in a transfer-spec so that execution of a transfer is independent of the transfer agent (direct, connect, node, transfer sdk…). So, eventually, the list of files to transfer is provided to the transfer agent using the transfer-spec field: "paths" which is a list (array) of pairs of "source" (mandatory) and "destination" (optional). The sources and src_type options provide convenient ways to populate the transfer spec with the source file list.

Possible values for option sources are:

• @args : (default) the list of files (or file pair) is directly provided on the command line (after commands): unused arguments (not starting with -) are considered as source files. So, by default, the list of files to transfer will be simply specified on the command line. Example:

  ascli server upload ~/first.file secondfile

  This is the same as (with default values):

  ascli server upload --sources=@args --src-type=list ~/mysample.file secondfile

• an Extended Value with type Array of String

  Note: extended values can be tested with the command conf echo

  Examples:

  • Using extended value

    Create the file list:

    echo ~/mysample.file > myfilelist.txt
    echo secondfile >> myfilelist.txt

    Use the file list: one path per line:

    --sources=@lines:@file:myfilelist.txt

  • Using JSON array

    --sources=@json:'["file1","file2"]'

  • Using STDIN, one path per line

    --sources=@lines:@stdin:

  • Using Ruby code (one path per line in file)

    --sources=@ruby:'File.read("myfilelist.txt").split("\n")'

• @ts : the user provides the list of files directly in the paths field of transfer spec (option ts). Examples:

  • Using transfer spec

  --sources=@ts --ts=@json:'{"paths":[{"source":"file1"},{"source":"file2"}]}'

The option src_type allows specifying if the list specified in option sources is a simple file list or if it is a file pair list.

Note: Option src_type is not used if option sources is set to @ts

Supported values for src_type are:

• list : (default) the path of destination is the same as source and each entry is a source file path
• pair : the first element is the first source, the second element is the first destination, and so on.

Example: Source file 200KB.1 is renamed sample1 on destination:

ascli server upload --src-type=pair ~/Documents/Samples/200KB.1 /Upload/sample1

Note: There are some specific rules to specify a file list when using Aspera on Cloud, refer to the AoC plugin section.

7.25.3 Source directory structure on destination

This section is not specific to ascli, it is ascp behaviour.

The transfer destination is normally expected to designate a destination folder.

But there is one exception: The destination specifies the new item name when the following are met:

• there is a single source item (file or folder)
• transfer spec create_dir is not set to true (ascp option -d not provided)
• destination is not an existing folder
• the dirname of destination is an existing folder

For this reason it is recommended to set create_dir to true for consistent behaviour between single and multiple items transfer, this is the default in ascli.

If a simple source file list is provided (no destination in paths, i.e. no file_pair_list provided), the destination folder is used as destination folder for each source file, and source file folder names are not preserved.

The inner structure of source items that are folder is preserved on destination.

A leading / on destination is ignored (relative to docroot) unless docroot is not set (relative to home).

In the following table source folder d3 contains 2 files: f1 and d4/f2.

If a file par list is provided then it is possible to rename or specify a different destination folder for each source (relative to the destination).

If transfer spec has a src_base, it has the side effect that the simple source file list is considered as a file pair list, and so the lower structure of source folders is preserved on destination.

Advanced Example: Send files ./file1 and ./folder2/files2 to server (e.g. /Upload) and keep the original file names and folders, i.e. send file1 to /Upload/file1 and files2 to /Upload/folder2/files2.

• If files are specified as ./file1 ./folder2/files2, then destination will be: /Upload/file1 /Upload/files2
• One possibility is to specify a file pair list: --src-type=pair file1 file1 folder2/files2 folder2/files2
• Another possibility is to specify a source base: --src-base=$PWD $PWD/file1 $PWD/folder2/files2 (note that . cannot be used as source base)
• Similarly, create a temporary soft link (Linux): ln -s . tmp_base and use --src-base=tmp_base tmp_base/file1 tmp_base/folder2/files2
• One can also similarly use --sources=@ts and specify the list of files in the paths field of transfer spec with both source and destination for each file.

7.25.4 Support of multi-session

Multi session, i.e. starting a transfer of a file set using multiple sessions (one ascp process per session) is supported on direct and node agents, not yet on connect.

• --transfer=node

--ts=@json:'{"multi_session":10,"multi_session_threshold":1}'

Multi-session is directly supported by the node daemon.

• --transfer=direct

--ts=@json:'{"multi_session":5,"multi_session_threshold":1,"resume_policy":"none"}'

Note: resume_policy set to attr may cause problems: none or sparse_csum shall be preferred.

ascli starts multiple ascp for Multi-session using direct agent.

When multi-session is used, one separate UDP port is used per session (refer to ascp manual page).

7.25.5 Content protection

Also known as Client-side encryption at rest (CSEAR), content protection allows a client to send files to a server which will store them encrypted (upload), and decrypt files as they are being downloaded from a server, both using a passphrase, only known by users sharing files. Files stay encrypted on server side.

Activating CSEAR consists in using transfer spec parameters:

• content_protection : activate encryption (encrypt for upload) or decryption (decrypt for download)
• content_protection_password : the passphrase to be used.

Example: parameter to download a faspex package and decrypt on the fly

--ts=@json:'{"content_protection":"decrypt","content_protection_password":"my_password_here"}'

7.25.6 Transfer Spec Examples

• Change target rate

--ts=@json:'{"target_rate_kbps":500000}'

• Override the FASP SSH port to a specific TCP port:

--ts=@json:'{"ssh_port":33002}'

• Force http fallback mode:

--ts=@json:'{"http_fallback":"force"}'

• Activate progress when not activated by default on server

--ts=@json:'{"precalculate_job_size":true}'

7.26 Scheduler

It is useful to configure automated scheduled execution. ascli does not provide an internal scheduler. Instead, use the service provided by the Operating system:

7.26.1 Windows Scheduler

Windows provides the Task Scheduler. It can be configured:

• Using utility schtasks.exe

• Using powershell function scheduletasks

• Using taskschd.msc (UI)

7.26.2 Unix-like Scheduler

Unix-like systems (Linux, …) provide cron, configured using a crontab

Linux also provides anacron, if tasks are hourly or daily.

For example, on Linux it is convenient to create a wrapping script, e.g. cron_ascli that will setup the environment (e.g. Ruby) to properly start ascli:

#!/bin/bash
# load the ruby environment
. /etc/profile.d/rvm.sh
rvm use 2.6 --quiet
# set a timeout protection, just in case ascli is frozen 
tmout=30m
# forward arguments to ascli
exec timeout ${tmout} ascli "${@}"

Example of cronjob created for user xfer.

crontab<<EOF
0    * * * *  /home/xfer/cron_ascli preview scan --logger=syslog --display=error
2-59 * * * *  /home/xfer/cron_ascli preview trev --logger=syslog --display=error
EOF

Note: The logging options are kept here in the cronfile instead of conf file to allow execution on command line with output on command line.

7.27 Locking for exclusive execution

In some cases one needs to ensure that ascli is not executed several times in parallel.

When ascli is executed automatically on a schedule basis, one generally desires that a new execution is not started if a previous execution is still running because an on-going operation may last longer than the scheduling period:

• Executing instances may pile-up and kill the system
• The same file may be transferred by multiple instances at the same time.
• preview may generate the same files in multiple instances.

Usually the OS native scheduler already provides some sort of protection against parallel execution:

• The Windows scheduler does this by default
• Linux cron can leverage the utility flock to do the same:

/usr/bin/flock -w 0 /var/cron.lock ascli ...

ascli natively supports a locking mechanism with option lock_port. (Technically, this opens a local TCP server port, and fails if this port is already used, providing a local lock. Lock is released when process exits).

Testing ascli locking:

Run this same command in two separate terminals within less than 30 seconds:

ascli config echo @ruby:'sleep(30)' --lock-port=12345

The first instance will sleep 30 seconds, the second one will immediately exit like this:

WARN -- : Another instance is already running (Address already in use - bind(2) for "127.0.0.1" port 12345).

7.28 “Provençale”

ascp, the underlying executable implementing Aspera file transfer using FASP, has a capability to not only access the local file system (using system’s open,read,write,close primitives), but also to do the same operations on other data storage such as S3, Hadoop and others. This mechanism is call PVCL. Several PVCL adapters are available, some are embedded in ascp , some are provided om shared libraries and must be activated. (e.g. using trapd)

The list of supported PVCL adapters can be retrieved with command:

ascli conf ascp info

+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| key                | value                                                     |
+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
-----8<-----snip-----8<-----
| product_name       | IBM Aspera SDK                                            |
| product_version    | 4.0.1.182389                                              |
| process            | pvcl                                                      |
| shares             | pvcl                                                      |
| noded              | pvcl                                                      |
| faux               | pvcl                                                      |
| file               | pvcl                                                      |
| stdio              | pvcl                                                      |
| stdio-tar          | pvcl                                                      |
+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------+

Here we can see the adapters: process, shares, noded, faux, file, stdio, stdio-tar.

