Complete n00b FTP or web server query

[Blue Velvet]

What I'd like to do is this:

Set up a particular folder or a drive on my 10.3.9 dual 1.42 G4 so that certain colleagues at work can help themselves to files using -- at their end -- either CuteFTP 7 on a Win2000 PC or a browser.

I'll be doing quite a lot of work at home over the coming weeks and instead of posting CDs into the office, I thought something like this would be better for the 50-500mb files that I usually work with.

I'm on 2mb broadband, well for downloading anyway.

Is this easily doable? Don't mind spending a little money on an app if necessary. The whole thing needs to be pretty user-friendly and simple to set up.

As per usual, thanks in advance for all assistance.

 

[gekko513]

It could be as simple as turning on FTP Access in the Sharing panel in System Preferences.

That doesn't allow for anonymous access, I think, so you have to make a dummy user or something.

 

[Blue Velvet]

...so you have to make a dummy user or something.

You're talking to a dummy user. I have no idea what you're talking about.

Don't mind having something password-protected...

 

[superbovine]

if you are using a router of some sort your'll need to open up a port 21 and forwarded it to your mac.

 

[Nermal]

You're talking to a dummy user. I have no idea what you're talking about.

Sys Prefs -> Accounts -> Make one called "ftp" or something, that the users can log in with.

 

[gekko513]

Come to think of it, since this is from home, it would be better to enable Remote Login using SSH.

A) In either case we need to know some more details about the internet connection you have. Is your Mac plugged in to a router or is it connected directly to the internet via a broadband modem?

You can test this as follows:
1. Visit: http://www.whatismyipaddress.com/ and take note of the IP address it says you have.
2. Open System Preferences -> Network and locate your IP address.
3. If the two IP addresses are the same, you're connected directly to the internet. If they're not the same, you need to set up some forwarding. Let us know.

B) Figure out if your IP address is dynamic or static. It's probably dynamic in which case you need to register with a dynamic dns service to enable your colleagues to connect to your computer. Let us know if you want help doing this.

C). Open System Preferences -> Sharing. Check the checkbox labeled Remote Login.

D) (optional but recommended). If you don't want your colleagues to access all your files, create a new user by opening System Preferences -> Accounts. Enter a name and a password, do not allow user to administer this computer.

E) If your colleagues are using Windows, as it appears that they are. Tell them to download and install WinSCP and use it to connect to your computer using the ip or url from point B) and the name and password from point D). If some are using Macs, tell them to download and install Fugu and use it to connect to your Mac.

F) Give your main user the rights to read and write to the Documents folder of the new user (Select the Folder -> Get Info -> Ownership & Permissions). Then copy files to and from this folder to share it with your colleagues.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Come to think of it, since this is from home, it would be better to enable Remote Login using SSH.

A) In either case we need to know some more details about the internet connection you have. Is your Mac plugged in to a router or is it connected directly to the internet via a broadband modem?

You can test this as follows:
1. Visit: http://www.whatismyipaddress.com/ and take note of the IP address it says you have.
2. Open System Preferences -> Network and locate your IP address.
3. If the two IP addresses are the same, you're connected directly to the internet. If they're not the same, you need to set up some forwarding. Let us know.

B) Figure out if your IP address is dynamic or static. It's probably dynamic in which case you need to register with a dynamic dns service to enable your colleagues to connect to your computer. Let us know if you want help doing this.

C). Open System Preferences -> Sharing. Check the checkbox labeled Remote Login.

D) (optional but recommended). If you don't want your colleagues to access all your files, create a new user by opening System Preferences -> Accounts. Enter a name and a password, do not allow user to administer this computer.

E) If your colleagues are using Windows, as it appears that they are. Tell them to download and install WinSCP and use it to connect to your computer using the ip or url from poing B) and the name and password from point D). If some are using Macs, tell them to download and install Fugu and use it to connect to your Mac.

