Glossary
This page explains terms that appear repeatedly in the AsterDrive documentation. When a concept is unfamiliar, check its meaning here before continuing with the related configuration or workflow.
Nodes and Runtime Modes
| Term | Meaning | Related docs |
|---|---|---|
| Primary node / primary | The default runtime mode. It handles login, frontend, admin console, shares, WebDAV, policies, and metadata. | Server Configuration |
| Follower node / follower | A remote storage backend. It only accepts internal object requests signed by the primary node and does not let regular users log in. | Follower Nodes |
| Remote node | A follower record registered in the primary admin console, including node address, status, secrets, and ingress target. | Follower Nodes |
| Ingress target | The real place where a follower writes objects, either a local directory or S3 / MinIO. | Follower Nodes |
| enroll | The action that binds a follower to the primary. Usually, the admin console generates a command and you run it on the follower. | Operations CLI |
Storage and Uploads
| Term | Meaning | Related docs |
|---|---|---|
| Storage policy | Defines where files actually land and how uploads are performed, such as a local directory, S3 / MinIO, or a follower node. | Storage Policies |
| Policy group | Decides which storage policy a user or team hits during upload. It can route by file size. | Storage Policies |
| Blob | The underlying file object. Multiple file records can reference one blob for content deduplication and version references. | About AsterDrive |
| Chunked upload | Splits a large file into multiple chunks and tries to resume after failure. | Uploads and Large Files |
| Direct-to-object-storage upload | The browser uploads directly to S3 / MinIO; the server only signs requests and confirms completion. | Uploads and Large Files |
| Server relay | The browser uploads to AsterDrive first, then the server writes to S3 / MinIO. | Uploads and Large Files |
Configuration
| Term | Meaning | Related docs |
|---|---|---|
config.toml | Startup configuration. It controls listen address, database, logging, WebDAV prefix, node mode, and similar startup-level behavior. | Configuration Overview |
| System settings | Site-wide rules changed live from the admin console, including public site URLs, registration, cookies, mail, trash, WOPI, and audit logs. | System Settings |
| Public site URL | The externally reachable HTTP(S) origin of AsterDrive, used for shares, mail, WebDAV, WOPI callbacks, and more. | System Settings |
| CORS | Browser cross-origin access rules. Only allow origins when you explicitly need cross-origin API calls. | System Settings |
| Reverse proxy | The public entry point such as Caddy, Nginx, or Traefik, responsible for HTTPS, domains, upload sizes, and passing WebDAV methods. | Reverse Proxy |
Access Protocols and External Services
| Term | Meaning | Related docs |
|---|---|---|
| WebDAV | Lets Finder, Windows, rclone, or sync tools access AsterDrive through a file protocol. | WebDAV |
| WOPI | The Office online preview/editing protocol. AsterDrive provides file APIs while OnlyOffice / Collabora and similar services open the files. | File Editing |
| Preview app | A file open method configured in the admin console. It can be a built-in preview, an external URL template, or a WOPI app. | System Settings |
| Audit log | Records important user and admin actions for troubleshooting, tracing, and routine checks. | Admin Console |
Operations
| Term | Meaning | Related docs |
|---|---|---|
doctor | Operations CLI subcommand for deployment checks, configuration checks, and deep consistency checks. | Operations CLI |
| Database migration | Moves business data from one database backend to another, such as SQLite to PostgreSQL. | Operations CLI |
| Frontend asset cache | A common cause of broken pages after upgrades, when a browser or proxy caches old page assets. | Frontend Asset Cache |
| Rollback | Returning to an old version after a failed upgrade, usually with the old binary/image and pre-upgrade backups. | Upgrades and Version Migration |