Those adapters can be used wherever a file path is used in ascp including configuration. They act as a pseudo “drive”.

The simplified format is:

<adapter>:///<sub file path>?<arg1>=<val1>&...

One of the adapters, used in this manual, for testing, is faux. It is a pseudo file system allowing generation of file data without actual storage (on source or destination).

7.29 faux: for testing

This is an extract of the man page of ascp. This feature is a feature of ascp, not ascli.

This adapter can be used to simulate a file or a directory.

To discard data at the destination, the destination argument is set to faux://.

To send uninitialized data in place of an actual source file, the source file is replaced with an argument of the form:

faux:///filename?filesize

where:

• filename is the name that will be assigned to the file on the destination
• filesize is the number of bytes that will be sent (in decimal).

Note: characters ? and & are shell special characters (wildcard and background), so faux file specification on command line should be protected (using quotes or \). If not, the shell may give error: no matches found or equivalent.

For all sizes, a suffix can be added (case insensitive) to the size: k,m,g,t,p,e (values are power of 2, e.g. 1M is 2²⁰, i.e. 1 mebibyte, not megabyte). The maximum allowed value is 8*2⁶⁰. Very large faux file sizes (petabyte range and above) will likely fail due to lack of destination storage unless destination is faux://.

To send uninitialized data in place of a source directory, the source argument is replaced with an argument of the form:

faux:///dirname?<arg1>=<val1>&...

where:

• dirname is the folder name and can contain / to specify a subfolder.
• supported arguments are:

The sequence parameter is applied as follows:

• If seq is random then each file size is:

  • size +/- (inc * rand())
  • Where rand is a random number between 0 and 1
  • Note that file size must not be negative, inc will be set to size if it is greater than size
  • Similarly, overall file size must be less than 82⁶⁰. If size + inc is greater, inc will be reduced to limit size + inc to 72⁶⁰.

• If seq is sequential then each file size is:

  • size + ((file_index - 1) * inc)
  • Where first file is index 1
  • So file1 is size bytes, file2 is size + inc bytes, file3 is size + inc * 2 bytes, etc.
  • As with random, inc will be adjusted if size + (count * inc) is not less then 8*2⁶⁰.

Filenames generated are of the form: <file>_<00000 ... count>_<filesize>

Examples:

• Upload 20 gibibytes of random data to file myfile to directory /Upload

ascli server upload faux:///myfile\?20g --to-folder=/Upload

• Upload a file /tmp/sample but do not save results to disk (no docroot on destination)

ascli server upload /tmp/sample --to-folder=faux://

• Upload a faux directory mydir containing 1 million files, sequentially with sizes ranging from 0 to 2 Mebibyte - 2 bytes, with the basename of each file being testfile to /Upload

ascli server upload "faux:///mydir?file=testfile&count=1m&size=0&inc=2&seq=sequential" --to-folder=/Upload

7.30 Usage

ascli -h
NAME
        ascli -- a command line tool for Aspera Applications (v4.14.0)

SYNOPSIS
        ascli COMMANDS [OPTIONS] [ARGS]

DESCRIPTION
        Use Aspera application to perform operations on command line.
        Documentation and examples: https://rubygems.org/gems/aspera-cli
        execute: ascli conf doc
        or visit: https://www.rubydoc.info/gems/aspera-cli
        source repo: https://github.com/IBM/aspera-cli

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
        ASCLI_HOME config folder, default: $HOME/.aspera/ascli
        Any option can be set as an environment variable, refer to the manual

COMMANDS
        To list first level commands, execute: ascli
        Note that commands can be written shortened (provided it is unique).

OPTIONS
        Options begin with a '-' (minus), and value is provided on command line.
        Special values are supported beginning with special prefix @pfx:, where pfx is one of:
        base64, csvt, env, file, json, lines, list, path, ruby, secret, stdin, uri, val, zlib, preset, incps, vault
        Dates format is 'DD-MM-YY HH:MM:SS', or 'now' or '-<num>h'

ARGS
        Some commands require mandatory arguments, e.g. a path.

OPTIONS: global
        --interactive=ENUM           Use interactive input of missing params: [no], yes
        --ask-options=ENUM           Ask even optional options: [no], yes
        --format=ENUM                Output format: text, nagios, ruby, json, jsonpp, yaml, [table], csv
        --display=ENUM               Output only some information: [info], data, error
        --fields=VALUE               Comma separated list of fields, or ALL, or DEF
        --select=VALUE               Select only some items in lists: column, value (Hash)
        --table-style=VALUE          Table display style
        --flat-hash=ENUM             Display deep values as additional keys: no, [yes]
        --transpose-single=ENUM      Single object fields output vertically: no, [yes]
        --show-secrets=ENUM          Show secrets on command output: [no], yes
    -h, --help                       Show this message
        --bash-comp                  Generate bash completion for command
        --show-config                Display parameters used for the provided action
    -r, --rest-debug                 More debug for HTTP calls (REST)
    -v, --version                    Display version
    -w, --warnings                   Check for language warnings
        --ui=ENUM                    Method to start browser: text, [graphical]
        --log-level=ENUM             Log level: debug, info, [warn], error, fatal, unknown
        --logger=ENUM                Logging method: [stderr], stdout, syslog
        --lock-port=VALUE            Prevent dual execution of a command, e.g. in cron
        --http-options=VALUE         Options for http socket (Hash)
        --insecure=ENUM              Do not validate HTTPS certificate: [no], yes
        --once-only=ENUM             Process only new items (some commands): [no], yes
        --log-secrets=ENUM           Show passwords in logs: [no], yes
        --cache-tokens=ENUM          Save and reuse Oauth tokens: no, [yes]

COMMAND: config
SUBCOMMANDS: ascp check_update coffee detect documentation echo email_test file flush_tokens folder gem genkey initdemo open plugin preset proxy_check smtp_settings vault wizard
OPTIONS:
        --query=VALUE                Additional filter for for some commands (list/delete) (Hash)
        --value=VALUE                Value for create, update, list filter (Hash) (deprecated: Use positional value for create/modify or option: query for list/delete)
        --property=VALUE             Name of property to set (modify operation)
        --id=VALUE                   Resource identifier (deprecated: Use identifier after verb (modify,delete,show))
        --bulk=ENUM                  Bulk operation (only some): [no], yes
        --bfail=ENUM                 Bulk operation error handling: no, [yes]
        --config-file=VALUE          Read parameters from file in YAML format, current=/usershome/.aspera/ascli/config.yaml
    -N, --no-default                 Do not load default configuration for plugin
        --override=ENUM              Wizard: override existing value: [no], yes
        --use-generic-client=ENUM    Wizard: AoC: use global or org specific jwt client id: no, [yes]
        --default=ENUM               Wizard: set as default configuration for specified plugin (also: update): no, [yes]
        --test-mode=ENUM             Wizard: skip private key check step: [no], yes
    -P, --presetVALUE                Load the named option preset from current config file
        --pkeypath=VALUE             Wizard: path to private key for JWT
        --ascp-path=VALUE            Path to ascp
        --use-product=VALUE          Use ascp from specified product
        --smtp=VALUE                 SMTP configuration (Hash)
        --fpac=VALUE                 Proxy auto configuration script
        --proxy-credentials=VALUE    HTTP proxy credentials (Array with user and password)
        --secret=VALUE               Secret for access keys
        --vault=VALUE                Vault for secrets
        --vault-password=VALUE       Vault password
        --sdk-url=VALUE              URL to get SDK
        --sdk-folder=VALUE           SDK folder path
        --notif-to=VALUE             Email recipient for notification of transfers
        --notif-template=VALUE       Email ERB template for notification of transfers
        --version-check-days=VALUE   Period in days to check new version (zero to disable)
        --plugin-folder=VALUE        Folder where to find additional plugins
        --ts=VALUE                   Override transfer spec values (Hash)
        --to-folder=VALUE            Destination folder for transferred files
        --sources=VALUE              How list of transferred files is provided (@args,@ts,Array)
        --src-type=ENUM              Type of file list: [list], pair
        --transfer=ENUM              Type of transfer agent: [direct], node, connect, httpgw, trsdk
        --transfer-info=VALUE        Parameters for transfer agent (Hash)
        --progress=ENUM              Type of progress bar: none, [native], multi


COMMAND: shares
SUBCOMMANDS: admin files health
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password
        --type=ENUM                  Type of user/group for operations: [any], local, ldap, saml


COMMAND: node
SUBCOMMANDS: access_key api_details asperabrowser async basic_token browse central delete download events health info license mkdir mkfile mklink rename search service space ssync stream sync transfer upload watch_folder
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password
        --validator=VALUE            Identifier of validator (optional for central)
        --asperabrowserurl=VALUE     URL for simple aspera web ui
        --sync-name=VALUE            Sync name
        --default-ports=ENUM         Use standard FASP ports or get from node api (gen4): no, [yes]


