What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

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matthijs
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What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

Post by matthijs »

One issue that keeps coming back with friends and family is the problem of how to send bigger files to each other.

With mail only a limited size is allowed (10 Mb I think). Free file transfer services like dropsend are often also limited and sometimes slow.

I tried FTP but for non-technical people that's too difficult to use and you often have problems with windows firewalls preventing transfers etc

So what other options are there?

One thing I thought of is creating my own dedicated area on a server with an up- and download script (behind password of course) but the drawback I see with that is security. If it's ever compromised the whole server is compromised at once
alex.barylski
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Re: What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

Post by alex.barylski »

I copy files to my inhouse server and temporarily port forward HTTP requests, close the port and everything is back to normal.
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VladSun
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Re: What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

Post by VladSun »

matthijs wrote:One issue that keeps coming back with friends and family is the problem of how to send bigger files to each other.
Set up a VPN server
http://poptop.sourceforge.net/dox/debian-howto.phtml

Config it to use the "proxyarp" option.

Then connect to it and use simple file sharing :)
There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't
Scott1357
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Re: What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

Post by Scott1357 »

Have you tried http://www.yousendit.com?
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JAB Creations
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Re: What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

Post by JAB Creations »

Isn't this a community of web developers and web designers; don't you guys have some sort of web hosts? 8O I download via Firefox. :mrgreen: I upload with an CuteFTP 6...I don't like the newer versions and 6 works beautifully for me! :) I don't think I've ever uploaded a file larger then a couple hundred megabytes.
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Bill H
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Re: What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

Post by Bill H »

Firefox addon FireFTP.
matthijs
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Re: What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

Post by matthijs »

Thanks for all the ideas.
@billh: I'll check out FireFTP

@Scott1357: yes, services like that are an option. They have limits in how large/often you can send files, but for smaller stuff it works

@VladSun: I might try that one day when I feel real geeky. usually I try to avoid the terminal if I can ... (me ducks away for all the stuff thrown at me now..)

@JAB: I was specifically talking about friends and family: mine don't exist of developers. I tried explaining FTP to one of them but I ended up spending hours trying to resolve weird Firewall issues and in the end gave up
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JAB Creations
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Re: What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

Post by JAB Creations »

Gah...sorry matthijs I didn't read your post clearly, my bad.

I just installed FireFTP and it's ok, but it lacks the power of client/server bookmarks. I'm going to send the extension author a short email about implementing it...I don't see this as being difficult though it would make things work much faster. I also think that the extension could be automated for friends and family a little more if they provided a limited amount of scripting though I'm sure there are plenty of security issues relating to that...however I think if the issues were worked out it could possibly make it much easier to use for the common person.
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Bill H
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Re: What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

Post by Bill H »

I didn't read it all that well either, was just responding to the CuteFTP comment. I like CuteFTP just fine, but the FireFTP is nice and simple and serves my purpose. Once it's implemented as to logon data, which matthijs could walk the family member through, it is pretty simple to use and firewalls aren't an issue. Maybe.
SeaJones
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Re: What are you using for up- and downloading of files?

Post by SeaJones »

I upload most stuff to my server, and give people a download link: http://myserver.com/linktofile etc.

To receive stuff I tell people to use yousendit or something.
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