4.1 Client Features and Capabilities

The following table compares the features and capabilities of the iFolder 3.7 client to Novell iFolder 2.x.

Table 4-1 Comparison of Novell iFolder 2.x and 3.7

Feature or Capability

Novell iFolder 2.x Client

iFolder Client with a Novell iFolder 3.7 Enterprise Server

Download location

The iFolder download page is

http://serveraddress/iFolder

Replace serveraddress with the IP address or DNS name of your iFolder server. For example, 192.168.1.1 or nifsvr1.example.com.

The path is case sensitive.

The administrator provides a download site where users can download the iFolder client, such as the iFolder 3.7 Welcome page on the iFolder enterprise server.

Default location of the iFolder directory on a client

Windows: C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\iFolder\username\Home

Linux: /home/userid/ifolder/userid

Anywhere you want to create an iFolder on your Windows or Linux computers.

Connect to server

Log in to one account at a time.

Set up accounts for multiple iFolder domains and log in to one or more as desired.

Authenticated access

Yes, with username and password authentication via your LDAP server.

Yes, with username and password authentication via your LDAP server.

Encrypted data transfer

Yes, with the encrypted iFolder option.

The Blowfish algorithm is applied with a user-specified passphrase.

Yes, with encrypted iFolder option.

The Blowfish algorithm is applied with a user-specified passphrase.

Administrators control whether connections use encryption or HTTP.

iFolder data stored encrypted on the server

Yes, with the encrypted iFolder option

The user must specify a passphrase when first creating the iFolder account.

Yes, with the encrypted iFolder option

The user must specify a passphrase when first creating the iFolder account.

iFolder data stored encrypted on clients

No

iFolder data is stored unencrypted on the client. Use third-party local encryption options, if needed.

No

iFolder data is stored unencrypted on the client. Use third-party local encryption options, if needed.

Create an iFolder

Yes, by logging in to the server for the first time after being provisioned for iFolder services.

Yes, by selecting any local directory and making it an iFolder. You can create multiple iFolders in each of your iFolder accounts.

Maximum iFolders per username

One

Multiple. You can own or participate in an almost-unlimited number of iFolders in one or multiple accounts.

Share an iFolder across multiple computers

Yes, by logging in to an iFolder server from a computer with the iFolder client, or by accessing the iFolder via the Web with NetStorage.

Yes, by logging in to an iFolder account from another computer with an iFolder client and setting up the available iFolder.

You can select which of the iFolders you own or participate in to set up on each computer, according to your needs at each location.

Share an iFolder with other users

Not as designed, but it is possible.

The administrator can create a username for this purpose. Membership in the iFolder is determined by who has access to the password for that username and its iFolder account.

Yes, as the owner user or a member user with the Full Control right.

  • For each iFolder, specify a list of users.

  • For each member of an iFolder, specify different levels of access with the Full Control, Read/Write, or Read Only right.

Participate in a shared iFolder owned by another user

Not as designed, but it is possible if the iFolder’s owner shares his or her username and password.

IMPORTANT:Sharing a password is a security risk and is never recommended.

Yes, if the owner adds you as a member.

After the owner makes you a member of the iFolder, you can view the shared iFolder listed on your iFolders window. Use the iFolder Setup function to activate the iFolder on one or more computers where you want to participate.

Allows the owner of a shared iFolder to transfer ownership of a shared iFolder to another user

No

Yes

Allows the iFolder owner to transfer ownership the iFolder to another user

No

Yes

Maximum file size

Software limits file size to 4 GB. Below 4 GB, the maximum file size depends on the server’s and clients’ local file systems.

For example, on Windows clients, FAT32 limits file sizes to 4 GB. On Linux, EXT2 limits file sizes to 2 GB.

There are no software restrictions, but the administrator can specify the maximum file size that users can synchronize as a system-wide policy.

Below the administrative maximum, the practical maximum file size depends on the server’s and clients’ local file systems.

Restrict synchronization by including or excluding files by file type, such as .mp3

No

Yes, with policies set by the administrator that can apply system-wide, to individual user accounts, or to individual iFolders.

Maximum number of directories

32,765

No software restrictions; depends on the server’s and clients’ local file systems.

Disk quotas

No

An owner can specify a quota for each iFolder, but the total combined administrative quotas for all owned iFolders cannot exceed the user’s system-wide quota.

An iFolder member can specify a quota for the iFolder on each computer where the iFolder is set up.

Minimum synchronization interval

You set a synchronization interval for each workstation. The value cannot be less than the system-wide setting or individual user setting.

You set a synchronization interval for each computer that applies to all iFolders in all accounts on that computer.

Allows users to suspend synchronization for a given client computer

Yes, using any of the following methods:

  • Log out of the iFolder server

  • Disable Automatic Synchronization in the iFolder Preferences tab. You can remain logged in, and then synchronize when you want with the Synchronize Now option.

Yes, using any of the following methods:

  • Log out of the iFolder server account

  • Disable Automatic Synchronization

  • Disable the account in the Account window (deselect Enable Account)

Remote access to iFolder data on the server

Yes, using Novell NetStorage

Your administrator must configure NetStorage for iFolder services.

Yes, using iFolder 3.7 Web Access

Your administrator must configure an iFolder 3.7 Web Access server.

Backup of local files to a network server

Files in your local iFolders are backed up on the iFolder server.

Files in your local iFolders are backed up on the iFolder enterprise server.

Backup support to restore deleted files

Administrators must back up and restore the entire iFolder contents.

Administrators can back up the entire iFolder account or individual iFolders, directories, and files in the account. They can restore as individual files, directories, iFolders, or accounts.