File Collaboration Session

A communication session made up of 2 or more hosts, each with a designated root folder of files that are to be shared or collaborated. A collaboration session coordinates the primary functions of file locking and synchronization.

Participating Host

A host that is participating in a file collaboration session.

Directory Watch Set

The configured root folder and all sub folders that are being watched and collaborated on for a participating host.

Source Host

The host where a file access or change event originated from.

Target Host

One or more hosts where file access and change events will be propagated to.

Initial Synchronization Process

The background process that occurs at the start of a file collaboration session, where the directory watch set is recursively scanned on all participating hosts, and file conflict resolution is performed and any files that required updating are synchronized with the most current copy of the file.

File Access Event

An event that is triggered from opening or closing of a file.

File Change Event

A event that causes a file to be changed in some way e.g. file modify, file delete, file rename, file attribute change, etc.

File Lock Conflict

A file collaboration condition that exists when two users open a file at the same time and both hold exclusive locks on the file.

Quarantined File

A file that has been placed in the File Conflict list with a status of Quarantined as a result of a file lock conflict  that could not be resolved.

FolderMaestro Applet ("Applet")

A solution built for the FolderMaestro framework. An Applet is a distributed application, containing parts, some of which function at a focal point called the Hub and others invoked at remote points designated by Agents.

FolderMaestro Hub ("Hub")

The focal software component where Applets are installed, configured and run. The Hub can host Applets of various types and is where the centralized solution components function. The FolderMaestro Agent is invoked by Applets' distributed components with messages sent through the Broker.

FolderMaestro Broker ("Broker")

The central messaging system of the Applet framework. The Broker serves to connect the Hub and the Agents, forming a FolderMaestro "network" that can be cast over local- or wide-area network via TCP/IP. A FolderMaestro environment will deploy 1 or more Brokers.

FolderMaestro Agent ("Agent")

A lightweight distributed component that is used to perform operations on the host on which it is running.  A FolderMaestro environment will typically contain several Agents, one per participating networked host.  Agents invoke the distributed portions of a Applet, and will often run near resources of interest, such as collaborated files. The Agent is designed to be purposed across the entire FolderMaestro solution suite, and will normally be directed to perform functions with messages received from Applets through the Broker.