Egnyte Adaptive Block Caching (ABC) brings block-level file streaming to the Egnyte Desktop App. It streams only the blocks of a file that an application requires to begin work, so large CAD, BIM, GIS, and video files open without waiting for a full download, and it uploads only the blocks that change when users save. Accessed blocks stay in a persistent local cache, so reopening happens at local-drive speed. ABC runs inside the Egnyte platform, with global file locking, version history, and governance on the same files.
- ABC defers downloading and uploading entire files
- When a user opens a file, it downloads the parts (Block) of the file that’s needed to get started
- As a user works and saves on a file, only their changes are synced back to Egnyte
- This results in faster access and lower bandwidth usage
- This is especially beneficial for large project files (for example, CAD drawings, video timelines), where only parts of the file are accessed and modified
- ABC Cache stays on device until cache threshold is reached so users have files available in cache for day to day activities even for regular files
ABC runs entirely inside the existing Egnyte Desktop App, no separate software or hardware is needed. Existing drive letters can be upgraded to ABC without re-mapping.
ABC is available only to customers on new AEC plans (AEC Essentials, AEC Elite, and AEC Ultimate) or on plans with the Specialized File Handler add-on. For more information, contact the Egnyte account manager or the Sales team.
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Prerequisites
Recommended Device Specifications for Optimal Performance
Supported Drive Configuration
File Handling in ABC
Use Cases
Steps to Enable ABC
End User Experience
Configuring the ABC Cache (Location and Size)
Disabling ABC (Switching to Classic)
Additional Resources
Prerequisites
- Supported Desktop App versions
- Users should be on the Egnyte Desktop App version 4.5.0 or later for Windows
- For Mac, Users need to download the .pkg version from 1.19 or later
- ABC is supported only on New Apple M chips and not supported on Intel chips.
- After installation or upgrade, restart the Desktop App so it can check eligibility and offer to enable ABC. For eligible users, Egnyte drives for that domain are mounted in ABC mode instead of Classic mode
- If the organization uses endpoint security software that includes Data Loss Prevention (DLP), DLP policies should be updated to whitelist the ABC drive. This ensures the drive functions correctly and prevents DLP policies from interfering with file access or synchronization.
Recommended Device Specifications for Optimal Performance
- Adaptive Block Caching (ABC) works at the file system level to intelligently manage file access, caching, and data transfers across everything from everyday file operations to resource-intensive applications. To get the most out of it, we recommend a device with at least 16 GB RAM and a modern multi-core processor (4 cores or higher)
- For more demanding workloads, 32 GB RAM or higher and more powerful processors are recommended. This aligns with the hardware guidance provided by leading software vendors:
- Autodesk: Professional design and engineering applications, including AutoCAD and Revit, recommend higher CPU and memory configurations for demanding workloads, with 32 GB RAM recommended for certain applications. Refer to Autodesk's system requirements
- Adobe: Creative applications, including Premiere Pro and After Effects, recommend higher memory and processing capabilities for demanding workflows such as 4K video editing and complex compositions. Refer to Adobe's system requirements
- Esri: ArcGIS Pro recommends 32 GB RAM and a 4-core processor, with higher specifications for optimal performance. Refer to Esri's system requirements
- ABC reserves 50 GB for its cache by default, but because large AEC projects and media applications and files also need plenty of local working space, we recommend 1 TB SSD (NVMe preferred) on both Windows and Mac.
These are recommendations for optimal performance, not minimum requirements. Standard desktops and laptops handle everyday file operations and lighter workloads on ABC with ease.
Supported Drive Configuration
The way ABC and Classic drives co-exist depends on the platform.
On Windows
- All drives for a given user + domain on a device operate in either ABC or Classic mode; mixed modes are not supported.
- A user cannot have both an ABC drive and a Classic drive at the same time for the same domain.
- However, if a user is connected to multiple domains, they can have ABC enabled for some domains and Classic enabled for others.
On Mac
- The ABC drive and the Classic drive can co-exist for the same user and domain on the same device, because they are mounted at different paths.
- A user can add an ABC drive without removing the Classic drive, and a user can add a Classic drive after removing an ABC drive.
- Adding or removing the ABC drive does not affect the Classic drive, and vice versa.
In both platforms, when a user is connected to multiple domains, the choice of ABC vs Classic can be made independently for each domain.
File Handling in ABC
Files uploaded through an ABC-enabled drive are stored in block format.
