Author Topic: Sharing files: How to P2P with password among few friends? (Read 26,609 times)

vevola · « **on:** January 04, 2006, 02:37 AM »

Hello!

I wanted to know of it were possible (and I know it is, I just don't know how!) to make a small server.

What I want is to share a folder's worth of files with my friends, give them an URL and a password so they can download from my pc.

Can anyone tell me the easiest and safest way to do this?

Thanks!
vev

Innuendo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2006, 02:59 AM »

By far the easiest is to just set up an FTP server. Different FTP server programs offer different levels of features and security. Shop around.

mouser · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2006, 03:08 AM »

well an ftp server may be the most powerful but certainly not the easiest to set up or easiest for your friends.
there are a number of tools to do exaclty what you are asking, just specify some files and it starts a mini web server that people can visit with their normal browsers... i don't know the names of these programs though.. hopefully someone can recommend some. maybe search google for "personal web server" stuff like that..

Innuendo · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2006, 03:43 AM »

Some FTP servers are drop-dead easy to set up & you are guided by wizards. However, if a personal web server seems to be more your bag then you may want to try WWW Share Pro at http://www.wfshome.com/.

For those who are super-paranoid, then doing a google search on WASTE may be beneficial.

Edvard · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2006, 07:10 PM »

How's about temporary ftp? There are like 50 or so services that do this where you upload a file, your friends get an email link, and it all goes away after 7 days. Here's a list:
http://www.jdempsey.com/2005/12/08/free-online-file-storagesending/

m_s · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2006, 07:27 PM »

There was a piece on Downloadsquad yesterday with a link to a specialised program for exactly this purpose - haven't tried it, but sounds like exactly what you're after: http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/04/hamachi-open-source-zero-configuration-vpn-/

wr975 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2006, 12:50 AM »

Quote

I wanted to know of it were possible (and I know it is, I just don't know how!) to make a small server.

Try TinyFTP (http://www.typsoft.com/). It's freeware, easy to configure and works just fine.

brotherS · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2006, 08:41 AM »

Quote from: m_s on January 05, 2006, 07:27 PM

There was a piece on Downloadsquad yesterday with a link to a specialised program for exactly this purpose - haven't tried it, but sounds like exactly what you're after: http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/01/04/hamachi-open-source-zero-configuration-vpn-/

They talk about http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Hamachi/1104137509/1 - I wanted to test it myself for some time, the ratings are rather good.

tinyvillager · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2006, 09:15 AM »

Try waste...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WASTE

Used to be here
http://www.nullsoft.com/free/waste/

Now here
http://waste.sourceforge.net/

brotherS · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2006, 10:19 AM »

Damn, so here I am again: should I try Hamachi or WASTE?

mouser · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2006, 10:42 AM »

is waste actually being maintained?

vegas · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2006, 01:27 PM »

Quote from: wr975 on January 06, 2006, 12:50 AM

Quote
I wanted to know of it were possible (and I know it is, I just don't know how!) to make a small server.

Try TinyFTP (http://www.typsoft.com/). It's freeware, easy to configure and works just fine.

I gotta second TinyFTP, great program, cuts through the crap of running an ftp server when you just need it from time to time for short intervals.

vegas · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2006, 01:32 PM »

Quote from: mouser on January 06, 2006, 10:42 AM

is waste actually being maintained?

WASTE unofficial is sort of maintained here http://sourceforge.net/projects/waste
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/WASTE_Unofficial/1057588571/1

We used to use it at work to share drives & files across our clubs in different states. The program had all the features you would want, except for the sloppy mess of windows interface, one tabbed interface would have made this a permanent solution. But it seemed like it did a good job, I am not sure if the encryption used is a false sense of security or not.

rockin4459 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2006, 03:42 PM »

I have used foldershare before, and it works quite well. Microsoft bought it out, and it's free now.
https://www.foldershare.com/

Deozaan · « **Reply #14 on:** December 18, 2006, 04:21 AM »

W00t! Hamachi is cool! I just need to test it out with someone not connected to my same physical network.

Josh · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2006, 04:25 AM »

I have never been able to get hamachi working. I can get connected to a distant network, but if i try and browse files via the \\ method, it doesnt work.

f0dder · « **Reply #16 on:** December 19, 2006, 12:24 AM »

Hamachi is an interesting idea - it's main appliance seems to be playing pirated games across the internet, though >_<

Depending on how you need to share files, and how big they are, there's various options. I wouldn't use the "\\computername\share" way across the internet, even with an encrypted VPN connection, since SMB/CIFS isn't the world's fastest nor most reliable protocol.

If only one person needs to make files available for a few other people to download, a personal webserver just serving a folder, is very easy to set up.

If multiple people need to manage files, setting up some ftp might be the best option.

If you need to distirbute some really large files, look into torrents - µTorrent has an easy-to-use built-in "mini tracker".

dk70 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 19, 2006, 03:11 AM »

Allpeers for Firefox is interesting http://www.allpeers.com/ Take the tour now show a little movie of how it works.

Just too bad their server or extension wont let me sign up, they have some problems I think - check forum http://www.allpeers.com/community/ Beta sign is for real this time. When they popped up they were all over internet http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-6018647.html . have slowed down but good idea so with a more stable setup they could be huge hit.

f0dder · « **Reply #18 on:** December 19, 2006, 03:35 AM »

Seems interesting... I just hate that "everything should run inside a browser!11!1!" mentality >_<

henrycb · « **Reply #19 on:** December 19, 2006, 11:49 AM »

You can use HFS (Http File Server) www.rejetto.com/hfs/ to send and receive files through Hamachi.

jacquesrober · « **Reply #20 on:** December 19, 2006, 03:23 PM »

Maybee Pando could do the job:
www.pando.com/download.
jacquesrober.

Tekzel · « **Reply #21 on:** December 19, 2006, 10:48 PM »

Both of the apps I was going to suggest have already been suggested, so I will just give my support of those suggestions.

If you need encryption: Waste. It has been a loooong time since it has been updated and can be a bit of a pain in the rump, but it works good.

If you just need password protection and you want it to be simple to set up and even more simple to use: HFS. This program is VERY easy to use. I mean, brain dead simple. Like it a lot.

ghacks · « **Reply #22 on:** December 19, 2006, 11:28 PM »

I have been using Hamachi for some time mainly to play games over the Internet with some friends that only support LAN multiplayer. Sure, it works with all pirated games as well with the main benefit that the key of the game is not checked on a central server because the game thinks it is a lan game.

I would definately use ftp instead of Hamachi for sharing some files with your friends.

Deozaan · « **Reply #23 on:** December 20, 2006, 01:33 AM »

I finally got to try connecting to my brother outside of my WiFi and LAN networks. Interestingly he can ping me but I can't ping him. He can send me files, but I can't see his system.

I never thought about being able to play games with it. That would be awesome! I'd love to play (legal) games over the virtual network with my brother, but if I can't ping him then I don't think it would work. . .

Deozaan · « **Reply #24 on:** December 20, 2006, 01:45 AM »

Quote from: f0dder on December 19, 2006, 12:24 AM

If you need to distirbute some really large files, look into torrents - µTorrent has an easy-to-use built-in "mini tracker".

~~I have uTorrent and I can't find the option for the built in tracker anywhere. Not even in the FAQ or Guide online. Got any tips leading to instructions on how to use this?~~

Spoke too soon. I found it.