#pragma section-numbers off

This is the chapter of the MemberManual that describes how to transfer files to your home directory, which is kept in an AFS volume.

[[TableOfContents]]

= Using rsync =
`rsync`, coupled with the ssh "shell", is capable of providing file transfers to our servers.  `rsync` is a great way to intelligently synchronize files between computer systems.

Here is an example.  It copies the contents of `~/Maildir` from fyodor to mire, assuming that it is run from fyodor.  It will overwrite any existing files on mire which are also present on fyodor, but it will not delete files which are present on mire and not fyodor.
{{{
rsync -azr -e ssh --no-g --progress --verbose ~/Maildir/ mire.hcoop.net:Maildir/
}}}

Note the `--no-g` switch.  This is important: AFS has no need for groups, since it has ACLs, and will reject attempts to change the group permission by non-admin users.

Be very careful to include the trailing slash on both the source and destination paths.  `rsync` is very picky about that.

`rsync` has many different options available -- consult its man page for further details.

= Using scp and sftp =
If you are interested in transferring a file or directory just once, then `rsync` may not be what you want -- `scp` and `sftp` are better at transferring individual files or directories.   They will not intelligently merge two directory trees like `rsync` does.  See the [:/ScpAndSftp:scp and sftp] subpage to learn how these tools may be utilized.

= Using ftp =
With SSL-enabled FTP, you may transfer files to the `hcoop.net` host on the standard port (21).  On Unix, installing the `ftp-ssl` package should suffice.  For Windows users, we recommend [http://filezilla.sf.net FileZilla].  We do not enable normal (non-SSL) FTP, because it sends login credentials in the clear.

= Mounting AFS on your local system =
See the [:/OpenAFS:OpenAFS] subpage to learn how to install the right client software so that you can manage files, edit files, and more, from the comfort of your own machine.

If you're not familiar with OpenAFS, it is a cross-platform software package that allows you to access and manipulate files remotely using most any software installed on your machine.    AFS allows remote filesystems to be mounted as if they are local.  Because of this, it is now possible that you will never need to start an ssh session just to manipulate files.