linux newby

[Linux for blind general discussion]

So, would I have to create a link to every folder/sub-folder/file


-----Original Message-----
From: blinux-list-bounces at redhat.com [mailto:blinux-list-bounces at redhat.com]
On Behalf Of Linux for blind general discussion
Sent: December 6, 2017 07:11 PM
To: blinux-list at redhat.com
Subject: Re: linux newby

(Tim again)
If they're not sending files to you, then a web-server would likely be
easier and more secure, assuming your ISP doesn't block port 80/443 on your
machine.

If you want to limit it with a password, it's slightly more complex (as you
have to manage the users/passwords, and decide which directories you want to
be public vs. protected) but it's not too bad.

Apache, nginx, or Lighttpd would make a good web server and there are lots
of good docs to get you started.  All three are readily available in package
managers and provide out-of-the-box support for basic HTTP authentication if
you want to make a subset of your files private.
If you don't know much about any of them, I'd nudge you towards nginx as
it's lighter weight than Apache, but better supported (i.e., more
documentation around) than lighttpd.  That said, they're all more than
sufficient for your needs.

Additionally, you can use this server for any other web content if you feel
so inspired (say, you want to run a blog).

The good thing is, it doesn't cost anything to try setting up a web server,
and if it doesn't work out, you can still fall back to SFTP or plain old
FTP.

-tim

On December  6, 2017, Linux for blind general discussion wrote:
> I have a small amount of users in my family who I wish to have access 
> to my books, movies and audio files.  I have been mixed on whether I 
> should set up an SFTP or a web server. I don't know which would be 
> easiest.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blinux-list-bounces at redhat.com
> [mailto:blinux-list-bounces at redhat.com] On Behalf Of Linux for blind 
> general discussion Sent: December 6, 2017 07:30 AM
> To: blinux-list at redhat.com
> Subject: Re: linux newby
> 
> (Tim here, reply below)
> 
> On December  6, 2017, Linux for blind general discussion wrote:
> > I am learning how to use debian linux. Where can I find a good 
> > tutorial that will help me eventually set up an ftp server?
> 
> Depends on what you plan to use your FTP server for.  If it's just 
> internal on your network, it's pretty easy to do, setting up something 
> like vsftpd. If you plan to expose it externally, it may take jumping 
> through a few hoops:
> 
> - Unless it's only for anonymous access/download, you'll need to
>   establish users. And FTP credentials are sent across the wire in
>   plaintext making them pretty insecure
> 
> - if you have users, you likely need to fiddle with settings to
>   ensure their personal stuff stays private while public stuff
>   remains public
> 
> - If you're behind a NAT router (like most home routers), you'll have 
> to mess with your NAT settings to allow the external ports to be 
> redirected to your internal FTP machine
> 
> - you have to deal with "active" vs. "passive" connection issues
> 
> 
> In short, if you're setting up just an anonymous FTP site for people 
> to download from and are directly attached to the internet (rather 
> than behind a NAT router), it will be easiest.  Diverging from any of 
> those elements introduces more and more pain.
> 
> As such, I strongly recommend SFTP (part of the standard SSH/SCP/SFTP 
> suite that comes with most Linux/BSD/Mac boxes, and freely available 
> from the makers of Putty) which allows system users, can be locked 
> down to just SFTP (instead of full shell access), and all credentials 
> and file contents are encrypted instead of transmitted in plain-text.
> 
> But if you want the pain and have more details on the above variants, 
> I'd be glad to write up a getting-started guide.
> 
> -tim
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list at redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list at redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list

_______________________________________________
Blinux-list mailing list
Blinux-list at redhat.com
https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list