Faster Drive - Network Access: Slow Transfer Speeds

Modified on Fri, 19 May 2023 at 12:05 PM

Background: How Data is Transferred to Clio

When Windows saves files to Clio using Faster Drive, it performs a multi-step process:

Windows tells Faster Drive "I want to send you a file".
1. Faster Drive tells Clio, "Windows wants to send you a file".
Windows tells Faster Drive "Here is the content of the file I want to send you."
1. Faster Drive tells Clio "Here is the content of the file Windows wants to send you."
Windows tells Faster Drive "I'm done sending the file."
1. Faster Drive tells Clio "Windows is done sending the file."
Windows tells Faster Drive "Here is some additional information about the file I sent you."
1. Faster Drive tells Clio "Here is some additional information about the file Windows sent you."

As you can see from the steps above, it is a multi-step process involving a bit of back and forth. All of this happens automatically and is completely transparent to you and the apps you use. In nearly all situations, this is perfectly fine, however, it should be noted that if you are transferring multiple documents at the same time (ie. Copy/Paste a folder), Windows will perform the steps above, one at a time, for each individual document that you are transferring.

Improving Data Transfer Speeds

In the event that you want to improve the transfer speed of your documents, you can do the following.

Ensure you have a good internet connection

When you transfer documents to Clio, the steps above will happen at the speed of your internet connection. Although not necessary, we recommend that you have at least the following internet connection:

Download Speed: At least 100 mbps
The download speed is how fast you can open a document from Clio
Upload Speed: At least 30 mbps
The upload speed is how fast you can save a document to Clio

You can visit SpeedTest.net to test your internet connection. If you're not happy with your internet connection, you can contact your IT provider and request an upgrade.

Keep in mind that, regardless of what kind of internet connection you have, a big file (ie. video deposition) will always take longer than a small file (ie. a Microsoft Word docx).

Transfer documents in bulk

Each time one of the steps above happens, a new network connection is established between Windows and Faster Drive and then between Faster Drive and Clio. The way network connections work, sending data is fast but creating a new connection is slow. When you're transferring a few big files, most of the time is spent transferring the files (Step #2 above), but when you are sending lots of small files, most of the time is spent in Steps 1, 3, and 4. This is why you may notice that, when working directly through Windows, it is faster to transfer one 1mb file than it is to transfer ten 0.1mb files.

Universal Migrator

If you need to transfer a lot of data, you can quickly cut down on the necessary time by using Faster Suite to transfer it in bulk. The following tools are able to copy multiple documents in parallel, perform the copies in less steps than listed above, and take better advantage of your internet connection.

Bulk Importing Documents into Clio

Copy Files Into Faster Drive using Universal Migrator's Matter Match Migrator. For more information about Matter Match Migrator, please contact the Universal Migrator team.

Bulk Exporting Documents out of Clio

Copy Files Out Of Faster Drive using Document Backup. For more information about Document Backup, please contact the Universal Migrator team.