COMMAND: orchestrator
SUBCOMMANDS: health info plugins processes workflow
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password
        --params=VALUE               Start parameters (Hash)
        --result=VALUE               Specify result value as: 'work step:parameter'
        --synchronous=ENUM           Work step:parameter expected as result: [no], yes
        --ret-style=ENUM             How return type is requested in api: header, [arg], ext
        --auth-style=ENUM            Authentication type: arg_pass, [head_basic], apikey


COMMAND: bss
SUBCOMMANDS: subscription
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password


COMMAND: alee
SUBCOMMANDS: entitlement
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password


COMMAND: ats
SUBCOMMANDS: access_key api_key aws_trust_policy cluster
OPTIONS:
        --ibm-api-key=VALUE          IBM API key, see https://cloud.ibm.com/iam/apikeys
        --instance=VALUE             ATS instance in ibm cloud
        --ats-key=VALUE              ATS key identifier (ats_xxx)
        --ats-secret=VALUE           ATS key secret
        --params=VALUE               Parameters access key creation (@json:)
        --cloud=VALUE                Cloud provider
        --region=VALUE               Cloud region


COMMAND: faspex5
SUBCOMMANDS: admin bearer_token gateway health packages postprocessing shared_folders user version
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password
        --client-id=VALUE            OAuth client identifier
        --client-secret=VALUE        OAuth client secret
        --redirect-uri=VALUE         OAuth redirect URI for web authentication
        --auth=ENUM                  OAuth type of authentication: boot, link, web, [jwt]
        --private-key=VALUE          OAuth JWT RSA private key PEM value (prefix file path with @file:)
        --passphrase=VALUE           OAuth JWT RSA private key passphrase
        --link=VALUE                 Public link authorization (specific operations)
        --box=VALUE                  Package inbox, either shared inbox name or one of ["inbox", "inbox_history", "inbox_all", "inbox_all_history", "outbox", "outbox_history", "pending", "pending_history", "all"] or ALL
        --shared-folder=VALUE        Send package with files from shared folder
        --group-type=ENUM            Shared inbox or workgroup: [shared_inboxes], workgroups


COMMAND: cos
SUBCOMMANDS: node
OPTIONS:
        --bucket=VALUE               Bucket name
        --endpoint=VALUE             Storage endpoint url
        --apikey=VALUE               Storage API key
        --crn=VALUE                  Resource instance id
        --service-credentials=VALUE  IBM Cloud service credentials (Hash)
        --region=VALUE               Storage region
        --identity=VALUE             Authentication url (https://iam.cloud.ibm.com/identity)


COMMAND: faspex
SUBCOMMANDS: address_book dropbox health login_methods me package source v4
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password
        --link=VALUE                 Public link for specific operation
        --delivery-info=VALUE        Package delivery information (Hash)
        --source-name=VALUE          Create package from remote source (by name)
        --storage=VALUE              Faspex local storage definition
        --recipient=VALUE            Use if recipient is a dropbox (with *)
        --box=ENUM                   Package box: [inbox], archive, sent


COMMAND: preview
SUBCOMMANDS: check events scan test trevents
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password
        --skip-format=ENUM           Skip this preview format (multiple possible): png, mp4
        --folder-reset-cache=ENUM    Force detection of generated preview by refresh cache: [no], header, read
        --skip-types=VALUE           Skip types in comma separated list
        --previews-folder=VALUE      Preview folder in storage root
        --temp-folder=VALUE          Path to temp folder
        --skip-folders=VALUE         List of folder to skip
        --case=VALUE                 Basename of output for for test
        --scan-path=VALUE            Subpath in folder id to start scan in (default=/)
        --scan-id=VALUE              Folder id in storage to start scan in, default is access key main folder id
        --mimemagic=ENUM             Use Mime type detection of gem mimemagic: [no], yes
        --overwrite=ENUM             When to overwrite result file: always, never, [mtime]
        --file-access=ENUM           How to read and write files in repository: [local], remote
        --max-size=VALUE             Maximum size (in bytes) of preview file
        --thumb-vid-scale=VALUE      Png: video: size (ffmpeg scale argument)
        --thumb-vid-fraction=VALUE   Png: video: time percent position of snapshot
        --thumb-img-size=VALUE       Png: non-video: height (and width)
        --thumb-text-font=VALUE      Png: plaintext: font to render text with imagemagick convert (identify -list font)
        --video-conversion=ENUM      Mp4: method for preview generation: [reencode], blend, clips
        --video-png-conv=ENUM        Mp4: method for thumbnail generation: [fixed], animated
        --video-scale=VALUE          Mp4: all: video scale (ffmpeg)
        --video-start-sec=VALUE      Mp4: all: start offset (seconds) of video preview
        --reencode-ffmpeg=VALUE      Mp4: reencode: options to ffmpeg
        --blend-keyframes=VALUE      Mp4: blend: # key frames
        --blend-pauseframes=VALUE    Mp4: blend: # pause frames
        --blend-transframes=VALUE    Mp4: blend: # transition blend frames
        --blend-fps=VALUE            Mp4: blend: frame per second
        --clips-count=VALUE          Mp4: clips: number of clips
        --clips-length=VALUE         Mp4: clips: length in seconds of each clips


COMMAND: sync
SUBCOMMANDS: admin start
OPTIONS:
        --sync-info=VALUE            Information for sync instance and sessions (Hash)
        --sync-session=VALUE         Name of session to use for admin commands. default: first in parameters


COMMAND: aoc
SUBCOMMANDS: admin automation bearer_token files gateway organization packages reminder servers tier_restrictions user
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password
        --auth=ENUM                  OAuth type of authentication: web, [jwt]
        --operation=ENUM             Client operation for transfers: [push], pull
        --client-id=VALUE            OAuth API client identifier
        --client-secret=VALUE        OAuth API client secret
        --redirect-uri=VALUE         OAuth API client redirect URI
        --private-key=VALUE          OAuth JWT RSA private key PEM value (prefix file path with @file:)
        --scope=VALUE                OAuth scope for AoC API calls
        --passphrase=VALUE           RSA private key passphrase
        --workspace=VALUE            Name of workspace
        --name=VALUE                 Resource name (prefer to use keyword name)
        --link=VALUE                 Public link to shared resource
        --new-user-option=VALUE      New user creation option for unknown package recipients
        --from-folder=VALUE          Source folder for Folder-to-Folder transfer
        --validate-metadata=ENUM     Validate shared inbox metadata: no, [yes]

COMMAND: node
SUBCOMMANDS: access_key api_details asperabrowser async basic_token browse central delete download events health info license mkdir mkfile mklink rename search service space ssync stream sync transfer upload watch_folder
OPTIONS:
        --validator=VALUE            Identifier of validator (optional for central)
        --asperabrowserurl=VALUE     URL for simple aspera web ui
        --sync-name=VALUE            Sync name
        --default-ports=ENUM         Use standard FASP ports or get from node api (gen4): no, [yes]


COMMAND: server
SUBCOMMANDS: browse cp delete df download du health info ls md5sum mkdir mv rename rm sync upload
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password
        --ssh-keys=VALUE             SSH key path list (Array or single)
        --passphrase=VALUE           SSH private key passphrase
        --ssh-options=VALUE          SSH options (Hash)


COMMAND: console
SUBCOMMANDS: health transfer
OPTIONS:
        --url=VALUE                  URL of application, e.g. https://org.asperafiles.com
        --username=VALUE             Username to log in
        --password=VALUE             User's password
        --filter-from=DATE           Only after date
        --filter-to=DATE             Only before date

Note: commands and parameter values can be written in short form.

7.31 Bulk creation and deletion of resources

Bulk creation and deletion of resources are possible using option bulk (yes,no(default)). In that case, the operation expects an Array of Hash instead of a simple Hash using the Extended Value Syntax. This option is available only for some of the resources: if you need it: try and see if the entities you try to create or delete support this option.

8 Plugin: aoc: IBM Aspera on Cloud

Aspera on Cloud uses the more advanced Oauth v2 mechanism for authentication (HTTP Basic authentication is not supported).

It is recommended to use the wizard to set it up, but manual configuration is also possible.

8.1 Configuration: using Wizard

ascli provides a configuration wizard. Here is a sample invocation :

ascli config wizard
option: url> https://myorg.ibmaspera.com
Detected: Aspera on Cloud
Preparing preset: aoc_myorg
Please provide path to your private RSA key, or empty to generate one:
option: pkeypath>
using existing key:
/Users/myself/.aspera/ascli/aspera_aoc_key
Using global client_id.
option: username> john@example.com
Updating profile with new key
creating new config preset: aoc_myorg
Setting config preset as default for aspera
saving config file
Done.
You can test with:
ascli aoc user profile show

Optionally, it is possible to create a new organization-specific “integration”, i.e. client application identification. For this, specify the option: --use-generic-client=no.

This will guide you through the steps to create.

If the wizard does not detect the application but you know the application, you can force it using option query:

ascli config wizard --query=aoc

8.2 Configuration: using manual setup

Note: If you used the wizard (recommended): skip this section.

