File Transfer Alternatives

Solution 1:

We use SFTP/SCP or rsync-over-SSH, but that depends on the client having the relevant client/server software at there end.

It goes as fast as out links will allow, with rsync interrupted transfers are restartable, and it is all nicely scriptable (assuming you know your bash/equivalent scripting and related tools) so things can be completely automated. You'll want to rent a server somewhere to host the files rather than transferring them direct from you to the client unless you have a 100Mbit pipe locally, but that won't be expensive unless you need significant SLAs (remember to use encrypted filesystems and other such precautions if the information is sensitive, or course).

This is bit of a DIY solution though. If you are looking for something that presents itself with a friendlier face to your clients (something akin to dropbox for example) then you'll need to add some details about what sort of thing you are looking for to your question so you get relevant answers. Remember that most of use won't have used Aspera so won't be familiar with it, and even those that do use it won't know which features you find particularly useful (and which are no concern to you) if you don't list them.

Edit:

This tool was recently on HN (here), which looks like it might be worth you investigating if you do have a fat outgoing connection. Obviously you'll have to look into the security side of things, such as keeping your clients separate from each other by some means (as it seems geared around synchronising personal files between locations, rather than sharing them with clients). Caveat: I've not tried it at all myself as yet.

Solution 2:

Have you considered other commercial accelerated file transfer solutions?

Take a look at FileCatalyst www.filecatalyst.com it will give you the same speed advantage at a more affordable cost.

You could also look at Signiant on the commercial front.

On the open source side there are also a few options. UDT, Tsunami, GridFTP are all possible options. Also take a look at UFTP as well. I think the problem with these solutions will be the fact that you are dealing with non-technical end users. Perhaps with some scripting and one of those products running in the background you could create a working solutions.

On my blog, I compiled a comparison of all the open source file transfer products and I tried to identify which one will work best in certain situations (ex: high bandwidth, high latency scenario etc)

Here is the link to the blog article: http://www.filecatalyst.com/open-source-fast-file-transfers

John

note: This user is an employee of FileCatalyst.