• Networking

  • What is my best option for sharing files online?

This is not warez. I have video catalogues and demos for companies that want them out there. They do not want streaming media, so youtube is out of the question. My web host does not allow using the space as storage, so that is out of the question too. I could get cloud subscription, but the upload every day and else would kill me.

What other options do I have? ftp maybe? They also want it password protected - different levels.
If it's legal stuff then just get some inexpensive shared hosting, upload them with FTP and send the link.
If it's low security, just create folders with name that cannot be easily guessed, disable directory listing for the root in .htaccess (assuming you're using Apache), and only those who know the link can see the files.
If you want one more notch security, you can use password protected folders on the web server (just google).

PS: switch webhost. What kind of webhost do you have? I am sure you can find one which does not forbid that. If you're sharing gigabytes and gigabytes of files then you might want to look into a VPS, they usually don't tell you what you can do on your VPS! You can get a Windows VPS...
Actually, the top 20 have it stated loud and clear. Completely forbidden.

Also, the files are really huge in size and often edited. I cannot keep uploading. I thought maybe some sort of local servers somewhere, or if I turn a computer into an ftp storage!?
Nabs wrote Also, the files are really huge in size and often edited. I cannot keep uploading. I thought maybe some sort of local servers somewhere, or if I turn a computer into an ftp storage!?
Oh dear.

This has been discussed many times before.

Usually connections in Lebanon are too slow and the ISP will sometimes block your public IP from receiving incoming connections, if you have a public IP at all.
When you use your computer as an internet server, your upload speed becomes the download speed of whoever is downloading files from you.

If you want to try it yourself, Filezilla don't only make a good FTP client but also a (relatively) easy to configure FTP server.
rolf wroteWhen you use your computer as an internet server, your upload speed becomes the download speed of whoever is downloading files from you.
If you want to try it yourself, Filezilla don't only make a good FTP client but also a (relatively) easy to configure FTP server.
I am sorry, but I didn't quite follow either of points.
If you're asking this question, the best answer is Dropbox.
What is wrong with Google Drive? Upload the files to it, and adjust the sharing settings so only who have the link can access or download the file. You should have 15GB of free space with your Google account, and of course you can get more with monthly fees.
15GB are not enough to begin with.
Also, the biggest of worries is the upload.

@Rahmu, can you elaborate please with Dropbox?
Fellows, the upload is a big issue for me. We're talking video files of 1-2GB each.
Yes we get it. It's you who don't get it. If your connection is not good enough to upload files, then it's not gonna be good enough to host them yourself (unless your clients are willing to spent 3 days downloading a 1GB file). And that leaves you pretty much out of options, except if you believe in magic.

You have to upload the file somehow. I mean how do you suppose that the data is going to get at the other end?? The difference with hosting it yourself (hosting it locally) or not, is that in one case you upload it to another server, in the other case you upload it directly to your client.

Oh, that does leave you with one option actually: sending a DVD through the post, or something like that.
Or get a better connection. Or find someone who has one and is willing to do the upload for you.
I understand, but I prefer to have the experience a slightly lower download rate than me suffer uploads daily. This is still for local use, and downloads here are down usually at night, you know?
Nabs wroteI understand, but I prefer to have the experience a slightly lower download rate than me suffer uploads daily. This is still for local use, and downloads here are down usually at night, you know?
Well, like I said (I don't know why you didn't understand it), in this case (local hosting), the maximum upload speed of your connection becomes the maximum download speed of your clients, since they are downloading directly from you, and not some other website hosting your files.

Also if two clients download at the same time, they will each have 1/2 of the maximum speed...

Also, as I said before, if you want to try the solution above, you can install an FTP server software on your computer - and I recommend Filezilla FTP server.
Then you will have to set up shared folders and usernames/passwords in your FTP server, and send your public IP to your clients + username and password for them to connect to with an FTP client software, such as Filezilla client. It's not guaranteed to work (again, as I said before), as your ISP may block direct connections to your IP, or you may not have a public IP to start with (Please don't ask me what a public IP is). Also, this IP can change from time to time, so that is one more problem.

I'm just a bit pissed that I have to explain it, you being in IT and all. Plus you can find all this on Google. But you're a nice guy, so whatever.
18 days later
If the videos are very large, then use a software to encode them to a lower size. Handbrake is a great free software to do that.

Your shared hosting won't have a problem really as long as you don't turn your account into a filehosting website. Use Filezilla, upload the files (you can pause/resume) which could be very useful for you.

Another option is: http://jumbofiles.com/ regiter there, and you can use FTP to upload files.