Hello, this question will be somewhat vague as my knowledge in the area is even more vague.

Essentially i have a website for my buisness, and i have a need for clients to share very large video files with me. Id like to setup a means for my customers to register a login, upload thier video, download stuff i put there, and allow me to download customers files.

This has to be done in such a way that customers can upload thier file to my "box" but not see other files, so i can see all the files placed in my box, and so that each customer has thier own box for me to place things in exclusively for them.

Im sure this is a complicated question, but what would it take to setup a "drop box" scenario like this. Is it possible to "host" this from my computer, somehow set it up as a server? If not or if its easier/better is it possible to set this up with my host/a host.

Id like the registration process and login to take place on my site, after that if it needs to redirect the person thats fine...but for the customer id like to keep it web based without them needing to download any programs.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, i apreciate any and all help.

All very possible.

How, will depend entirely on what server technology you are hosted on and what server side code it supports.

With a little more pokeing around i think i found the best option for me, and it may work for the majority of people looking for the same solution.

Its a program called 'Easy File Sharing Web Server'
http://www.sharing-file.com/

Its simple, easy to use, and free to try. I will be further testing it tommorrow and if all goes well i will most likely purchase it, although im not sure which package i will get.

I coupled this with setting up a free account with DynDNS, basically a site that mask's your computers IP address into a domain name (URL). Then on your site you can just create a link to it or tell customers to goto urdomain.example and it will redirect them to this site.

What Easy File Sharing WebServer does is set up a web server on your local computer, and prodcasts the file sharing service accessible by your ip or domain name.

You can control users rights, what they see and access, even if they set up the account.

I elected to personally set up each account myself. This way i can keep things orangized and only activate the account after i get a work order.

Its about as close as i could get to where i wana be without hiring someone to do it for me.

I think the max size per file transfer is 4GB, its stored locally on your computer...ill let people know how my tests go in the next few days.

How about an easier solution: For each of your clients, set up an own limited FTP account on your server, where they can upload the video files and you are able to download them from there.

If you wish to get notified for new uploads by e-mail, there are some nice tricks possible using a shell or Perl script (considering you have root access on your server).


This is a simple and secure setup.

Originally Posted by tobias

How about an easier solution: For each of your clients, set up an own limited FTP account on your server, where they can upload the video files and you are able to download them from there.

Yup tobias nailed it, and its free and you have all the software you already need most likely

Originally Posted by siberia77

Yup tobias nailed it, and its free and you have all the software you already need most likely

Mainly because i dont currently have an ftp server, nor do i want to pay for one at this point unless your telling me that there are ftp hosts out there that provide that for free...

This program has so far done everything i need it to do...while i have been using a trial version the full version is uner 100 bux for the best version.

Also i found out that the file limit of 4.2Gb is limited by Internet Explorer but browsers such as firefox do not have a file upload/download limit.

Ive tested it many time using a 10mb file transfering it back and forth with friends over the internet...no problems and the interface resembles that of the windows explorer (folders and files).

For now it should do what i need and in the future i may go with an ftp server if the cost of doing that isnt great.