What is the Early Access Program?

Description

The FileWave Early Access Program provides supported pre-release FileWave resources for customers who need to evaluate, test, or prepare for upcoming FileWave releases before general availability.

Early Access and Beta refer to the same testing channel in this chapter. FileWave Central may show the channel as BETA.

Once a release becomes generally available, Early Access articles and resources are moved to their standard locations in the Knowledge Base and normal release notifications are distributed.

What is included?

• Early Access download and package resources for the upcoming FileWave release.
• Custom client build links for macOS and Windows clients during the Early Access window.
• macOS and Windows Client Upgrade Fileset guidance for 16.4 Early Access client upgrades, especially when older clients need a bridge into the newer automatic/integrated upgrade path.
• Server-side Beta package URL configuration for self-managed Early Access environments, starting with FileWave 16.4.0.

Fully supported builds and Early Access benefits

Builds referenced in this chapter have passed FileWave QA and are supported by FileWave for Early Access testing. Early Access is useful when you need to:

• Evaluate new features sooner: Test upcoming FileWave capabilities before they become generally available.
• Prepare for Day 1 OS support: Validate operating-system support and deployment workflows before broader rollout.
• Test safely: Use sandbox, pilot, or non-production environments before production deployment.
• Work with FileWave: Provide feedback during Early Access so issues can be resolved before general availability.
• Address targeted support cases: Customer Technical Support may direct you to an Early Access build when it addresses a specific issue or operational need.

Hosted customers

If you are a Hosted FileWave customer and want your server included in the Early Access program, open a Technical Support case and request to be added. FileWave Operations will schedule the hosted-server upgrade and communicate the Early Access upgrade timing.

Self-managed customers

Self-managed customers can use the articles in this chapter to prepare servers and clients for Early Access testing. Server-side configuration changes require shell access to the FileWave Server.

Early Access articles

• Building Custom Clients During Early Access — use when you need custom macOS or Windows client installers for Early Access testing.
• Enable Early Access (Beta) Package URLs — use when a self-managed FileWave Server needs access to Beta package URLs, and when planning Server, Booster, and client upgrade behavior during Early Access.

Support

If you encounter issues during Early Access, contact Customer Technical Support through your standard support channels. Your feedback helps improve the release before general availability.