8.2.1 Configuration details

Several types of OAuth authentication are supported:

• JSON Web Token (JWT) : authentication is secured by a private key (recommended for ascli)
• Web based authentication : authentication is made by user using a browser
• URL Token : external users authentication with url tokens (public links)

The authentication method is controlled by option auth.

For a quick start, follow the mandatory and sufficient section: API Client Registration (auth=web) as well as [option preset](#lprt) for Aspera on Cloud.

For a more convenient, browser-less, experience follow the JWT section (auth=jwt) in addition to Client Registration.

In Oauth, a “Bearer” token are generated to authenticate REST calls. Bearer tokens are valid for a period of time.ascli saves generated tokens in its configuration folder, tries to re-use them or regenerates them when they have expired.

8.2.2 Optional: API Client Registration

If you use the built-in client_id and client_secret, skip this and do not set them in next section.

Else you can use a specific OAuth API client_id, the first step is to declare ascli in Aspera on Cloud using the admin interface.

(AoC documentation: Registering an API Client ).

Let’s start by a registration with web based authentication (auth=web):

• Open a web browser, log to your instance: e.g. https://myorg.ibmaspera.com/
• Go to Apps → Admin → Organization → Integrations
• Click “Create New”
  • Client Name: ascli
  • Redirect URIs: http://localhost:12345
  • Origins: localhost
  • uncheck “Prompt users to allow client to access”
  • leave the JWT part for now
• Save

Note: for web based authentication, ascli listens on a local port (e.g. specified by the redirect_uri, in this example: 12345), and the browser will provide the OAuth code there. For `ascli, HTTP is required, and 12345 is the default port.

Once the client is registered, a “Client ID” and “Secret” are created, these values will be used in the next step.

8.2.3 option preset for Aspera on Cloud

If you did not use the wizard, you can also manually create a option preset for ascli in its configuration file.

Lets create an option preset called: my_aoc_org using ask interactive input (client info from previous step):

ascli config preset ask my_aoc_org url client_id client_secret
option: url> https://myorg.ibmaspera.com/
option: client_id> my_client_id_here
option: client_secret> my_client_secret_here
updated: my_aoc_org

(This can also be done in one line using the command config preset update my_aoc_org --url=...)

Define this option preset as default configuration for the aspera plugin:

ascli config preset set default aoc my_aoc_org

Note: Default auth method is web and default redirect_uri is http://localhost:12345. Leave those default values.

8.2.4 Activation of JSON Web Token (JWT) for direct authentication

For a Browser-less, Private Key-based authentication, use the following steps.

In order to use JWT for Aspera on Cloud API client authentication, a private/public key pair must be used.

8.2.4.1 API Client JWT activation

If you are not using the built-in client_id and secret, JWT needs to be authorized in Aspera on Cloud. This can be done in two manners:

• Graphically

  • Open a web browser, log to your instance: https://myorg.ibmaspera.com/
  • Go to Apps → Admin → Organization → Integrations
  • Click on the previously created application
  • select tab : “JSON Web Token Auth”
  • Modify options if necessary, for instance: activate both options in section “Settings”
  • Click “Save”

• Using command line

ascli aoc admin res client list

+------------+---------------+
|     id     |  name         |
+------------+---------------+
| my_BJbQiFw | my-client-app |
+------------+---------------+

ascli aoc admin res client modify my_BJbQiFw @json:'{"jwt_grant_enabled":true,"explicit_authorization_required":false}'

modified

8.2.5 User key registration

The public key must be assigned to your user. This can be done in two manners:

8.2.5.1 Graphically

Open the previously generated public key located here: $HOME/.aspera/ascli/my_private_key.pub

• Open a web browser, log to your instance: https://myorg.ibmaspera.com/
• Click on the user’s icon (top right)
• Select “Account Settings”
• Paste the Public Key in the “Public Key” section
• Click on “Submit”

8.2.5.2 Using command line

ascli aoc admin res user list

+--------+----------------+
|   id   |      name      |
+--------+----------------+
| 109952 | Tech Support   |
| 109951 | LAURENT MARTIN |
+--------+----------------+

ascli aoc user profile modify @ruby:'{"public_key"=>File.read(File.expand_path("~/.aspera/ascli/my_private_key.pub"))}'

modified

Note: the aspera user info show command can be used to verify modifications.

8.2.6 option preset modification for JWT

To activate default use of JWT authentication for ascli using the option preset, do the following:

• change auth method to JWT
• provide location of private key
• provide username to login as (OAuth “subject”)

Execute:

ascli config preset update my_aoc_org --auth=jwt --private-key=@val:@file:~/.aspera/ascli/my_private_key --username=laurent.martin.aspera@fr.ibm.com

Note: the private key argument represents the actual PEM string. In order to read the content from a file, use the @file: prefix. But if the @file: argument is used as is, it will read the file and set in the config file. So to keep the “@file” tag in the configuration file, the @val: prefix is added.

After this last step, commands do not require web login anymore.

8.2.7 First Use

Once client has been registered and option preset created: ascli can be used:

ascli aoc files br /

Current Workspace: Default Workspace (default)
empty

8.3 Calling AoC APIs from command line

The command ascli aoc bearer can be used to generate an OAuth token suitable to call any AoC API (use the scope option to change the scope, default is user:all). This can be useful when a command is not yet available.

Example:

curl -s -H "Authorization: $(ascli aoc bearer_token)" 'https://api.ibmaspera.com/api/v1/group_memberships?embed[]=dropbox&embed[]=workspace'|jq -r '.[]|(.workspace.name + " -> " + .dropbox.name)'

It is also possible to get the bearer token for node, as user or as admin using:

ascli aoc files bearer_token_node /

ascli aoc admin res node v4 1234 --secret=_ak_secret_here_ bearer_token_node /

8.4 Administration

The admin command allows several administrative tasks (and require admin privilege).

It allows actions (create, update, delete) on “resources”: users, group, nodes, workspace, etc… with the admin resource command.

8.4.1 Listing resources

The command aoc admin res <type> list lists all entities of given type. It uses paging and multiple requests if necessary.

The option query can be optionally used. It expects a Hash using Extended Value Syntax, generally provided using: --query=@json:{...}. Values are directly sent to the API call and used as a filter on server side.

The following parameters are supported:

• q : a filter on name of resource (case insensitive, matches if value is contained in name)
• sort: name of fields to sort results, prefix with - for reverse order.
• max : maximum number of items to retrieve (stop pages when the maximum is passed)
• pmax : maximum number of pages to request (stop pages when the maximum is passed)
• page : native api parameter, in general do not use (added by
• per_page : native api parameter, number of items par api call, in general do not use
• Other specific parameters depending on resource type.

Both max and pmax are processed internally in ascli, not included in actual API call and limit the number of successive pages requested to API. ascli will return all values using paging if not provided.

Other parameters are directly sent as parameters to the GET request on API.

page and per_page are normally added by ascli to build successive API calls to get all values if there are more than 1000. (AoC allows a maximum page size of 1000).

q and sort are available on most resource types.

Other parameters depend on the type of entity (refer to AoC API).

Examples:

• List users with laurent in name:

ascli aoc admin res user list --query=--query=@json:'{"q":"laurent"}'

• List users who logged-in before a date:

ascli aoc admin res user list --query=@json:'{"q":"last_login_at:<2018-05-28"}'

• List external users and sort in reverse alphabetical order using name:

ascli aoc admin res user list --query=@json:'{"member_of_any_workspace":false,"sort":"-name"}'

Refer to the AoC API for full list of query parameters, or use the browser in developer mode with the web UI.

Note: The option select can also be used to further refine selection, refer to section earlier.

8.4.2 Selecting a resource

Resources are identified by a unique id, as well as a unique name (case insensitive).

To execute an action on a specific resource, select it using one of those methods:

• recommended: give id directly on command line after the action: aoc admin res node show 123
• give name on command line after the action: aoc admin res node show name abc
• provide option id : aoc admin res node show 123
• provide option name : aoc admin res node show --name=abc

8.4.3 Creating a resource

New resources (users, groups, workspaces, etc..) can be created using a command like:

ascli aoc admin res create <resource type> @json:'{<...parameters...>}'

Some of the API endpoints are described here. Sadly, not all.

Nevertheless, it is possible to guess the structure of the creation value by simply dumping an existing resource, and use the same parameters for the creation.

ascli aoc admin res group show 12345 --format=json

{"created_at":"2018-07-24T21:46:39.000Z","description":null,"id":"12345","manager":false,"name":"A8Demo WS1","owner":false,"queued_operation_count":0,"running_operation_count":0,"stopped_operation_count":0,"updated_at":"2018-07-24T21:46:39.000Z","saml_group":false,"saml_group_dn":null,"system_group":true,"system_group_type":"workspace_members"}

Remove the parameters that are either obviously added by the system: id, created_at, updated_at or optional.

And then craft your command:

ascli aoc admin res group create @json:'{"description":"test to delete","name":"test 1 to delete","saml_group":false}'

If the command returns an error, example:

+----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| id | status                                                                            |
+----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|    | found unpermitted parameters: :manager, :owner, :system_group, :system_group_type |
|    | code: unpermitted_parameters                                                      |
|    | request_id: b0f45d5b-c00a-4711-acef-72b633f8a6ea                                  |
|    | api.ibmaspera.com 422 Unprocessable Entity                                        |
+----+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+```

Well, remove the offending parameters and try again.

