DekkoDrive Sync App: Usage – DekkoSecure

What is DekkoDrive?

DekkoDrive is a Windows application that automatically encrypts, decrypts and synchronises your DekkoSecure files with a local, attached or networked storage device on your computer. When running, the application appears as a “drive” in your file explorer.

Because DekkoDrive runs directly on your operating system (rather than in a web browser) it is able to maximise your device’s hardware performance and network connectivity, meaning it introduces dramatic increases to file upload and download compared to the DekkoSecure web application.

DekkoDrive is focussed on synchronisation (upload and download) to support large-volume uploads that would typically exceed the performance envelope of the DekkoSecure web application (e.g., 1000+ simultaneous file uploads, files over ~100GB).

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Files synchronised using DekkoDrive are downloaded and stored on your device (or attached storage). If you manage material in the DekkoSecure web app that would not normally download or access locally, the use of DekkoDrive is not recommended.

What DekkoDrive can do

Display Hubs that you are a member of as root folders in the DekkoDrive Windows Explorer interface

Display folders and any content that you have access to

Upload files to folders where you have permission

Sync (download) your files (including files that you upload using the DekkoSecure web app)

Sync (download) content that has been shared with you

Automatically share files/folders that are uploaded to shared folders

Attach local or network devices for storage

Be used as a file store to read using other applications

What DekkoDrive can’t do

Administrative activities (invites, user management, creating Hubs, Tenancy management)

Non-file sharing functionality (Mail, Chat, eSignature workflow, Meetings)

Profile management activities (password reset, setting up signature, etc.)

Sharing configuration and management (sharing management is performed using the web app)

Other things to know

Files deleted using DekkoDrive will be deleted from your DekkoSecure account (if you have permission to delete)

This can be prevented via Tenancy policy

Files deleted using the DekkoSecure web application will be moved from DekkoDrive to your recycle bin

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Looking for a more simple way to upload files quickly? Please check out the Upload Accelerator App as an alternative to full data synchronisation with DekkoDrive!

Preparation for DekkoDrive

Synchronisation Account

The account signed in to a DekkoDrive installation for file synchronisation can be any standard DekkoSecure account. There are no restrictions based on:

Hub membership (member of one Hub or many)

Role within a Hub (admin, team member, or external)

Whether the account is designated as the central backup account or central access admin

Content-level permissions are enforced regardless of how a file is accessed. For example, if an account has download-only permission on a file, deleting it from DekkoDrive will not delete it from the system.

If the signed in account is a member of Hubs in multiple Tenancies, Hubs will be presented in a combined list:

If tenancy data should be kept separate, it is recommended to use a dedicated machine or attached storage location, with a separate account per tenancy. This applies particularly when using a central backup account or central access admin user.

Using DekkoDrive

DekkoDrive Hub and folder structure

Folders listed in the ‘root’ of DekkoDrive (the list of folders displayed when you click on DEKKO in your Windows Explorer left navigation panel) represent the Hubs that you are a member of.

Example:

Sharing files and folders

The current capability of DekkoDrive does not include the orchestration of sharing and sharing configuration. To facilitate sharing via DekkoDrive, the recommended steps are:

Create a folder using the DekkoSecure web application and share it with the appropriate permissions.

Wait for the folder to appear in DekkoDrive, open it, and then place any files or folders that need to be shared in there.

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After the content has finished uploading it will automatically be shared using inherited permissions from the parent folder. You can update the sharing configuration of the parent folder or contained content at any time using the DekkoSecure web application.

Open the DekkoDrive folder location

Right-click on the DekkoDrive icon in your system tray and then View Drive.

The DekkoDrive installer automatically creates a pinned shortcut to your DekkoDrive folder:

You can also pin specific Hubs (folders) or Hub sub-folders to quick access:

Force synchronisation

The DekkoDrive application automatically checks for new files to synchronise at least every 5 minutes. To force a synchronise of all pending uploads and downloads right-click on the DekkoDrive icon in your system tray and then Full sync.

Checking synchronisation status

Left-clicking the DekkoDrive icon in your system tray displays the synchronisation log.

All content synchronised: The green 🔄 icon indicates that all files associated with your DekkoSecure account (owned by you or shared with you) are present in DekkoDrive.

Pending uploads: The blue 🔃 icon indicates that uploads and/or downloads are currently in progress

Pending downloads: The yellow ⚠️ icon indicates that DekkoDrive has detected files that require synchronisation (either upload or download). To force synchronisation, rright-click the DekkoDrive icon in the system tray and select Full sync:

This will trigger DekkoDrive to recheck and process any pending files.

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You may see the yellow ⚠️ icon multiple times when running DekkoDrive for the first time. This is expected if your account is associated with a large number of files, as the initial synchronisation may occur in stages.

Synchronising folders from other locations in your system

If you already have lots of data that you need to sync using DekkoDrive and you don’t want to copy it to/from the DekkoDrive storage path, you can link existing data to a folder using Directory Symbolic Links. This is an effective way to save space because it reduces data duplicaiton.

Notice that symbolic links in DekkoDrive are not the same as file or folder links on the platform. Therefore, symbolic links cannot be used when wanting to share files and/or share folders.

Setting up symbolic links can map any file or folder (on any drive, including networked drives) to a location in DekkoDrive. Example:

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Defining Directory Symbolic Links is done using Command Prompt. If you are unfamiliar with using Command Prompt or you do not have permission to use it on your device, attempting to follow the steps described below is not recommended.

Directory Symbolic Links are established using the mklink command. The conventions are:

FOLDERS:
mklink /D "DEKKODRIVE PATH" "FOLDER PATH"

FILES:
mklink "DEKKODRIVE PATH\FILE NAME" "FILE PATH"

Linking folders

Identify the folder you want to link (hint: you can right click the folder and then Copy as path).

Identify the target folder in DekkoDrive (again, you can Copy as path).

Open Command Prompt.

Enter you mklink command, for example:

mklink /D "C:\Users\john\DekkoDrive\Client 2\Project 4" "D:\Documents"

This example links the Documents folder on the D: drive to the Project 4 folder in DekkoDrive (which is on the C: drive).

Press enter. If the paths are successfully linked, you will see a confirmation message in this format:

symbolic link created for DEKKODRIVE PATH <<===>> LINKED PATH

Check the DekkoDrive path - you should see your linked folder, with a special folder icon indicating the link. Example:

Right-click on the DekkoDrive icon in your system tray and then Full sync, then left-click the icon to check synchronisation status.

When the files are marked as synced, log in to the DekkoSecure web application and check that the files are presented as expected.

Linking files

Identify the file you want to link (hint: you can right click the file and then Copy as path).

Identify the target folder in DekkoDrive (again, you can Copy as path).

Open Command Prompt.

Enter you mklink command, for example:

mklink "C:\Users\john\DekkoDrive\Client 2\Project 4\drone-video.mp4" "D:\drone-video.mp4"

This example links the drone-video.mp4 file on the D: drive to the Project 4 folder in DekkoDrive (which is on the C: drive).

Press enter. If the paths are successfully linked, you will see a confirmation message in this format:

symbolic link created for DEKKODRIVE PATH <<===>> LINKED FILE

Check the DekkoDrive path - you should see your linked file with a special file icon indicating the link, as well as .symlink in the Type column. Example:

Right-click on the DekkoDrive icon in your system tray and then Full sync, then left-click the icon to check synchronisation status.

When the file are marked as synced, log in to the DekkoSecure web application and check that the files are presented as expected.