How does Nira accelerate uploads?

1. Files are checked (i.e., checksum hash) in real-time to intelligently avoid uploading duplicate data. This means that files that you've previously uploaded or duplicate files across multiple folders will be skipped from being uploaded again and should be available almost instantly (only the time required to hash the file(s) is needed).  This hashing is labeled as "Checking files" during the upload process.  More information about this is detailed below.
2. Files are compressed in real-time during uploads, greatly enhancing upload speeds for specific file types, such as OBJ files. This process uses lossless compression, ensuring that the data remains fully intact while reducing the transmitted file size. For instance, a 1 GB OBJ file may only require 100 MB of actual data to be uploaded.
3. During uploads, Nira splits files into smaller chunks to maximize network upload bandwidth, ensuring efficient use of your internet connection. This can fully saturate your internet bandwidth, potentially slowing down other browser activities until the upload finishes. To maintain a smooth experience, it's best to avoid viewing assets on Nira while uploading.

More information about Checking files...

As you upload files, Nira generates a checksum for each one, indicated by the "Checking files" status message. The Nira server then recalculates these checksums upon receipt to ensure data integrity. If a file has been previously uploaded, Nira will recognize the matching checksum and skip re-uploading it to save time.

For large asset uploads, whether consisting of thousands of files or very large files, the "Checking files" step can take a significant amount of time, potentially lasting several hours. To optimize performance, we recommend uploading from your fastest storage device, such as an NVMe or SSD, rather than a network drive or traditional hard drive. If your files are stored on a slower device, consider temporarily copying them to a faster drive before uploading.

To confirm that Nira is still in the "Checking files" phase, you can monitor drive activity using Windows Task Manager or an equivalent tool on macOS, Linux, or Chromebook. During this phase, no data is uploaded, but you should see activity on the drive where your files are stored. The actual upload process only begins after all checksums have been calculated for every file. It's crucial not to move or modify any files during this step, as doing so will cause the upload to fail. Even with a slow internet connection, it’s still recommended to upload from your fastest storage device, since the upload can not begin until the checksum hashing has completed.

Does Nira throttle uploads?

No, consistent slow uploads should not happen. If you're experiencing this issue regularly, please reach out to us.  It's possible the processing servers are temporarily overloaded, but this should not happen frequently.