Hello all,
I want to swap files with my friend. They are larger than 10 mb (the files, not my friend) so email won't work. He said I should look into FTP. Everything I read about FTP has to do with uploading stuff to my personal web page. I don't have a personal web page, I just want to send files back and forth to my buddy. Yes, I know about Yousendit and BigUpload, etc. but I'd like something a little more personal, and faster if possible. BigUpload handles larger files than Yousendit but takes forever to upload.
I think I can set up a personal web page with my ISP, if I must, but well . . any suggestions?

Thanks,
Ken

Do you guys use any instant messaging programs? How large are we talking? (hehehehe) If it's not too big you could send it over an IM program.

FTP allows you to upload files to a server and you can also download from the server too. If your ISP allows you to have a personal web page then they might provide FTP. If they do, just upload the file to your server and give your friend the link. He will download it via regular HTTP.

If they don't provide FTP, they will have an upload form in a control panel where you can upload files. Again the concept is the same, upload it via the upload form and give your friend the URL/link.

If you can't set up a website with your ISP there are other free web hosting sites as well. Just remember though that if you use the space purely for hosting files even if you are just sending to that one person, they may close your account as they will see it as you wasting their bandwidth.

I don't see why you can't use a file hosting thingy then just delete the file on your account once you're done.

These are audio files so they can run from 20 to 100 mb, or even more in a complex song with lots tracks. I think I have one that's 270 mb with all the instrument pieces, vocals, and mix downs of synth tracks.
A file hosting thingy? You mean like yousendit? I'm sure places like PutFile don't allow anything over 20mb so that's kind of out.
I'll look further into the web page option. I was just thinking that maybe we could set up as servers and/or clients and FTP the files we need, then shut down. Guess I'm dreaming.
Thanks,
Ken

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Thank you, hun! I found just what I need. Of course I'll have to test it for speed but the reviews say it's good.

It's not that you couldn't host the files on your web space, it just that the providers don't like you using it only for file hosting, or not using it as intended - aka a website.

Sounds like you found something though. Just remember, your upload speed isn't as fast as your download speed and is usually a lot slower. Unless you have SDSL ~_~ (I think thats the one where your up/download speeds are the same?)

Yeah, both are slow, right? I've got a high speed broadband connection so this is about as fast as I'm going to get. I did discover that I can put my files, any size up to a gigabyte, on my web page with FTP (FileZilla). Now if I can figure out how my buddy's supposed to get them I'll be doing all the good. I could give him my ID & password and he could get them that way, but I know there's a better method. I'll putter around and find it.
Thanks,
Ken

Btw, I did put some photos and stuff on the page so the provider won't get upset.

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Now if I can figure out how my buddy's supposed to get them I'll be doing all the good. I could give him my ID & password and he could get them that way, but I know there's a better method.

I highly recommend that you don't do that with sharing your ID and password.

You can put a second webpage to your site that has no external link. Upload the file to that page as a file that anyone that can get to that page can download. You could just not list a link to that page or mention is to anyone, or you could put a password on that page. Then you give your buddy the link to that page and the password, and he can then download the file.

For example, your webpage might be http://www.sepulcher.msn.com and you might add a webpage without an external link that is http://www.sepulcher.msn.com/private. Then upload the file to that private page, only tell your buddy about the private page, and then he goes there and downloads it.

Make sense?

I have a couple of sites that have hidden pages where I might host my avatars, or ad banners, or whatever. The host just sees it as a private page, and I don't think they check to see what it's doing, and it's actually holding the file(s) until I get rid of them.

On the other hand, you could set up a download FTP account for your buddy which would mean that he couldn't do anything with uploading to your main site with your account.

I'm just super leery of giving my FTP information to anyone.

Dave

I'll have to see how to make a page private. Also, I'm not sure the files I upload can be seen just by looking at the page. I can't see them. I just know they're there. I'll have to study this a little more, but the private page idea sounds good to me.
Thanks, Dave!
Ken