iOra Data Compression and Replication Solutions for Challenging Environments

iOra is the leading global provider of portal and file based compression and replication solutions to the world’s largest military organisations. Trusted by governments, military and global companies around the world, our replication technologies have been selected by organisations that need to operate in the most demanding environments to ensure that data exchange is consistent and guaranteed, irrespective of location or network connection.

iOra’s products replicate data between installed Microsoft SharePoint servers, or by creating virtualised servers or web applications for mobile users using iOra’s own patented technology, users in geographically distributed locations are able to communicate more effectively over global or satellite-enabled networks – even if they are periodically disconnected, have limited bandwidth or high latency. This ensures 24/7 business continuity and guaranteed access to mission-critical information anytime and anywhere, providing a common operating picture to all units within the theatre of operations.

Our data compression and replication software makes it possible for military personnel to actively share information within a C4I environment across networks that have high latency, limited bandwidth or intermittent availability such as satellite, HF and UHF.

iOra’s patented technology is widely used on tens of thousands of machines to deliver data over bandwidths as low as 2kbps to disconnected users.

Epsilon – compression engine technology

Epsilon is the patented iOra compression engine that is the core component of efficient replication operations. Irrespective of the network connection speed, minimising data that needs to be sent over the network to execute a phase of replication is essential. Compression of updates is particularly important where the network connection is challenging or where the end user is operating at the edge of the corporate network. In many of these instances Epsilon becomes an enabler for introducing new data-sensitive applications to remote users who would not be able to access data without efficient data transport. iOra Epsilon compresses to 99.9%.

Data replication technology

iOra Geo-Replicator® provides uninterrupted access to up-to-date business information for the warfighter, irrespective of connectivity and location. This results in reduced costs and improved productivity across any organisation.

Geo-Replicator scopes the data to be replicated and the process for delivering updates. Reports can be generated to detail the content replicated or update the status of specific end users. Administrators can set operational rules to apply automatically to manage the effects of replication in terms of managing data conflicts with conflict resolution in Server-to-Server networks.

Template files can also be configured to control the manner in which Geo-Replicator manages the captured content when disconnected from the network for web applications. Once all of the individual pages (and the rules for handling them) have been identified, an exact replica of the information is prepared for delivery to the remote user.

iOra Geo-Replicator operational modes:

Server-to-Server (S2S)

The master and replica servers check against their local content repositories on an update schedule that is dictated by the volatility of the data. Scheduled operation ensures that server peak usage can be efficiently managed and avoids potential system overflow that can occur when triggering incremental replication on each and every server update event.

Geo-Replicator uses the SharePoint platform API to read and write the structure, content and access rights changes on the master and replica. The update amendments that are passed between the master and replica server benefit from the high levels of compression that can only be achieved by the Epsilon technology. Hence the network connection that is required to connect master and replica can be anything from 1kbps to 100Mbps. In the same regard the bandwidth used by the replication phase is dramatically reduced.

Server-to-Laptop (S2L)

iOra’s software ensures offline mobile and field workers dependent on laptop connectivity have exactly the same experience as they would if working at Head Office. Whilst offline web page links in web pages work, when online documents can be updated and full search of the offline content is available.

There is no need for re-coding or re-development in Geo-Replicator; it gives access to the very same pages that are used offline as online. Once this initial batch of content has been downloaded onto the user’s laptop, the user can then work with the web pages through a standard browser. All the functionality that the user would expect online (e.g. search) is available on the laptop, whether it is connected to a network or not.

Server-to-Virtual Server (S2VS)

This solution is specially designed as an alternative for lightweight, read-only portals for remote offices solving the problem of replicating portal content to remote office environments where the installation and maintenance of a sophisticated server is impractical. iOra is deployed at the server level with the addition of a proxy server, to deliver a web application to a group of users without the requirement for installing backend infrastructure.

Replication monitoring technology

iOra Edge replication monitoring technology reports on the health and status of iOra Geo-Replicator, monitoring both local and remote deployments. iOra Edge provides a monitoring interface that can either be used:

• As a high-level digital dashboard for users who just want to assess operation status for all connected nodes of the network; or
• An interface that additionally provides the drill-down capability to support fault finding and problem resolution; or

iOra Edge gives the Command and Control centres full reassurance that their warfighters have the latest critical orders before exercises and missions – removing time and uncertainty issues.