How to Remotely Validate MetaDefender Kiosk File Uploads to MFT?

Overview

This article addresses how to validate that a MetaDefender Kiosk is functioning correctly with respect to file scanning and uploading to MetaDefender Managed File Transfer (MFT), especially when physical access to the kiosk is not possible.

Issue

Some users want to ensure their remote kiosks are fully operational — not just connected to MetaDefender Core, but also correctly uploading to MFT — without requiring physical interaction, such as inserting a USB drive.

Key Points

• The Kiosk's self-scan feature only validates its connection to MetaDefender Core.
• It does not confirm whether file transfers to MetaDefender MFT are successful.
• Currently, there is no built-in feature in the Kiosk to simulate USB insertions remotely.

Solutions & Workarounds

1. Use Virtual USB Emulation (Advanced Use Case)

If your Kiosks are configured to automatically scan files from USB devices:

• You may use virtual USB solutions, such as:
• USB/IP
• Emulated mass storage devices

⚠️ Note: These require pre-installed software or advanced configurations on the Kiosk, which might not be feasible or supported in all environments.

2. Use "Retrieve Files with MFT" (Recommended)

This is a practical and supported way to validate the full workflow remotely, including file retrieval from MFT and scanning via Core.

Steps to Validate MFT Integration:

1. Upload a test file to MFT:

   1. You can upload as a Guest or Active Directory (AD) user, depending on how the Kiosk is configured.

2. From the Kiosk UI, initiate a file retrieval session from MFT.

3. Monitor whether:

4. The file is downloaded by the Kiosk

5. The file is processed/scanned by MetaDefender Core

If successful, this confirms:

• The Kiosk can access MFT

• The file transfer mechanism is operational

• The integration with MetaDefender Core is intact

Conclusion

Although remote USB emulation may be possible with third-party tools, using the file retrieval feature via MFT provides a simpler and more supported method to verify Kiosk functionality remotely.