Re: File transfer across the internet

Pete Zahut said this on 2/12/2009 8:19 AM:
> What's the best way of getting files (photos and videos) across the
> internet?
>
> A bit more background and context to the problem:
>
> We are a family that is widely spread about - sister in France, parents and
> another two sisters in the UK, brother in Italy and others. After a recent
> family gathering we've all gone back to our respective homes and we all have
> lots of photos and video that the others want to see.
>
> Email is no good as there are too many files and the file sizes are too big
> (the sister in France has a 10-megapixel camera and took about 100 shots -
> plus there's other stuff from over the years, not just this most recent
> gathering). I suppose that we could all put them on CD/DVD and distribute
> them via snail-mail but it struck me that the internet should be able to
> provide a better, quicker solution.
>
> For instance, I know that FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol and that's
> what we want to do - transfer files between our computers - so could we use
> that, and if so, how?
>
> Or could we each create a folder on our computers and map to it as a network
> drive just as I would map a network drive on my internal LAN? BTW, I know
> that we would all have to use Dynamic DNS to map a hostname to our dynamic
> IP addresses so that we could all find each other, irrespective of whichever
> way we do it.
>
> All computers are using Win XP Pro SP3 and all are behind ADSL modem/routers
> such as the Linksys WAG325N (mine) so there will be NAT, firewall and port
> forwarding issues to overcome but there must surely be some way of doing
> it - I hope )
>
> Any info and help or pointers to websites to get me started would be much
> appreciated.
>
> TIA,
>
> Pete
> PS, we would not be connecting to more than one place at one time (don't
> even know if that would be possible, but it's certainly not needed) so as a
> starting point, just assume that I (here in the UK) want to connect to my
> sister's computer in France and transfer the photos and video from her
> machine to mine.
>
>

You say you don't mind being tecky, if so you might look at this.
http://www.pablosoftwaresolutions.co...tp_server.html
I think this is the right page. Either way, they have a free ftp
server that does the basics, makes users/passwords, loads and runs like
any other ftp server. You set ftproot to some folder on your system
etc. Runs in Windows. I've used it well on my laptop for
friends. The only issue you may have is changing the port forwarding
in your router to pass the ftp commands to your PC.

Also I've been told that filezilla works as a server too. I use it on
the client side to send and receive since its a relatively user friendly
GUI interface. You could setup ftpserver lite on your machine, and
have friends setup filezilla on their machine. You'd have to test it
out and give them clear directions how to use it, and like others have
said, it's not the punch and click way to do things.

Like any other ftp server, you could also set yours up as anonymous too
and as much as I don't know how, you may be able to get ftp to work via
IE. I've seen it done, but can't advise. But using IE on the client
side would make it easy on your users.

Just food for thought.

Big_Al said this on 2/13/2009 2:47 PM:
> Pete Zahut said this on 2/12/2009 8:19 AM:
>> What's the best way of getting files (photos and videos) across the
>> internet?
>>
>> A bit more background and context to the problem:
>>
>> We are a family that is widely spread about - sister in France,
>> parents and another two sisters in the UK, brother in Italy and
>> others. After a recent family gathering we've all gone back to our
>> respective homes and we all have lots of photos and video that the
>> others want to see.
>>
>> Email is no good as there are too many files and the file sizes are
>> too big (the sister in France has a 10-megapixel camera and took about
>> 100 shots - plus there's other stuff from over the years, not just
>> this most recent gathering). I suppose that we could all put them on
>> CD/DVD and distribute them via snail-mail but it struck me that the
>> internet should be able to provide a better, quicker solution.
>>
>> For instance, I know that FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol and
>> that's what we want to do - transfer files between our computers - so
>> could we use that, and if so, how?
>>
>> Or could we each create a folder on our computers and map to it as a
>> network drive just as I would map a network drive on my internal LAN?
>> BTW, I know that we would all have to use Dynamic DNS to map a
>> hostname to our dynamic IP addresses so that we could all find each
>> other, irrespective of whichever way we do it.
>>
>> All computers are using Win XP Pro SP3 and all are behind ADSL
>> modem/routers such as the Linksys WAG325N (mine) so there will be NAT,
>> firewall and port forwarding issues to overcome but there must surely
>> be some way of doing it - I hope )
>>
>> Any info and help or pointers to websites to get me started would be
>> much appreciated.
>>
>> TIA,
>>
>> Pete
>> PS, we would not be connecting to more than one place at one time
>> (don't even know if that would be possible, but it's certainly not
>> needed) so as a starting point, just assume that I (here in the UK)
>> want to connect to my sister's computer in France and transfer the
>> photos and video from her machine to mine.
>>
>
> You say you don't mind being tecky, if so you might look at this.
> http://www.pablosoftwaresolutions.co...tp_server.html
> I think this is the right page. Either way, they have a free ftp
> server that does the basics, makes users/passwords, loads and runs like
> any other ftp server. You set ftproot to some folder on your system
> etc. Runs in Windows. I've used it well on my laptop for
> friends. The only issue you may have is changing the port forwarding
> in your router to pass the ftp commands to your PC.
>
> Also I've been told that filezilla works as a server too. I use it on
> the client side to send and receive since its a relatively user friendly
> GUI interface. You could setup ftpserver lite on your machine, and
> have friends setup filezilla on their machine. You'd have to test it
> out and give them clear directions how to use it, and like others have
> said, it's not the punch and click way to do things.
>
> Like any other ftp server, you could also set yours up as anonymous too
> and as much as I don't know how, you may be able to get ftp to work via
> IE. I've seen it done, but can't advise. But using IE on the client
> side would make it easy on your users.
>
> Just food for thought.

Curiosity killed the cat! I found this link
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=256
explaining how to use IE and it works on my ftpserver lite.

Cool, I always wanted to know this anyway, just needed a push! LOL