- In this format, large files are divided into smaller blocks, allowing uploads, downloads, file opens, and caching to be handled more efficiently at the block level
- This process does not change the file’s content or structure and fully preserves any links or external references
- Existing non-block files continue to open normally, just as they do on a Classic drive. The files are automatically re-uploaded in block format for future use
Use Cases
- Teams working with large and complex files (AutoCAD, Civil 3D design files in AEC; Premiere Pro, After Effects project files in Media) stored in Egnyte Cloud, where files are opened, edited, and saved repeatedly. ABC downloads only the blocks needed to get started, so files open before the download finishes.
- Distributed project teams across multiple offices or remote locations (design/engineering teams in AEC, post-production teams in Media) accessing shared project data, where network latency impacts file open and save operation times. ABC streams only the blocks the application reads.
- Projects that rely heavily on reference files or linked assets (AutoCAD Xrefs in AEC; linked media and precomps in Premiere Pro/After Effects in Media), where only portions of large files are accessed frequently, and caching file blocks can improve responsiveness when opening or updating drawings or timelines.
- Individual users or roles (designers, engineers in AEC, video editors, motion graphics artists in Media) who primarily work on a limited subset of very large project files on a regular basis, making block-level caching effective over time as frequently accessed data remains locally available.
- Regular files like office documents also benefit from ABC because files are not fetched from the cloud every time due to the persistent cache.
Steps to Enable ABC
Once Adaptive Block Cache (ABC) is available for the Egnyte domain, the admin needs to enable ABC for users. By default no user will have access to ABC.
User Eligibility (Group-Based)
- Create a new user group in the web UI. Go to the left side menu > Settings > User Management > Groups > Add Group.
- Name the group exactly Egnyte ABC Users and click on Save.
- Add all the users who want to access ABC to this group and click Save. It may take up to 15 mins to take effect.
Once this is completed, a user can open the Egnyte Desktop App to check the ABC drive.- Windows: For an upgraded domain, all drives are automatically converted to ABC drives
-
Mac: The user needs to add the drive again to see the option to select ABC mode
- Removing users from Egnyte ABC Users group will remove the users’ access.
- Deleting the group will remove access for all the users.
- If the ABC drive is not visible, removing and re-adding the drive through the desktop application can help.
End User Experience
ABC Mode Notifications
- When a user becomes eligible for ABC a system notification appears.
- Welcome message on the Egnyte Desktop app appears as:
- Clicking the notification or the desktop welcome message opens a confirmation dialog
- Clicking on Continue direct the user to the ABC Cache configuration flow.
Configuring the ABC Cache
On Windows
When a user opts in, they see a Configure ABC Drive screen where they can configure the following options:
- Choose a Cache location (internal drive only)
- Only internal drives are listed, sorted by drive letter with label and free space.
- Drives with less than 8 GB free are greyed out and cannot be selected.
-
A non-editable path is displayed where the cache folder will live (for example, a sc_cache folder under the app’s data directory).
Once selected, the cache location is permanent for that device. In order to change the location later, users must remove all ABC drives and re-add them.
- Set the Cache Size
- Minimum: 8 GiB
- Default: 50 GiB
- Maximum: 90% of the total capacity of the selected drive (rounded).
- The app validates the value as the user types and only allows numbers within this range.
- Overall, the Cache Size remains within this limit, though it may temporarily exceed due to active file access.
For any additional ABC drives (for example, multiple domains or users on the same device), the Cache Location is reused and fixed, but the Cache Size for each profile can still be configured separately. Existing ABC drives can adjust the threshold later via a Settings > Three Dots Menu on the Drive > Configure > Adaptive Block Caching tab in the Desktop App.
On Mac
On Mac, ABC does not offer a Cache location option. Because most Macs use a single storage volume rather than fixed partitions, the cache location is set automatically and cannot be changed. Users only configure the Cache Size in Settings > 3 dots menu on drive > Configure > Adaptive Block Caching tab in the Desktop App.
Two options to set the cache size are:
- Default (Recommended): ABC adapts to the available disk space on the device and automatically clears older cached files as needed
- Custom: Set a fixed limit. Once the cache goes beyond this size, older cached files are automatically cleared. The value must be at least 8 GB, up to a maximum of 90% of the device’s available storage
This configuration applies to all drives grouped under the profile. When the settings are saved, the drive briefly disconnects and then automatically reconnects.
Disabling ABC or Switching to Classic on Windows
Users have the option disable ABC themselves (unless an admin has locked drive management):
- Open the system tray and click the Egnyte Desktop App icon.
- Click the gear icon (Settings).
- Next to the drive letter, click the three dots (…).
- Select Disable ABC Mode.
If the admin has explicitly disabled drive management via Desktop Configurations, users cannot remove the drive but they can still disable ABC mode on it.
Additional Resources
Adaptive Block Caching - Usage Guide