Large files, and I mean from hundreds of GB to terrabytes I use https://www.filemail.com/. Their desktop app uses UDP, so it is a lot faster than TCP based protocols like FTP and HTTP. Yeah you can still use their website to send stuff, and if small in size, free anyway for up to 50 GB.
Ask HN: What is your favorite method of sending large files?
301–310 of 363 posts
Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite method of sending large files?
#302Earlier quoted context omitted.
WebTorrent [1] can be used to run BitTorrent on the web. It's actually integrated into the Brave browser which is a nice feature. Other browsers might catch on soon. [1] https://webtorrent.io/
Caution: Don't open this page on a metered connection, immediately starts downloading a 130MB movie file.
Ouch, I understand that it demoes their solution, but with the autoplay that's very insensitive.
Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite method of sending large files?
#303Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite method of sending large files?
#304scp to one one of my unrelated websites and send http-link.
Remove file afterwards... #notperfect.
Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite method of sending large files?
#305Earlier quoted context omitted.
10TB, local or Internet: Physical Hard Drive. Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of backup tapes! In Poland there is an option to send package via train for 8$. Just go to station and give package to conductor/train guard, few hours later receiver can get it at destination station. Sending HDDs full of raw video footage this way is very popular among video editors here.
Oh that's fantastic - do you know how many packages they take? How does the receiver know when their package is coming? (other than the train timetable)
do you know how many packages they take?
As many as can safely fit into conductor's compartment. They can refuse to take package if it would get train delayed - so better have exact amount of cash because card readers on trains are extremely slow.
How does the receiver know when their package is coming? (other than the train timetable)
Train timetable only. For most trains delay information is published on operator's website. Delays are rare, except holiday season.
If receiver misses their package it goes to closest warehouse, then receiver is called and can request delivery by another train, but needs to pay another 4$ on pick-up (plus fee for every day package spends in warehouse).
Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite method of sending large files?
#306Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite method of sending large files?
#307Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sometimes I wonder if the bad connotation due to piracy made this protocol not standard (in a sense, that's not widely adopted, and people need dedicated clients, instead of it working for example in browsers). I don't know enough, maybe it has security issues, or some limits... but the fact is that it's still widely used, by tech literate people, so it still stands the test of time and it must be doing something rig…
BitTorrent didn't catch on simply because there aren't very many actual use cases for it. The majority of P2P content distribution will always be illegal (due to the nature of copyright), and so the client-server model is much more representative of the real world. It is technologically pretty neat though, and some publishers do actually use the protocol for things like software updates.
Not very many use cases??
Except for: - updates of software. - distribution of public video files. - distribution of install images. - distribution of raw public measurements (ea science data).
Basically BitTorrent is the protocol for any usecase with 1:n (or n:n) with public data (ea. No data access controle is needed).
Copyright has nothing to do with it and the nature of BitTorrent does make it also a good fit for some pirates.
Never forget that the following is shared over BitTorrent: - World of Warcraft updates. - Linux distribution install images. - haveibeenpowned sha lists.
And that’s just what I personally know. I know there is more.
Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite method of sending large files?
#308Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am working on a tool that will help with this. It is built with AlpineJS, Nim, Aria2 and Webview resulting in a 5MB download which doesn't include the torrent file as that varies. The idea is that it is a one click solution as the torrent is embedded with the binary. The inspiration for this tool is for assist with LAN parties. The one thing I have against the private flag is that it also disables LAN peer discover…
Why not use Syncthing or Resilio Sync for LAN parties?
Because it is a pain to setup for non tech folks.
Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite method of sending large files?
#309In person.
If it's not possible to share in person I point them to the place where I myself got it.
Re: Ask HN: What is your favorite method of sending large files?
#310When I'm the sender, I use an http server in the current directory using http-Server (node) or http.server (python 3).
When I'm the receiver, I'm using a self-written CLI tool "send me a file" (smaf): https://github.com/nikeee/send-me-a-file
It basically opens up an http server on my machine and let's a user upload a file via curl or a web interface. It also computes a sha256 hash while receiving.
These methods only work on a local network. I use my VPS and sftp/http for transfers descending the local network.