large File Transfer

[SimpleSi]

I'd like to send a large file (3GB) from one of my schools to home via t'Internet - anyone got some suggestions that they've tried and work through firewalls/NAT etc.

 

Please PM if you wouldn't want to publicise your method due to your customers abusing it

 

regards

 

Simon

[mrcrazy04]

I've setup an FTP server at home before, for transferring files home (on my £10 off ebay test server!).

If you have XP Pro then there's a client available through IIS to do it.

FTP usually gets out through the gateways as well - never done a 3GB file though (would take ages down my 512k connection at home!)

[Heebeejeebee]

http://www.sendthisfile.com/

 

Burn to DVD or use a memory stick?

 

HBJB

[Geoff]

FTP or WevDav will work. I'd lean towards the FTP option as you'll be able to resume the transfer if something breaks.

[maniac]

I've got an FTP server setup using filezilla server (http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=21558) which you can also make a secure FTP server if you need to, and use the filezilla client to communicate with it.

 

Works for me!

 

Mike.

[SimpleSi]

Ta for tips - think I'll try the FTP server/client route (once I remember my router/firewall's password to open up a port :oops: )

 

regards

 

Simon

[techyphil]

Yeh it's pretty much agreed that FTP is the best way to get the data home. Although, at work they won't let me unblock port 21 to send data in or out.

 

Sux ey...

 

I've got a NAS drive at home with FTP as one of its services which is ideal - saves having to leave the pc on. But like I say without unblockage it sux.

 

Urm, ive been doing alot of research into NAS - SAN etc etc and concluded that 90% of NAS drives cant reach more then the 12Mb/s mark even with 1gb ethernet. Theres a whole load of reasons that make them slower over ethernet. Even these raid NAS drives with 4 drives in RAID configuration and 1gb ethernet - slow transfer rates. The drives I was looking at are between £100 - £350. Ideal for home and small office use so the ideal chose for us.

 

Anyway, I came across FreeNAS - a really ideal solution that im going to use at work on a smaller network. You use a normal workstation, 128mb RAM is good enough with some fast HDD's as you would in a normal NAS caddy and install it as the OS. You then access it using the web interface (again as you would a normal NAS drive including the usual settings + more). Its great in that it supports hardware and software raid and its sooo easy to configure.

 

google FreeNAS if you have an OLD spare workstation and want to turn it into a NAS drive. Im planning on using a slow machine with a 200w or even less PSU and wack in 2 7,200rpm IDE drives. Leave it in the shed and configure the DVD player and the pc's to use that as its media source. And the best thing is - its fast as though its shared using DAS ( Direct Attached Storage ).

 

I found it impossible using a standard NAS drive you'd buy in shops to copy and paste movies to and from waiting 10-15mins a time. So give it ago... supports FTP etc n all + Active Directory.

 

Cool...

 

Cyas

[GeeDee]

Run your FTPd on another port?

 

You can usually FTP via a HTTP proxy too - although IEs FTP client sucks for this (well, ok, it just sucks).

[SimpleSi]

Well I think I've setup my server but I can't connect from the school.

 

Anyone care to try and see if you can get to it please?

 

regards

 

Simon

[Jackd]

No luck here, i just get "Connection was reset by host".

 

Jack.

[mattx]

90% of NAS drives cant reach more then the 12Mb/s mark even with 1gb ethernet.

 

You tried freenas ? I have had excellent network speeds using that. In regards to the original post - yes FTP is the answer.

I have a setup FTPs at home and at the school again using freenas's FTP side...

 

FTP site timing out:

 

500 Connection timed out (Winsock error #10060)

[SimpleSi]

Thanks for trying - back to drawing board at my end :oops:

 

regards

 

Simon

[SimpleSi]

Having paused and then checked everything again - I hadn't properly configured my router (missed a check box to enable routing port 21 to my machine :oops )

 

Now it works - thanks for the help and suggestions.

 

regards

 

Simon

[Ric_]

@SimpleSi: Just remember to keep your box secured after posting the address

 

Maybe change the port too.

[SimpleSi]

Luckily my home internet connection died that night and was issued with a new IP.

 

It'll only be turned on when I actually need to do a transfer with the end folder set to be on my portable hard drive.

 

But thanks for the reminder anyway

 

It'd would be interesting to know how long it would take a hacker to do something nasty even if they knew it was open and running 8O

 

regards

 

Simon

[gwendes]

It'd would be interesting to know how long it would take a hacker to do something nasty even if they knew it was open and running 8O

 

Yes, 'interesting'...

[Geoff]

It'd would be interesting to know how long it would take a hacker to do something nasty even if they knew it was open and running

 

Is that an invitation?

[SimpleSi]

No thanks!!

 

What I mean is, how insecure would a machine be hosting a public filezilla FTP server?

 

Are all FTP servers vunerable - if so -why aren't the vandals bringing them all down?

 

Is (some) peoples paranoia about open ports on servers justyfied or not?

 

regards

 

Simon

[gwendes]

Anything online can potentially be attacked - it is likely that the information you'll be transferring isn't going to be of great interest to anyone and an SFTP server will be fine...

 

Paranoia is often higher than it should be - but this applies to anything I wouldn't post my IP address and a list of open ports on the internet just like I don't have a neon sign that tells people when I'm on holiday at my house.

[Geoff]

What I mean is, how insecure would a machine be hosting a public filezilla FTP server?

 

Historically Filezilla hasn't been the most secure FTP around. Personally I'd use a linux box with proftpd.

 

Are all FTP servers vunerable - if so -why aren't the vandals bringing them all down?

 

When people hack FTP servers they do not vandalise them. They generally fill them up with porn/warez/movies/etc and tell their mates where to get the good stuff.

 

Is (some) peoples paranoia about open ports on servers justyfied or not?

 

Entirely depends on the OS of the host and the services it has open to the universe IMHO.

[SimpleSi]

I wouldn't post my IP address and a list of open ports on the internet just like I don't have a neon sign that tells people when I'm on holiday at my house

 

But isn't an open FTP server with no major files exposed more akin to people being able to see that you have a shed in your garden without a lock on it - 99.9% of people inc burglars won't bother climbing over the wall to get at it because they know you've just got a rusty lawnmower in there

 

The house still has the alarms and the shutters down

 

@geoff - mm - thinks about making a small VM to host proftpd.

 

regards

 

Simon