Any good way to transfer files these days?!

[MDesigner]

I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels there's a real shortage of good options for transferring files directly to someone else over WAN. Let's see...

1) Via chat: problematic because of people who have firewalls.. you never know what port# it's going to use
2) FTP: not everyone can run an FTP server.. I tried Cerberus but was not impressed.. it kept dumping the connection.
3) Web space: again, not everyone has web space to put their files in.

We just need a simple f'ing application that both parties can run, it runs on ONE specific port#, and reliably transfers files. Is there anything like this??

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: MDesigner
I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels there's a real shortage of good options for transferring files directly to someone else over WAN. Let's see...

1) Via chat: problematic because of people who have firewalls.. you never know what port# it's going to use
2) FTP: not everyone can run an FTP server.. I tried Cerberus but was not impressed.. it kept dumping the connection.
3) Web space: again, not everyone has web space to put their files in.

We just need a simple f'ing application that both parties can run, it runs on ONE specific port#, and reliably transfers files. Is there anything like this??

Uhm ... ftp??
Not sure I understand what your objections to it are.

 

[ScottMac]

Get a Yahoo Briefcase. ~ 10 Meg free, more available, I believe.

You put it up, your friend picks it up there.

Check it out.

Scott

 

[Cadaver]

I'd vote for FTP, too.
I've not tried Cerberus, but there are lots of free FTP apps out there.

 

[skyking]

you can try waste. do a search for it in OT.

 

[MDesigner]

FTP is ok, I suppose. I do hate leaving port 21 open to the world.. and some of the people connecting to me either may know how to change the default port. They're not techies like me. And DOS ftp doesn't allow you to specify a port I don't think.

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: MDesigner
FTP is ok, I suppose. I do hate leaving port 21 open to the world.. and some of the people connecting to me either may know how to change the default port. They're not techies like me. And DOS ftp doesn't allow you to specify a port I don't think.

Why would you use DOS ftp? I seriously doubt you'll have problems "leaving port 21 open to the world." I set up an FTP with accounts for all my friends. It's works great because I can even grab my own files when I'm over at their place.

 

[MDesigner]

Why use DOS ftp? Some people do not have any kind of 3rd party ftp app installed.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: MDesigner
Why use DOS ftp? Some people do not have any kind of 3rd party ftp app installed.

Everybody has a browser. Good enough client for reciving at least.

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: ergeorge

Originally posted by: MDesigner
Why use DOS ftp? Some people do not have any kind of 3rd party ftp app installed.

Everybody has a browser. Good enough client for reciving at least.

Yep. Just format the URL like this:
ftp://username:Password@yourIPaddress:21

 

[McMadman]

serv-u and ie has never worked for me, it always says that the directory list can't be obtained, of course you can always download something quick ftp client wise, or use the built in ftp.exe.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Download simpleserver from analogx.com, drop a folder onto its window, and it'll run a webserver with that as the root. You can get it to do directory listings if you modify some registry value (not sure why that's hidden)

Honestly, ftp should be dead simple. As mentioned, people can just use their browser. IE will even show folders that you can drag 'n drop. Leaving port 21 "open to the world" shouldn't be a problem whatsoever, as long as you're not allowing anonymous login.

Email?

 

[EeyoreX]

What about the dozens of P2P applications designed for things just like this? Believe it or not, they can be used legitimately and not just for pirating software/music/movies.

\Dan

 

[Nothinman]

And DOS ftp doesn't allow you to specify a port I don't think.

Yes it does, the problem is MS' lack of documentation that should explain things like that.

I do hate leaving port 21 open to the world.

You shouldn't run software you don't trust on any port and having the port open won't cause any problems as long as the software listening on it is secure.

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: McMadman
serv-u and ie has never worked for me, it always says that the directory list can't be obtained, of course you can always download something quick ftp client wise, or use the built in ftp.exe.

For Serv-U you also need to open port 20 as well as port 21... after that it should work...

 

[McMadman]

Originally posted by: BCYL

Originally posted by: McMadman
serv-u and ie has never worked for me, it always says that the directory list can't be obtained, of course you can always download something quick ftp client wise, or use the built in ftp.exe.

For Serv-U you also need to open port 20 as well as port 21... after that it should work...

That must be why it hasn't worked for me - I've attempted in places with a router, and it can't route the ftp data to the correct machine.

Of course, IE dosen't properly allow navigation between drive letters on the server anyways it tries to change drives to /c:/d:/ (personal account, default root is c:\ with read access to the other drive letters)

Although that really is more of a last resort as far as file transfer using IE as a client.