Getting Started with MASV Engine

MASV Engine (formerly MASV Agent) is a cross-platform service that manages file transfers to and from the MASV network. It functions as a CLI tool backed by a local REST API server that you can also call directly.

The MASV Engine supports simultaneous upload and download of multiple Packages, handles file system interactions, and is stateful — it stores transfer metadata and user sessions to survive interruptions and shutdowns. MASV Engine is used to transfer terabytes of data every day, reliably and quickly.

Before installing, check the MASV Engine System Requirements. For the latest changes, see the MASV Engine Release Notes.

Installation

Install MASV Engine natively on Linux, macOS, or Windows. You can also run it as a Docker container.

Starting the server

To use MASV Engine, start the local server first:

masv server start

Common flags include --api-key for authentication, --listen to set the address and port, and --config-dir to change the storage location. For the full list of flags, see CLI Reference.

Tip

Store your API key in an environment variable ($MASV_API_KEY) and reference it when starting the server. This prevents the key from appearing in shell history and process listings. See Authentication for details.

After the server is running, you can use the rest of the MASV Engine commands.

Basic commands

List all available commands and flags:

masv -h

Check which version of MASV Engine is installed:

masv version

Gracefully stop the local server:

masv server shutdown

Viewing logs

The MASV Engine log helps you review activity and troubleshoot issues.

Platform	How to view logs
Docker	Run docker container ls to get the container ID, then docker logs $CONTAINER_ID
Linux	Run journalctl -u masv-engine to view systemd log output
macOS	Open $HOME/masv-engine/main.log
Windows	Open Event Viewer → Windows Logs → Application, and filter by source masv-engine

Next steps

• Authentication — Authenticate with API keys or credentials before transferring files.
• Uploads — Send files via team email, shareable link, or portal.
• Downloads — Initiate, monitor, and manage file downloads.
• Automations — Set up watch folders, portal downloads, and stream uploads.
• Storage Gateway — Connect cloud storage providers to MASV.
• CLI Reference — Complete list of all MASV Engine commands and parameters.
• Settings — Configure disk, FIFO mode, multiconnect, and rate-limit options.