I need to know that someone has downloaded a File.

[Pinza]

I have over 60 files that I need to get to my Office but they are too big to e-mail and I do not want to create an on-line storage area, I want to use my own Web Space.

Is there a way to log the fact that someone has downloaded the file.?

I have put files on my space before and then when I take them down 3 or 4 weeks later they call me and say that they have not downloaded them yet, so I have to upload again and so on.

All ideas welcomed.

[Tezster]

Is it a requirement that the data can only be accessed remotely i.e. can't you simply copy/burn everything onto a flash drive or dvd and bring it with you to the office, then have it hosted on your office network?

Otherwise, you could setup a temporary FTP site on your home PC using freely available software, enable logging of all sessions, and simply supply the proper credentials to the individuals which need access to it. Note that depending on the speed of your upstream internet connection at home (relatively slow from a business standpoint), and the number of people that will accessing the data, this may not be a practical option.

[Wayne]

What do you mean by "my own Web Space"? Is this web hosting done by your ISP? Are you running a web server on your home PC? Is this an external web hosting site that you have bought? The ability to log downloads will depend on the answer to the above question and on the hosting software - some will be able to do this and some won't.

But if your issue is just taking your own files to your office then why not buy a USB memory key or an external hard drive?

But when you say "they call me and say that they have not downloaded them yet" then that leads me to think that you are trying to send files to someone else. Which is it? Are you trying to take large files to your office? Or are you trying to send someone else large files?

[hugh]

If you have a GMAIL acct you can upload the files to Google Docs and then invite users to download. (by giving them permission then when they accept, they can't say they never received your email)

Each file can be up to 250MB and you get 1GB of free storage space. I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't someway to monitor downloads.

[Wayne]

And if you are talking really big files you could create a private torrent. Google it to find out how.

[dabell]

You can use Sugarsync - primarily for backup of data but you can share out folders as well and have be emailed when the files are accessed. Not a free solution however it does solve backup issues as well.

[Pinza]

Tezster;

Is it a requirement that the data can only be accessed remotely i.e. can't you simply copy/burn everything onto a flash drive or dvd and bring it with you to the office, then have it hosted on your office network?

I am still working on the data files, will be for another 2 days, at that point I will be 200kms from the Office, my Manager wants access to this data at 7am on Sunday morning. So a USB drive will not work.

you could setup a temporary FTP site on your home PC

I will not be home, I might not even have internet access after about 4pm on Saturday.

Wayne;

external web hosting site that you have bought?

Yes it is.

then that leads me to think that you are trying to send files to someone else. Which is it? Are you trying to take large files to your office? Or are you trying to send someone else large files?

Yes I am trying to get them to someone else, someone who is in the Office. I will not be able to TAKE them to the Office.

really big files you could create a private torrent.

I have done this before, the only problem here is the main recipient, my Manager, is almost Computer illiterate. Even a link in an e-mail was a challenge for him, in the past.

dabell;

You can use Sugarsync

I don't think it is my answer here, but I will file this away as you never know.

Hugh;

If you have a GMAIL acct you can upload the files to Google Docs

I do use GMail, I had forgotten about Google Docs. I will look into this, thanks.

[Wayne]

You could also use Microsoft Live Mesh. This syncs files between different PCs over the internet. And another Microsoft service that might work is SkyDrive. They are both types of Cloud computing apps.

[Nuje]

Best $0 I've ever spent: 2GB of storage on Dropbox.com

Your "dropbox" folder is mirrored on every computer on which you have Dropbox installed/setup. Or, you can simply drag any file into your PUBLIC folder and then right-click/COPY LINK - email that link to anyone so they can download the file.

Dropbox also tracks changes (3 days, I think), so if you make a change then decide you want the version you had yesterday - it's there.

Like I said, 2GB free; 25GB is $10/month or so.

[markf]

If you're both on Windows - I think it now works with Mac too- Live Mesh is a good option. You upload the files to your Live Mesh Desktop, from there you can share with someone else - the only thing is that they need Live Mesh on their computer.

Google Docs now allows you to share non-Google docs in your 1 GB space - haven't looked too much into that yet - if you have more than 1 GB, space is fairly cheap too. Unfortunately there is a 250 MB per file cap, so large video files are out of the question.

Not a huge fan of Dropbox. Read their terms and conditions - they have perpetual rights to anything you put in your Public folder - not too sure if I'm comfortable with that.

[d2e8b8]

Couldn't you zip and send 60 separate emails?

You have mentioned work files but not what kind - if there's any information that includes customer information and such then there could be privacy concerns. You'd need to review your company's privacy policies.

Actually, email would also be a privacy concern unless you encrypt.

[Pinza]

Well, thanks for all the suggestions.

In the end he decided he does not need these files now until Wednesday, so I will just burn a CD.

Thanks anyway guys & gals.