Note: Some properties that are shown in the web UI, such as membership, are not listed directly in the resource, but instead another resource is created to link a user and its group: group_membership

8.4.4 Access Key secrets

In order to access some administrative actions on nodes (in fact, access keys), the associated secret is required. The secret is provided using the secret option. For example in a command like:

ascli aoc admin res node 123 --secret="my_secret_here" v3 info

It is also possible to store secrets in the secret vault and then automatically find the related secret using the config finder.

8.4.5 Activity

The activity app can be queried with:

ascli aoc admin analytics transfers

It can also support filters and send notification using option notif_to. a template is defined using option notif_template :

mytemplate.erb:

From: <%=from_name%> <<%=from_email%>>
To: <<%=ev['user_email']%>>
Subject: <%=ev['files_completed']%> files received

Dear <%=ev[:user_email.to_s]%>,
We received <%=ev['files_completed']%> files for a total of <%=ev['transferred_bytes']%> bytes, starting with file:
<%=ev['content']%>

Thank you.

The environment provided contains the following additional variable:

• ev : all details on the transfer event

Example:

ascli aoc admin analytics transfers --once-only=yes --lock-port=12345 \
--query=@json:'{"status":"completed","direction":"receive"}' \
--notif-to=active --notif-template=@file:mytemplate.erb

Options:

• once_only keep track of last date it was called, so next call will get only new events
• query filter (on API call)
• notify send an email as specified by template, this could be places in a file with the @file modifier.

Note: This must not be executed in less than 5 minutes because the analytics interface accepts only a period of time between 5 minutes and 6 months. The period is [date of previous execution]..[now].

8.4.6 Transfer: Using specific transfer ports

By default transfer nodes are expected to use ports TCP/UDP 33001. The web UI enforces that. The option default_ports ([yes]/no) allows ascli to retrieve the server ports from an API call (download_setup) which reads the information from aspera.conf on the server.

8.4.7 Using ATS

Refer to section “Examples” of ATS and substitute command ats with aoc admin ats.

8.4.8 Files with type link

Aspera on Cloud Shared folders are implemented through a special type of file: link. A link is the equivalent of a symbolic link on a file system: it points to another folder (not file).

Listing a link (in terminal position of path) will information on the link itself, not the content of the folder it points to. To list the target folder content, add a / a the end of the path.

Example:

$ ascli aoc files br the_link
Current Workspace: Default (default)
+------------+------+----------------+------+----------------------+--------------+
| name       | type | recursive_size | size | modified_time        | access_level |
+------------+------+----------------+------+----------------------+--------------+
| the_link   | link |                |      | 2021-04-28T09:17:14Z | edit         |
+------------+------+----------------+------+----------------------+--------------+

$ ascli aoc files br the_link/
Current Workspace: Default (default)
+-------------+------+----------------+------+----------------------+--------------+
| name        | type | recursive_size | size | modified_time        | access_level |
+-------------+------+----------------+------+----------------------+--------------+
| file_inside | file |                |      | 2021-04-26T09:00:00Z | edit         |
+-------------+------+----------------+------+----------------------+--------------+

8.4.9 Example: Bulk creation of users

ascli aoc admin res user create --bulk=yes @json:'[{"email":"dummyuser1@example.com"},{"email":"dummyuser2@example.com"}]'

+-------+---------+
|  id   | status  |
+-------+---------+
| 98398 | created |
| 98399 | created |
+-------+---------+

8.4.10 Example: Find with filter and delete

ascli aoc admin res user list --query='@json:{"q":"dummyuser"}' --fields=id,email

+-------+------------------------+
|  id   |         email          |
+-------+------------------------+
| 98398 | dummyuser1@example.com |
| 98399 | dummyuser2@example.com |
+-------+------------------------+

thelist=$(ascli aoc admin res user list --query='@json:{"q":"dummyuser"}' --fields=id --format=json --display=data|jq -cr 'map(.id)')

echo $thelist

["113501","354061"]

ascli aoc admin res user delete @json:"$thelist" --bulk=yes

+-------+---------+
|  id   | status  |
+-------+---------+
| 98398 | deleted |
| 98399 | deleted |
+-------+---------+

8.4.11 Example: Find deactivated users since more than 2 years

ascli aoc admin res user list --query=@ruby:'{"deactivated"=>true,"q"=>"last_login_at:<#{(DateTime.now.to_time.utc-2*365*86400).iso8601}"}'

To delete them use the same method as before

8.4.12 Example: Display current user’s workspaces

ascli aoc user workspaces list

+------+----------------------------+
|  id  |            name            |
+------+----------------------------+
| 16   | Engineering                |
| 17   | Marketing                  |
| 18   | Sales                      |
+------+----------------------------+

8.4.13 Example: Create a sub access key in a “node”

Creation of a sub-access key is like creation of access key with the following difference: authentication to node API is made with accesskey (master access key) and only the path parameter is provided: it is relative to the storage root of the master key. (id and secret are optional)

ascli aoc admin resource node --name=_node_name_ --secret=_secret_ v4 access_key create @json:'{"storage":{"path":"/folder1"}}'

8.4.14 Example: Display transfer events (ops/transfer)

ascli aoc admin res node --secret=_secret_ v3 transfer list --query=@json:'[["q","*"],["count",5]]'

Examples of query (TODO: cleanup):

{"q":"type(file_upload OR file_delete OR file_download OR file_rename OR folder_create OR folder_delete OR folder_share OR folder_share_via_public_link)","sort":"-date"}

{"tag":"aspera.files.package_id=LA8OU3p8w"}

8.4.15 Example: Display node events (events)

ascli aoc admin res node --secret=_secret_ v3 events

8.4.16 Example: Display members of a workspace

ascli aoc admin res workspace_membership list --fields=member_type,manager,member.email --query=@json:'{"embed":"member","inherited":false,"workspace_id":11363,"sort":"name"}'

+-------------+---------+----------------------------------+
| member_type | manager |           member.email           |
+-------------+---------+----------------------------------+
| user        | true    | john.curtis@email.com            |
| user        | false   | laurent.martin.aspera@fr.ibm.com |
| user        | false   | jean.dupont@me.com               |
| user        | false   | another.user@example.com         |
| group       | false   |                                  |
| user        | false   | aspera.user@gmail.com            |
+-------------+---------+----------------------------------+

Other query parameters:

{"workspace_membership_through":true,"include_indirect":true}

8.4.17 Example: add all members of a workspace to another workspace

a- Get id of first workspace

WS1='First Workspace'
WS1ID=$(ascli aoc admin res workspace list --query=@json:'{"q":"'"$WS1"'"}' --select=@json:'{"name":"'"$WS1"'"}' --fields=id --format=csv)

b- Get id of second workspace

WS2='Second Workspace'
WS2ID=$(ascli aoc admin res workspace list --query=@json:'{"q":"'"$WS2"'"}' --select=@json:'{"name":"'"$WS2"'"}' --fields=id --format=csv)

c- Extract membership information

ascli aoc admin res workspace_membership list --fields=manager,member_id,member_type,workspace_id --query=@json:'{"workspace_id":'"$WS1ID"'}' --format=jsonpp > ws1_members.json

d- Convert to creation data for second workspace:

grep -Eve '(direct|effective_manager|_count|storage|"id")' ws1_members.json|sed '/workspace_id/ s/"'"$WS1ID"'"/"'"$WS2ID"'"/g' > ws2_members.json

or, using jq:

jq '[.[] | {member_type,member_id,workspace_id,manager,workspace_id:"'"$WS2ID"'"}]' ws1_members.json > ws2_members.json

e- Add members to second workspace

ascli aoc admin res workspace_membership create --bulk=yes @json:@file:ws2_members.json

8.4.18 Example: Get users who did not log since a date

ascli aoc admin res user list --fields=email --query=@json:'{"q":"last_login_at:<2018-05-28"}'

+-------------------------------+
|             email             |
+-------------------------------+
| John.curtis@acme.com          |
| Jean.Dupont@tropfort.com      |
+-------------------------------+

8.4.19 Example: List “Limited” users

ascli aoc admin res user list --fields=email --select=@json:'{"member_of_any_workspace":false}'

8.4.20 Example: create a group, add to workspace and add user to group

• Create the group and take note of id

ascli aoc admin res group create @json:'{"name":"group 1","description":"my super group"}'

Group: 11111

• Get the workspace id

ascli aoc admin res workspace list --query=@json:'{"q":"myworkspace"}' --fields=id --format=csv --display=data

Workspace: 22222

• Add group to workspace

ascli aoc admin res workspace_membership create @json:'{"workspace_id":22222,"member_type":"user","member_id":11111}'

• Get a user’s id

ascli aoc admin res user list --query=@json:'{"q":"manu.macron@example.com"}' --fields=id --format=csv --display=data

User: 33333

• Add user to group

ascli aoc admin res group_membership create @json:'{"group_id":11111,"member_type":"user","member_id":33333}'

8.4.21 Example: Perform a multi Gbps transfer between two remote shared folders

In this example, a user has access to a workspace where two shared folders are located on different sites, e.g. different cloud regions.