F) Give your main user the rights to read and write to the Documents folder of the new user (Select the Folder -> Get Info -> Ownership and Rights). Then copy files to and from this folder to share it with your colleagues.

OK, many thanks.

But just briefly before we go into more detail. There will be no installing of extra software on the Windows machines -- they're locked down by IT although the 3 that the designers are using have CuteFTP on them for occasionally sending work out by FTP when we can't ISDN it. The Macs are not connected to the web at all hence the connection by PC.

And I have a broadband modem... and probably a static IP address but I can't check that from work at the mo.

 

[gekko513]

OK, many thanks.

But just briefly before we go into more detail. There will be no installing of extra software on the Windows machines -- they're locked down by IT although the 3 that the designers are using have CuteFTP on them for occasionally sending work out by FTP when we can't ISDN it. The Macs are not connected to the web at all hence the connection by PC.

And I have a broadband modem... and probably a static IP address but I can't check that from work at the mo.

Is it CuteFTP Home or CuteFTP Professional? I see that only CuteFTP Professional can connect using SSH. SSH is recommended because both password and data will be encrypted during transfer, with just regular FTP they will not be encrypted.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Is it CuteFTP Home or CuteFTP Professional? I see that only CuteFTP Professional can connect using SSH. SSH is recommended because both password and data will be encrypted during transfer, with just regular FTP they will not be encrypted.

Professional.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Colleague just suggested an alternative... what about using Gmail?

Does Gmail have a specific attachment file-size limit on top of the 2.5gb storage limit?

 

[edesignuk]

Gmail has a 10mb send/receive cap.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Gmail has a 10mb send/receive cap.

Cheers... but bugger.

 

[gekko513]

Then you could use .Mac

 

[Blue Velvet]

Then you could use .Mac

Hmmm... free 60 day trial period... 1gb. Good idea. I'll try and set this up tonight. Sounds easier than the FTP idea.

Thank you.

 

[frankblundt]

i think you're probably better off finding another alternative to ftp. maybe it's different at your end, but here static ips are something you have to pay extra for and most normal user accounts have dynamic which will make it tricky to find you. Also, here at least, home accounts can have big download speeds but upload is terrible (128, 256 if you're lucky) which make them pretty useless for sending big files in to work.
I have a static ip, a 1mb up and down account and a VPN into work and its still pretty egregious when dealing with print size files (most of the stuff i do is for the web)

 

[Blue Velvet]

Thanks gekko513!

After some messing around tonight, I got about 1.2 mb per minute with another friend logged-in to my Mac which will be OK because although it's a little slower than ISDN, it's good enough to get most files over to the office within an hour or two — still faster than overnight post and almost as fast as burning a disk, ordering a bike and getting it across town.

Convenience is more important then speed in this instance.

These files will be stuffed archives ready to go to press the next day so somebody can start downloading them in the morning and then get on with other things while that's chugging away in the background.

Most of the upcoming projects are text-heavy Quark files rather than large .psd and .tif files so that'll make things easier.

The other alternative is .Mac which I've registered for tonight and will have a play with. There's a trial 20mb iDisk to try out and if I sign up for the full deal, then work will pay for it... which is nice.

 

[munkle]

Hey Blue, if you do go the .Mac route check out FileChute.

Basically it will automatically compress your file (.zip), upload it to your .Mac account (you can set it up to use with your own FTP-accessible webserver), then provide you with a download link. Give the download link to other person and when they click on it, the download will automatically be initiated.

I use it and it's handy as heck when dealing with larger files. It's shareware but I've been using it for over a month and my trial period still hasn't seem to run out

 

[Blue Velvet]

Hey Blue, if you do go the .Mac route check out FileChute.

I like it very, very much. Thank you!

It makes things much easier at the other end for the people who want to grab the file and who aren't completely tech-savvy. Ideal...

Big thanks everyone for all help. I can't even begin to explain how much easier this is going to make the next 2-3 weeks.