PostFile

The PostFile program receives the chunks of files posted by the Upload Manager and appends them to its own copy of the file. The Upload Manager specifies the range of bytes being posted and the sha1 of the file, which is used as the filename. For details about the configuration settings related to this component, see Post File in BigFix Configuration Settings.

These parameters are appended to the URL as in the following example:

postfile.exe?sha1=51ee4cf2196c4cb73abc6c6698944cd321593007&range=1000,1999,20000 

Here the sha1 value identifies the file, and the range in this case specifies the second 1,000 byte chunk of a 20,000 byte file.

When PostFile receives a chunk of the file it first checks to make sure it is the correct segment. If so, it appends the posted data to its local copy of the file. It returns the size of this file, as well as the current chunk size and throttle BPS settings.

PostFile has to handle several BigFix clients feeding into it at the same time. To balance that load, it adjusts the throttle rate. The effective throttling rate is determined by dividing the limiting PostFile rate by the number of concurrently uploading files.

For example, if PostFile has a throttle setting of 100 KBPS and 50 clients are simultaneously uploading files, the throttle value returned to each client would be adjusted to 2 KBPS. By setting custom throttle values to specific BigFix relays, you can efficiently deal with any bottlenecks in your network.

PostFile stores the partially uploaded files in the Upload Manager's buffer directory with an underscore in front of them (the Upload Manager does not upload files that begin with underscore). When PostFile receives the last chunk of the file, it calculates the sha1 of the file and checks that it matches the sha1 parameter in the URL. If so, it removes the leading underscore.

The Upload Manager can then upload the file to the next relay up the hierarchy (or any other server, if so specified).

PostFile determines whether or not the Upload Manager is running. If not, PostFile assumes that it has reached its root server destination. It renames the uploaded file, extracts the files from the archive, and deposits them in a subfolder of the Upload Manager's buffer directory.

The program calculates the subfolder path using a modulus of the computer ID. This has the effect of spreading out file directory accesses and preventing an overpopulation of any single directory.

For example, the path to file "log" from computer ID1076028615 is converted to the path "BufferDir/sha1/15/1076028615/log" where 15 is the remainder modulo 100 (the lower two digits) of the id.

If the uploaded file is a valid BigFix archive and is successfully extracted, then the original uploaded file is deleted.