First, setup the environment (skip if already done)

ascli conf wizard --url=https://sedemo.ibmaspera.com --username=laurent.martin.aspera@fr.ibm.com

Detected: Aspera on Cloud
Preparing preset: aoc_sedemo
Using existing key:
/Users/laurent/.aspera/ascli/aspera_aoc_key
Using global client_id.
Please Login to your Aspera on Cloud instance.
Navigate to your "Account Settings"
Check or update the value of "Public Key" to be:
-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----
SOME PUBLIC KEY PEM DATA HERE
-----END PUBLIC KEY-----
Once updated or validated, press enter.

creating new config preset: aoc_sedemo
Setting config preset as default for aspera
saving config file
Done.
You can test with:
ascli aoc user profile show

This creates the option preset “aoc_<org name>” to allow seamless command line access and sets it as default for aspera on cloud.

Then, create two shared folders located in two regions, in your files home, in a workspace.

Then, transfer between those:

ascli -Paoc_show aoc files transfer --from-folder='IBM Cloud SJ' --to-folder='AWS Singapore' 100GB.file --ts=@json:'{"target_rate_kbps":"1000000","multi_session":10,"multi_session_threshold":1}'

8.4.22 Example: create registration key to register a node

ascli aoc admin res client create @json:'{"data":{"name":"laurentnode","client_subject_scopes":["alee","aejd"],"client_subject_enabled":true}}' --fields=token --format=csv

jfqslfdjlfdjfhdjklqfhdkl

8.4.23 Example: delete all registration keys

ascli aoc admin res client list --fields=id --format=csv|ascli aoc admin res client delete @lines:@stdin: --bulk=yes

+-----+---------+
| id  | status  |
+-----+---------+
| 99  | deleted |
| 100 | deleted |
| 101 | deleted |
| 102 | deleted |
+-----+---------+

8.4.24 Example: Create a Node

AoC nodes as actually composed with two related entities:

• An access key created on the Transfer Server (HSTS/ATS)
• a node resource in the AoC application.

The web UI allows creation of both entities in one shot. For more flexibility, ascli allows this in two separate steps.

Note: When selecting “Use existing access key” in the web UI, this actually skips access key creation (first step).

So, for example, the creation of a node using ATS in IBM Cloud looks like (see other example in this manual):

• Create the access key on ATS

  The creation options are the ones of ATS API, refer to the section on ATS for more details and examples.

  ascli aoc admin ats access_key create --cloud=softlayer --region=eu-de --params=@json:'{"storage":{"type":"ibm-s3","bucket":"mybucket","credentials":{"access_key_id":"mykey","secret_access_key":"mysecret"},"path":"/"}}'

  Once executed, the access key id and secret, randomly generated by the node api, is displayed.

  Note: Once returned by the API, the secret will not be available anymore, so store this preciously. ATS secrets can only be reset by asking to IBM support.

• Create the AoC node entity

  First, Retrieve the ATS node address

  ascli aoc admin ats cluster show --cloud=softlayer --region=eu-de --fields=transfer_setup_url --format=csv --transpose-single=no

  Then use the returned address for the url key to actually create the AoC Node entity:

  ascli aoc admin res node create @json:'{"name":"myname","access_key":"myaccesskeyid","ats_access_key":true,"ats_storage_type":"ibm-s3","url":"https://ats-sl-fra-all.aspera.io"}'

Creation of a node with a self-managed node is similar, but the command aoc admin ats access_key create is replaced with node access_key create on the private node itself.

8.5 List of files to transfer

Source files are provided as a list with the sources option. Refer to section File list

Note: A special case is when the source files are located on Aspera on Cloud (i.e. using access keys and the file id API).

Source files are located on “Aspera on cloud”, when :

• the server is Aspera on Cloud, and executing a download or recv
• the agent is Aspera on Cloud, and executing an upload or send

In this case:

• If there is a single file : specify the full path
• Else, if there are multiple files:
  • All source files must be in the same source folder
  • Specify the source folder as first item in the list
  • followed by the list of file names.

8.6 Packages

The webmail-like application.

8.6.1 Send a Package

General syntax:

ascli aoc packages send [package extended value] [other parameters such as file list and transfer parameters]

Notes:

• Package creation parameter are sent as positional mandatory parameter. Refer to the AoC package creation API, or display an existing package in JSON to list attributes.
• List allowed shared inbox destinations with: ascli aoc packages shared_inboxes list
• Use fields: recipients and/or bcc_recipients to provide the list of recipients: user or shared inbox.
  • Provide either ids as expected by API: "recipients":[{"type":"dropbox","id":"1234"}]
  • or just names: "recipients":[{"The Dest"}] . ascli will resolve the list of email addresses and dropbox names to the expected type/id list, based on case insensitive partial match.
• If a user recipient (email) is not already registered and the workspace allows external users, then the package is sent to an external user, and
  • if the option new_user_option is @json:{"package_contact":true} (default), then a public link is sent and the external user does not need to create an account
  • if the option new_user_option is @json:{}, then external users are invited to join the workspace

8.6.2 Example: Send a package with one file to two users, using their email

ascli aoc packages send @json:'{"name":"my title","note":"my note","recipients":["laurent.martin.aspera@fr.ibm.com","other@example.com"]}' my_file.dat

8.6.3 Example: Send a package to a shared inbox with metadata

ascli aoc packages send --workspace=eudemo @json:'{"name":"my pack title","recipients":["Shared Inbox With Meta"],"metadata":{"Project Id":"123","Type":"Opt2","CheckThose":["Check1","Check2"],"Optional Date":"2021-01-13T15:02:00.000Z"}}' ~/Documents/Samples/200KB.1

It is also possible to use identifiers and API parameters:

ascli aoc packages send --workspace=eudemo @json:'{"name":"my pack title","recipients":[{"type":"dropbox","id":"12345"}],"metadata":[{"input_type":"single-text","name":"Project Id","values":["123"]},{"input_type":"single-dropdown","name":"Type","values":["Opt2"]},{"input_type":"multiple-checkbox","name":"CheckThose","values":["Check1","Check2"]},{"input_type":"date","name":"Optional Date","values":["2021-01-13T15:02:00.000Z"]}]}' ~/Documents/Samples/200KB.1

8.6.4 Example: List packages in a given shared inbox

When user packages are listed, the following query is used:

{"archived":false,"exclude_dropbox_packages":true,"has_content":true,"received":true}

To list packages in a shared inbox, the query has to be specified with the the shared inbox by name or its identifier. Additional parameters can be specified, as supported by the API (to find out available filters, consult the API definition, or use the web interface in developer mode). The current workspace is added unless specified in the query.

Using shared inbox name:

ascli aoc packages list --query=@json:'{"dropbox_name":"My Shared Inbox","archived":false,"received":true,"has_content":true,"exclude_dropbox_packages":false,"include_draft":false,"sort":"-received_at"}'

Using shared inbox identifier: first retrieve the id of the shared inbox, and then list packages with the appropriate filter.

shared_box_id=$(ascli aoc packages shared_inboxes show name 'My Shared Inbox' --format=csv --display=data --fields=id --transpose-single=no)

ascli aoc packages list --query=@json:'{"dropbox_id":"'$shared_box_id'","archived":false,"received":true,"has_content":true,"exclude_dropbox_packages":false,"include_draft":false,"sort":"-received_at"}'

8.6.5 Example: Receive all packages from a given shared inbox

ascli aoc packages recv ALL --workspace=_workspace_ --once-only=yes --lock-port=12345 --query=@json:'{"dropbox_name":"_shared_inbox_name_","archived":false,"received":true,"has_content":true,"exclude_dropbox_packages":false,"include_draft":false}' --ts=@json:'{"resume_policy":"sparse_csum","target_rate_kbps":50000}'

8.6.6 Example: Send a package with files from the Files app

Find files in Files app:

ascli aoc files browse /src_folder

+------------------------------+--------+----------------+--------------+----------------------+--------------+
| name                         | type   | recursive_size | size         | modified_time        | access_level |
+------------------------------+--------+----------------+--------------+----------------------+--------------+
| sample_video                 | link   |                |              | 2020-11-29T22:49:09Z | edit         |
| 100G                         | file   |                | 107374182400 | 2021-04-21T18:19:25Z | edit         |
| 10M.dat                      | file   |                | 10485760     | 2021-05-18T08:22:39Z | edit         |
| Test.pdf                     | file   |                | 1265103      | 2022-06-16T12:49:55Z | edit         |
+------------------------------+--------+----------------+--------------+----------------------+--------------+

Let’s send a package with the file 10M.dat from subfolder /src_folder in a package:

ascli aoc files node_info /src_folder --format=json --display=data | ascli aoc packages send @json:'{"name":"test","recipients":["laurent.martin.aspera@fr.ibm.com"]}' 10M.dat --transfer=node --transfer-info=@json:@stdin:

8.6.7 Receive new packages only (Cargo)

It is possible to automatically download new packages, like using Aspera Cargo:

ascli aoc packages recv ALL --once-only=yes --lock-port=12345

• ALL (case sensitive) will download all packages
• --once-only=yes keeps memory of any downloaded package in persistency files located in the configuration folder
• --lock-port=12345 ensures that only one instance is started at the same time, to avoid running two downloads in parallel

Typically, one would execute this command on a regular basis, using the method of your choice: see Scheduler.

