Transfering large files

Question

Hi all,
There have been occasions in the past (recently becoming more regular) where I've had send a file to a client. I have done this via email however, with large files (40MB-60MB plus) this has proved not to be the ideal method.
Having read a little bit around these boards I see mention of things like FTP, Remote login and stuff like that.
Is it possible for me to set up my system with individual folders whereby a client can log in and download the files I created for them? If it is, I would need to restrict access so that a client can only log in to their folder and not see folders blonging to other clients.
Many thanks in advance.
Da Vinci

Answer 1

A .htaccess file is basically a override file for the server configuration that applies tot he directory it resides in and its children (although it can be overridden by another .htaccess file in a child directory provided that you allow it - which we wont in this case since i assume you youll wnt clients to have access to everthing in thier directories).
You cant find a .htaccess file because you have to create it yourself But before that goodness we have to enable thier use in apache...
*All commands, path/file names and configuration directives are CaSe SeNsItIvE*
fire up Teminal with an admin level account on your machine and issue the following commands (pressing enter after each line):
<pre style="background-color: #000; color: #ccc; font-family:monaco, courier, monospaced; padding: 5px;">
cd /etc/httpd
sudo cp httpd.conf httpd.conf.mybak
sudo pico httpd.conf
</pre>
Th first command will move us into the directory /etc/httpd where much info for apache (httpd, http daemon) resides. The second will make a copy of the current apache configuration file (httpd.conf) as a different name (httpd.conf.mybak) as a backup so we can revert if need be. lastly we will open the httpd.conf file in a commandline text editor (in this cas ive use pioc because its the most straight forward but if you have expereince with vi, emacs, or somthing else youve installed you can use that - but i donw know thier command keystorkes so youll have to translate the rest of my instructions for this portion...).
use the combo contorl+W
you will see that a grey bar has a appeared saying "Search:"
type: AllowOverride
and hit enter
you should be taken to a part of the file that looks like this:
<pre style="background-color: #000; color: #ccc; font-family:monaco, courier, monospaced; padding: 5px;">
# This controls which options the .htaccess files in directories can
# override. Can also be "All", or any combination of "Options", "FileInfo",
# "AuthConfig", and "Limit"
AllowOverride None
</pre>
Use the arrow keys to move your cursor to the end of the word "None" and delete it. Then type "AuthConfig" so that the you have this:
<pre style="background-color: #000; color: #ccc; font-family:monaco, courier, monospaced; padding: 5px;">
# This controls which options the .htaccess files in directories can
# override. Can also be "All", or any combination of "Options", "FileInfo",
# "AuthConfig", and "Limit"
AllowOverride AuthConfig
</pre>
Then use the key combo control+X to writeout and close the file. You will be promted to confirm your changes before it saves and closes - type "yes" and hit enter when it does so.
Now you shoudl find yourself back at the shell prompt. Issue this command to restart apache so the changes take effect:
<pre style="background-color: #000; color: #ccc; font-family:monaco, courier, monospaced; padding: 5px;">
sudo apachectl graceful
</pre>
Unless you messed something up apache shoudl restart successfully.
Congratualtions you have just enabled .htaccess authentication on the webroot! hehe.
now follow the steps outlined here:
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/1.3/howto/htaccess.html
(scroll down to "Authentication example", not youll see lot of stuff throughout this doc that says not to use .htaccess if you can avoid it but to use the config file instead. In general this is tru, however given what you are trying to do i dont think you want to mess with the main server configuration file everytime you add a user - especially as a novice).
Now the instructions i gave you assume youre using the webroot of the system: /Library/WebServer/Documents/
which corresponds to: http://000.000.000.000/
wher the zeros are your public ip address or public dns name.
Youll want to make your client folders directly in the webroot, NOT your user webroot. so the path to a clientfolder on your local system would look like:
/Library/WebServer/Documents/clientfoldername/
and they would access it with the url:
http://000.000.000.000/clientfoldername/
That should get you up and running... if you have problems you an post back here or consult the mighty oracle of google
Have fun!
G4 Quick Silver 2002 800 Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.7)
G4 Quick Silver 2002 800 Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.7)
G4 Quick Silver 2002 800 Mhz   Mac OS X (10.4.7)