The prototype system uses the NCSA httpd Web server running under Solaris. Today's server-side implementation is in Perl. The EFC is a web-based repository of data, generally MIME instances. Scanned images and mail messages are currently implemented, with arbitrary URLs and faxed documents to be added. Metadata accompanies each data object.
Attributes are specific to datatype.
Searching on metadata allows retrieval without prior time-consuming categorization. Categorization of EFC objects into folders is optional. Folders are for classification only, and do not indicate ownership. Authorization is by user and password, but independent of the underlying operating systems. Permissions on EFC objects specify who can access or change the object.