8.7 Files

The Files application presents a Home folder to users in a given workspace. Files located here are either user’s files, or shared folders.

8.7.1 Download Files

The general download command is:

ascli aoc files download <source folder path> <source filename 1> ...

I.e. the first argument is the source folder, and the following arguments are the source file names in this folder.

If a single file or folder is to be downloaded, then a single argument can be provided.

ascli aoc files download <single file path>

8.7.2 Shared folders

Shared folder created by users are managed through permissions. For creation, parameters are the same as for node api permissions. ascli expects the same payload for creation, but it will automatically populate required tags if needed. Also, the pseudo key with is available: it will lookup the name in the contacts and fill the proper type and id. The pseudo parameter link_name allows changing default “shared as” name.

• List permissions on a shared folder as user

ascli aoc files perm /shared_folder_test1 list

• Share a personal folder with other users

ascli aoc files perm /shared_folder_test1 create @json:'{"with":"laurent"}'

• Revoke shared access

ascli aoc files perm /shared_folder_test1 delete 6161

8.7.3 Cross Organization transfers

It is possible to transfer files directly between organizations without having to first download locally and then upload…

Although optional, the creation of option preset is recommended to avoid placing all parameters in the command line.

Procedure to send a file from org1 to org2:

• Get access to Organization 1 and create a option preset: e.g. org1, for instance, use the Wizard
• Check that access works and locate the source file e.g. mysourcefile, e.g. using command files browse
• Get access to Organization 2 and create a option preset: e.g. org2
• Check that access works and locate the destination folder mydestfolder
• execute the following:

ascli -Porg1 aoc files node_info /mydestfolder --format=json --display=data | ascli -Porg2 aoc files upload mysourcefile --transfer=node --transfer-info=@json:@stdin:

Explanation:

• -Porg1 aoc use Aspera on Cloud plugin and load credentials for org1
• files node_info /mydestfolder generate transfer information including node api credential and root id, suitable for the next command
• --format=json format the output in JSON (instead of default text table)
• --display=data display only the result, and remove other information, such as workspace name
• | the standard output of the first command is fed into the second one
• -Porg2 aoc use Aspera on Cloud plugin and load credentials for org2
• files upload mysourcefile upload the file named mysourcefile (located in org1)
• --transfer=node use transfer agent type node instead of default direct
• --transfer-info=@json:@stdin: provide node transfer agent information, i.e. node API credentials, those are expected in JSON format and read from standard input

8.7.4 Find Files

The command aoc files find [--query=expression] will recursively scan storage to find files matching the expression criteria. It works also on node resource using the v4 command. (see examples)

The expression can be of 3 formats:

• empty (default) : all files, equivalent to value: exec:true

• not starting with exec: : the expression is a regular expression, using Ruby Regex syntax, equivalent to value: exec:f['name'].match(/expression/)

  For instance, to find files with a special extension, use --query='\.myext$'

• starting with exec: : the Ruby code after the prefix is executed for each entry found. The entry variable name is f. The file is displayed if the result of the expression is true.

Examples of expressions: (using like this: --query=exec:'<expression>')

• Find files more recent than 100 days

  f["type"].eql?("file") and (DateTime.now-DateTime.parse(f["modified_time"]))<100

• Find files older than 1 year on a given node and store in file list

  f["type"].eql?("file") and (DateTime.now-DateTime.parse(f["modified_time"]))<100

  ascli aoc admin res node --name='my node name' --secret='my_secret_here' v4 find / --fields=path --query='exec:<above expression here>' --format=csv > my_file_list.txt

• Find files larger than 1MB

  f["type"].eql?("file") and f["size"].to_i>1000000

• Delete the files, one by one

  cat my_file_list.txt|while read path;do echo ascli aoc admin res node --name='my node name' --secret='my_secret_here' v4 delete "$path" ;done

• Delete the files in bulk

  cat my_file_list.txt | ascli aoc admin res node --name='my node name' --secret='my_secret_here' v3 delete @lines:@stdin:

8.8 AoC sample commands

aoc admin analytics transfers --query=@json:'{"status":"completed","direction":"receive"}' --notif-to=my_recipient_email --notif-template=@ruby:'%Q{From: <%=from_name%> <<%=from_email%>>\nTo: <<%=to%>>\nSubject: <%=ev["files_completed"]%> files received\n\n<%=ev.to_yaml%>}'
aoc admin ats access_key create --cloud=aws --region=my_aws_bucket_region --params=@json:'{"id":"ak_aws","name":"my test key AWS","storage":{"type":"aws_s3","bucket":"my_aws_bucket_name","credentials":{"access_key_id":"my_aws_bucket_key","secret_access_key":"my_aws_bucket_secret"},"path":"/"}}'
aoc admin ats access_key create --cloud=softlayer --region=my_icos_bucket_region --params=@json:'{"id":"ak1ibmcloud","secret":"my_secret_here","name":"my test key","storage":{"type":"ibm-s3","bucket":"my_icos_bucket_name","credentials":{"access_key_id":"my_icos_bucket_key","secret_access_key":"my_icos_bucket_secret"},"path":"/"}}'
aoc admin ats access_key delete ak1ibmcloud
aoc admin ats access_key list --fields=name,id
aoc admin ats access_key node ak1ibmcloud --secret=my_secret_here browse /
aoc admin ats cluster clouds
aoc admin ats cluster list
aoc admin ats cluster show --cloud=aws --region=eu-west-1
aoc admin ats cluster show 1f412ae7-869a-445c-9c05-02ad16813be2
aoc admin auth_providers list
aoc admin res application list
aoc admin res client list
aoc admin res client_access_key list
aoc admin res client_registration_token create @json:'{"data":{"name":"test_client_reg1","client_subject_scopes":["alee","aejd"],"client_subject_enabled":true}}'
aoc admin res client_registration_token delete my_clt_reg_id
aoc admin res client_registration_token list
aoc admin res contact list
aoc admin res dropbox list
aoc admin res dropbox_membership list
aoc admin res group list
aoc admin res kms_profile list
aoc admin res node list
aoc admin res operation list
aoc admin res organization show
aoc admin res package list --http-options=@json:'{"read_timeout":120.0}'
aoc admin res saml_configuration list
aoc admin res self show
aoc admin res short_link list
aoc admin res user list
aoc admin res workspace_membership list
aoc admin resource node --name=my_aoc_ak_name --secret=my_aoc_ak_secret do browse /
aoc admin resource node --name=my_aoc_ak_name --secret=my_aoc_ak_secret do delete /folder1
aoc admin resource node --name=my_aoc_ak_name --secret=my_aoc_ak_secret do mkdir /folder1
aoc admin resource node --name=my_aoc_ak_name --secret=my_aoc_ak_secret do v3 access_key create @json:'{"id":"testsub1","storage":{"path":"/folder1"}}'
aoc admin resource node --name=my_aoc_ak_name --secret=my_aoc_ak_secret do v3 events
aoc admin resource node do name my_aoc_ak_name --secret=my_aoc_ak_secret v3 access_key delete testsub1
aoc admin resource workspace list
aoc admin resource workspace_membership list --fields=ALL --query=@json:'{"page":1,"per_page":50,"embed":"member","inherited":false,"workspace_id":11363,"sort":"name"}'
aoc admin subscription
aoc automation workflow action my_wf_id create @json:'{"name":"toto"}' \
aoc automation workflow create @json:'{"name":"test_workflow"}'
aoc automation workflow delete my_wf_id
aoc automation workflow list
aoc automation workflow list --query=@json:'{"show_org_workflows":"true"}' --scope=admin:all
aoc automation workflow list --select=@json:'{"name":"test_workflow"}' --fields=id --format=csv --display=data
aoc bearer_token --display=data --scope=user:all
aoc faspex
aoc files bearer /
aoc files bearer_token_node / --cache-tokens=no
aoc files browse /
aoc files browse / --link=my_aoc_publink_folder
aoc files delete /testsrc
aoc files download --transfer=connect /200KB.1
aoc files find / --query='\.partial$'
aoc files http_node_download --to-folder=. /200KB.1
aoc files mkdir /testsrc
aoc files modify my_aoc_test_folder
aoc files permission my_aoc_test_folder list
aoc files rename /somefolder testdst
aoc files short_link create /testdst private
aoc files short_link create testdst public
aoc files short_link list /testdst private
aoc files show %id:my_file_id
aoc files show /200KB.1
aoc files sync ad st --sync-info=@json:'{"name":"syncv2","reset":true,"direction":"pull","local":{"path":"my_local_sync_dir"},"remote":{"path":"/testdst"}}'
aoc files sync ad st --sync-info=@json:'{"sessions":[{"name":"syncv1","direction":"pull","local_dir":"my_local_sync_dir","remote_dir":"/testdst","reset":true}]}'
aoc files sync start --sync-info=@json:'{"name":"syncv2","reset":true,"direction":"pull","local":{"path":"my_local_sync_dir"},"remote":{"path":"/testdst"}}'
aoc files sync start --sync-info=@json:'{"sessions":[{"name":"syncv1","direction":"pull","local_dir":"my_local_sync_dir","remote_dir":"/testdst","reset":true}]}'
aoc files thumbnail my_aoc_media_file
aoc files transfer --from-folder=/testsrc --to-folder=/testdst testfile.bin
aoc files upload --to-folder=/ testfile.bin --link=my_aoc_publink_folder
aoc files upload --to-folder=/testsrc testfile.bin
aoc files upload Test.pdf --transfer=node --transfer-info=@json:@stdin:
aoc files v3 info
aoc gateway https://localhost:12345/aspera/faspex
aoc org --link=my_aoc_publink_recv_from_aocuser
aoc organization
aoc packages browse "my_package_id" /contents
aoc packages list
aoc packages list --query=@json:'{"dropbox_name":"my_aoc_shbx_name","sort":"-received_at","archived":false,"received":true,"has_content":true,"exclude_dropbox_packages":false}'
aoc packages recv "my_package_id" --to-folder=.
aoc packages recv ALL --to-folder=. --once-only=yes --lock-port=12345
aoc packages recv ALL --to-folder=. --once-only=yes --lock-port=12345 --query=@json:'{"dropbox_name":"my_aoc_shbx_name","archived":false,"received":true,"has_content":true,"exclude_dropbox_packages":false,"include_draft":false}' --ts=@json:'{"resume_policy":"sparse_csum","target_rate_kbps":50000}'
aoc packages send --workspace="my_aoc_shbx_ws" @json:'{"name":"Important files delivery","recipients":["my_aoc_shbx_name"],"metadata":[{"input_type":"single-text","name":"Project Id","values":["123"]},{"input_type":"single-dropdown","name":"Type","values":["Opt2"]},{"input_type":"multiple-checkbox","name":"CheckThose","values":["Check1","Check2"]},{"input_type":"date","name":"Optional Date","values":["2021-01-13T15:02:00.000Z"]}]}' testfile.bin
aoc packages send --workspace="my_aoc_shbx_ws" @json:'{"name":"Important files delivery","recipients":["my_aoc_shbx_name"],"metadata":{"Project Id":"456","Type":"Opt2","CheckThose":["Check1","Check2"],"Optional Date":"2021-01-13T15:02:00.000Z"}}' testfile.bin
aoc packages send --workspace="my_aoc_shbx_ws" @json:'{"name":"Important files delivery","recipients":["my_aoc_shbx_name"]}' testfile.bin
aoc packages send @json:'{"name":"Important files delivery","recipients":["my_email_external_user"]}' --new-user-option=@json:'{"package_contact":true}' testfile.bin
aoc packages send @json:'{"name":"Important files delivery","recipients":["my_email_internal_user"],"note":"my note"}' testfile.bin
aoc packages send @json:'{"name":"Important files delivery"}' testfile.bin --link=my_aoc_publink_send_aoc_user --password=my_aoc_publink_send_use_pass
aoc packages send @json:'{"name":"Important files delivery"}' testfile.bin --link=my_aoc_publink_send_shd_inbox
aoc packages shared_inboxes list
aoc remind --username=my_aoc_user_email
aoc servers
aoc user profile modify @json:'{"name":"dummy change"}'
aoc user profile show
aoc user workspaces current
aoc user workspaces list

