Acronis Files Connect
formerly ExtremeZ-IP

Overview:

• Fast - up to 600x faster search, file share mounting, folder browsing, and file opening
• Easy - 10-minute installation on Windows servers, delivering immediate time-to-value
• Complete - Active Directory and SSO integration, mobile clients, full-content search, and much more

When Mac users try to access Windows file servers and NAS devices, they typically suffer from poor performance, data integrity issues, slow searches, and many other disruptive problems. Acronis Files Connect solves these problems.

At its core, Acronis Files Connect is an AFP server that runs on your Windows server and enables Macs to connect to file shares and NAS via Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) instead of the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol.

At its core, Acronis Files Connect is an AFP server that runs on your Windows server and enables Macs to connect to file shares and NAS via Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) instead of the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol.

Stop the Mac SMB file sharing nightmare once and for all

Acting as an AFP server, Acronis Files Connect:

• Eliminates SMB protocol bugs, performance, and compatibility problems related to locked files and file naming issues, file corruption, permissions problems, non-functional Windows shortcuts, and other issues;
• Provides much faster file share mounting, folder browsing, and file opening.

Nearly instant Spotlight searching across all file shares

Normally, when Mac users connect over SMB to Windows or NAS file shares, they are limited to filename-only search that has to slowly crawl files shares, for each search issued. With Acronis Files Connect, Macs can connect to file shares via AFP or SMB and perform nearly instant filename and full-content Spotlight searches using our new Mac client application or the default Finder.

Integrate Macs into enterprise IT systems

Acronis Files Connect integrates with key enterprise infrastructure elements, including:

• Active Directory
• Distributed File System (DFS)
• Home directories
• Clustering
• File name policies

Provide fast file access from mobile devices

Acronis Files Connect expands beyond Macs to provide fast, seamless file access to iOS, Android, and Windows phones and tablets.

The Access mobile clients provide rich file browsing, full-content searching, file previewing and editing, as well as selective synchronization for working offline.

Features:

AFP connection to file shares
With Acronis Files Connect, Macs connect to and mount file shares on Windows file servers and NAS as native AFP volumes. This allows Mac users to continue using the same tools and applications for accessing servers and printers that they always have.

Full content Spotlight searching
Acronis Files Connect links Mac Spotlight to a server-side index that seamlessly integrates with the native Windows Search service or a built-in Acronis content indexer. Acronis Content Indexing can index filenames and content on any file share, including non-Windows and NAS devices.

File access for mobile devices
Acronis Files Connect isn’t limited to Macs. Seamless file access is also provided for mobile devices (iOS, Android, and Windows Phone) with intuitive browsing, searching, previewing, editing, and automatic synchronization.

ShadowConnect
By leveraging the Microsoft’s Shadow Copy (VSS), ShadowConnect brings the ability to restore previous versions of files to Mac users, while providing enhanced browsing capabilities that make it easier than ever to find the file they're looking for.

Time Machine backup to file shares
With Acronis Files Connect, Mac users’ documents can be automatically backed up to a Windows file server or NAS, and users can selectively restore previous versions directly from their desktop, without help desk intervention.

Network Reshare and DFS support
With the Network Reshare feature, Mac clients can use AFP file sharing to connect to one Acronis Files Connect server, and access files and folders located on additional SMB file servers and NAS devices, as well as Distributed File System (DFS) file shares.

File name policies support
Acronis Files Connect can be configured to prevent the Mac client from actively saving, creating, or renaming files with characters that are “illegal” in Microsoft applications, or with file name and path lengths that can cause issues for Windows users.

Active Directory support
With Acronis Files Connect, Mac users leverage their existing network accounts and a Kerberos-based single sign on to access files on the network in accordance with Active Directory permissions mapped to effective Mac permissions, ensuring security.

What's new in Acronis Files Connect 10.5

New Mac client application

• Three clicks to find and open a file you’re looking for - on any file share.
• A single window to view all available file shares and network printers.
• Bypass the process of individually working with file servers and mounting file shares.
• Use a new Mac menu bar tool or the Mac client application interface to perform nearly instant filename and full-content Spotlight searches.
• IT decides if Macs connect via AFP or SMB - on a per file share basis.
• Searches can target one, many, or all available file shares.

Spotlight search improvements

• Real-time search index updates for the most up-to-date search results and low server resources usage.
• Windows and Mac file tags support for searching for files that include standard Windows or Mac file tags and for viewing of Windows tags within a file’s ‘Get Info’ details on the Mac.
• File indexing exclusion rules for full control over what to omit from search results.
• File content indexing limits can be configured for dramatic reduction in search index size.

Requirements:

Server

• Operating System: Windows Server 2016, 2012 R2, or 2008 R2 recommended
• Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP Pro, XP Embedded
• Processor: Dual or quad core recommended
• RAM: 2 GB minimum; 4 GB recommended
• Files Connect volumes must be on NTFS formatted drives

Mac

• Mac OS X 10.2.3 or later supported, including macOS 10.12 Sierra
• No Mac software installation is required, some features require Mac client software

Mobile

• Acronis Access mobile app running on iOS, Android, or Windows tablet

Documentation:

Download the Files Connect 10.5 Datasheet (PDF).