Getting Started

Check the Triofox website for general information.

Introduction

Welcome to the Triofox Server Installation Guide. This guide describes the installation tasks for Triofox, which helps organizations mobilize their file servers.

Triofox includes Triofox Server, which runs on the Microsoft Windows server platform, and client agent applications for web browsers, Microsoft Windows, macOS, and for mobile platforms such as the Android and Apple iOS operating systems.

Overview

Triofox is a secure remote and mobile access solution that focuses on faster remote access to on-premises file servers (also known as Cloud-enablement without a VPN). It differentiates itself from other file synchronization and sharing (EFSS) solutions by focusing on security, control, file servers and team collaboration. Triofox stands out because it focuses on improving existing file servers, while competitors try to make file servers obsolete. Impressive features include drive mapping, file locking, folder permissions, single sign-on and Active Directory integration, which are often neglected by the competition. Triofox makes file servers mobile and modern while maintaining traditional file server features. Triofox performs particularly well in the following areas:

  1. Integrate existing Active Directory user identity and retain NTFS security permissions.
  2. Provide on-demand access while respecting real-time read and write permissions.
  3. Mirror local network shares on file servers to enable teams to collaborate on content in the cloud.
  4. Provide virtual drive letters for file and folder access.
  5. Provide protection against ransomware.
  6. Enable offsite backups.
  7. Provide file locking, version control, client encryption, and other advanced features to manage all virtual drives.

Triofox Server is a software built on Microsoft Web Platform:

  • Windows Server
  • IIS (Internet Information Server)
  • .NET Framework and ASP.NET
  • WCF (Windows Communication Foundation)
  • PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Microsoft SQL Server

Since Triofox Server is built on the Microsoft Web Platform, it integrates very well with other Microsoft components such as NTFS permissions for files and folders, Active Directory users, and File Server network shares.

It provides file access and sharing capabilities via client agents for PCs, Macs, file servers, web browsers and mobile devices. The client agent software for Windows and Mac provides true drive mapping and volume mounting support that includes advanced optimization for WAN (Wide Area Network) data transfer.

The services can be used in flexible combinations to meet different requirements. There are two primary ways to deploy Triofox Server:

  1. Deploy in the same site as the File Servers and Active Directory domain controllers:

Triofox deployment 1

  1. Deploy in a site remotely, such as Amazon Web Services EC2, Microsoft Azure, or in a Data Center where the infrastructure is hosted:

Triofox deployment 2

System Components

The Triofox server consists of three different system components (logical components that can coexist on the same server). In the smallest deployment unit, the three different components can coexist on a single machine (all-in-one deployment).

1. Web Server Component - The Triofox Server

The web server component is ASP.NET and WFC code hosted by IIS on a Windows server. The web server component actually consists of two separate "sub-components":

  • Web Node
  • Worker Node

These subcomponents exist for historical reasons and there are still elements in the Cluster Manager user interface that allow you to configure these subcomponents.

2. Database - Configuration Information and System Log

The database contains persistent information for the system. This persistent information includes static configuration information such as the user name, file server connection information, and Active Directory connection information. The database also stores dynamic information such as the activity log, file change log, and audit traces.

Triofox supports PostgreSQL, MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server (DMBS) database management systems. In the All-in-One installation, PostgreSQL is installed on the Triofox server. The All-in-One installation is suitable for testing the software, but an external database server is recommended for productive use.

3. Back-end File Storage - Where Files and Folders are Stored

The backend file storage component is the permanent storage location for files and folders. There are two different types of storage services. One is managed by Triofox, e.g. the default storage for the server. The other is imported storage, e.g. existing network shares of the file server that were not managed by Triofox but can be imported/connected into Triofox for remote and mobile access.

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