9 Plugin: ats: IBM Aspera Transfer Service

ATS is usable either :

• from an AoC subscription : ascli aoc admin ats : use AoC authentication

• or from an IBM Cloud subscription : ascli ats : use IBM Cloud API key authentication

9.1 IBM Cloud ATS : creation of api key

This section is about using ATS with an IBM cloud subscription. If you are using ATS as part of AoC, then authentication is through AoC, not IBM Cloud.

First get your IBM Cloud APIkey. For instance, it can be created using the IBM Cloud web interface, or using command line:

ibmcloud iam api-key-create mykeyname -d 'my sample key'

OK
API key mykeyname was created

Please preserve the API key! It cannot be retrieved after it's created.

Name          mykeyname
Description   my sample key
Created At    2019-09-30T12:17+0000
API Key       my_secret_api_key_here
Locked        false
UUID          ApiKey-05b8fadf-e7fe-4bc4-93a9-6fd348c5ab1f

References:

• https://console.bluemix.net/docs/iam/userid_keys.html#userapikey
• https://ibm.ibmaspera.com/helpcenter/transfer-service

Then, to register the key by default for the ats plugin, create a preset. Execute:

ascli config preset update my_ibm_ats --ibm-api-key=my_secret_api_key_here

ascli config preset set default ats my_ibm_ats

ascli ats api_key instances

+--------------------------------------+
| instance                             |
+--------------------------------------+
| aaaaaaaa-bbbb-cccc-dddd-eeeeeeeeeeee |
+--------------------------------------+

ascli config preset update my_ibm_ats --instance=aaaaaaaa-bbbb-cccc-dddd-eeeeeeeeeeee

ascli ats api_key create

+--------+----------------------------------------------+
| key    | value                                        |
+--------+----------------------------------------------+
| id     | ats_XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX                 |
| secret | YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY |
+--------+----------------------------------------------+
ascli config preset update my_ibm_ats --ats-key=ats_XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX --ats-secret=YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

9.2 ATS Access key creation parameters

When creating an ATS access key, the option params must contain an extended value with the creation parameters. Those are directly the parameters expected by the ATS API.

9.3 Misc. Examples

Example: create access key on IBM Cloud (softlayer):

ascli ats access_key create --cloud=softlayer --region=ams --params=@json:'{"storage":{"type":"softlayer_swift","container":"_container_name_","credentials":{"api_key":"my_secret_here","username":"_name_:_usr_name_"},"path":"/"},"id":"_optional_id_","name":"_optional_name_"}'

Example: create access key on AWS:

ascli ats access_key create --cloud=aws --region=eu-west-1 --params=@json:'{"id":"myaccesskey","name":"laurent key AWS","storage":{"type":"aws_s3","bucket":"my-bucket","credentials":{"access_key_id":"_access_key_id_here_","secret_access_key":"my_secret_here"},"path":"/laurent"}}'

Example: create access key on Azure SAS:

ascli ats access_key create --cloud=azure --region=eastus --params=@json:'{"id":"myaccesskey","name":"laurent key azure","storage":{"type":"azure_sas","credentials":{"shared_access_signature":"https://containername.blob.core.windows.net/blobname?sr=c&..."},"path":"/"}}'

(Note that the blob name is mandatory after server address and before parameters. and that parameter sr=c is mandatory.)

Example: create access key on Azure:

ascli ats access_key create --cloud=azure --region=eastus --params=@json:'{"id":"myaccesskey","name":"laurent key azure","storage":{"type":"azure","credentials":{"account":"myaccount","key":"myaccesskey","storage_endpoint":"myblob"},"path":"/"}}'

delete all my access keys:

ascli ats access_key list --field=id --format=csv | ascli ats access_key delete @lines:@stdin: --bulk=yes

The parameters provided to ATS for access key creation are the ones of ATS API for the POST /access_keys endpoint.

9.4 ATS sample commands

ats access_key cluster ak2ibmcloud --secret=my_secret_here
ats access_key create --cloud=aws --region=my_aws_bucket_region --params=@json:'{"id":"ak_aws","name":"my test key AWS","storage":{"type":"aws_s3","bucket":"my_aws_bucket_name","credentials":{"access_key_id":"my_aws_bucket_key","secret_access_key":"my_aws_bucket_secret"},"path":"/"}}'
ats access_key create --cloud=softlayer --region=my_icos_bucket_region --params=@json:'{"id":"ak2ibmcloud","secret":"my_secret_here","name":"my test key","storage":{"type":"ibm-s3","bucket":"my_icos_bucket_name","credentials":{"access_key_id":"my_icos_bucket_key","secret_access_key":"my_icos_bucket_secret"},"path":"/"}}'
ats access_key delete ak2ibmcloud
ats access_key delete ak_aws
ats access_key entitlement ak2ibmcloud
ats access_key list --fields=name,id
ats access_key node ak2ibmcloud browse / --secret=my_secret_here
ats access_key show ak2ibmcloud
ats api_key create
ats api_key instances
ats api_key list
ats cluster clouds
ats cluster list
ats cluster show --cloud=aws --region=eu-west-1
ats cluster show 1f412ae7-869a-445c-9c05-02ad16813be2