Data transfer between unix and window

[heaman1]

We have unix and windows server in my network , some files will regularly transfer from windows to unix server , I know there are many methods can do that like , ftp , scp , or use samba mount etc , I think each method have their merit and disadvantage , can advise which method ( any kind of mothod is ok ) is the best one ?

[Sunny123_1]

Use SCP it is the best one.

Regards
Sunny

[Sunny123_1]

Hi Heaman1

Scp - secure copy between hosts. See more info and examples in following link.

http://acs.ucsd.edu/info/scp.shtml


# scp -p file hostb:/destination
#scp -p file remotehost or ip:/destination
You then see it copy and the % complete

Regards
Sunny

[avizen9]

Hello,
if you want secure transfer which is safe can use scp,
samba will be easy and user friendly also, but its not that much secure.

may refer below what are the advantages with scp, thanks
http://docs.hp.com/en/5992-4213/ch06.html

[Sajjad Sahir]

1. FTP
Unix FTP can be used to transfer files between PC's and Unix-based file servers. File transfer protocol (FTP) is the network protocol that is used to transfer the files from the PC to the Unix file server over TCP. The Unix file server will need to have an FTP server installed, and the PC will need to have an FTP client installed. The standard port for FTP communication is port 21.
2. SCP
SCP move files to or from your current location. It always uses binary mode. You can work as either the current user on the starting machine or a different user. It always asks for the user's password.

[Sajjad Sahir]

1. FTP
Unix FTP can be used to transfer files between PC's and Unix-based file servers. File transfer protocol (FTP) is the network protocol that is used to transfer the files from the PC to the Unix file server over TCP. The Unix file server will need to have an FTP server installed, and the PC will need to have an FTP client installed. The standard port for FTP communication is port 21.
2. SCP
SCP move files to or from your current location. It always uses binary mode. You can work as either the current user on the starting machine or a different user. It always asks for the user's password.


thanks and regards

Sajjad Sahir

[heaman1]

thx replies ,

I got many suggestions but I am not easy to decide to use what method , what my requirement is to complete the data transfer precisely , please ignore the security issue as the data is not sensitive , if I add this requirement , which method I should use ? thx

[avizen9]

then samba will be best option for you, thanks,

[Suraj K Sankari]

Hi,

If security is not an issue then you can use samba because after mount it will be like a windows machine just copy and peast files.

or

ftp also a easy to use you go for ftp also

Suraj

[subodhbagade]

Hi,

Apart from "ftp" get/put commands you can try following tool to copy the data from/to windows and unix server.

(1)filezilla
(2)winscp

This tool is easy to use, you can drag and drop the data easily also you can see how much % has been copied.

Regards
Subodh.

[OldSchool]

one thing to be aware of if you are dealing w/ plain text documents, is that the line terminators are different between unix and pcs.

ftp ascii mode transfers handle this, translating between the OSes for you, while the other methods don't. HPUX has ux2dos and dos2ux, so you can make the tranlations yourself.

another method to consider would be to install Windows Services for Unix (SFU), which includes NFS, allowing you to mount Windows shares on UNIX as well.

if it's a specific set of files that need ot be kept in sync, rsync is available for unix and windows.

As noted, there are many methods to accomplish this. as presented, the question is too broad to give you a single, specific "this is best" answer

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] which method [...] is the best one ?

Define "best".

[Mel Burslan]

If I am getting your requirement right, the keyword is "precisely" so you need to track if all files which need to be copied are copied and they copied right, is, what you need to know and be able to audit. Is that right ? For auditability of file transfers, none of the methods mentioned in this thread will help you or at least not without a lot of afterwards work.

If you need to show the logs to someone that files have been transferred to their destinations correctly and fully, you will need another solution like NDM, short for Network Data Mover, since then changed name to something I can not remember. It is available on almost all modern and non modern OS platforms. But it is not free. As a matter of fact their new licensing is pretty drastic what I heard. You might want to check into something like this.

[Rita C Workman]

Let's clarify...

Samba will give you the ability to access the SAME file from both UNIX and windows. Basically CIFS. It is not a copy of the file between servers - it is the same file that both platforms can access.

SCP is secured copy of a file to the remote server, i.e. now two copies of file. If set up properly, this could be an automated file copy (without password intervention), by setting up SSH certificate/keys properly.

FTP, same number of copies without anything encrypted/secured when transferred between servers. Password required, unless scripted with password included in script (very unsecure!).

So...YOU need to asses what you are trying to achieve and you must decide the best option. And remember, what is not important to be secured today - likely will include something tomorrow changing that rule. IT - everything always changes - so always plan for it before they ask for it.

Regards,
Rita

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] For auditability of file transfers,
> none of the methods mentioned in this
> thread will help you or at least not
> without a lot of afterwards work. [...]

Define "a lot".

Even using FTP, it should be possible, even
easy, to transfer a file, transfer it back,
and compare the result with the original.
That would seem to me to be pretty reliable
assurance that it got there intact.

There are also checksums, and many other
possibilities.

With no actual information on the amount of
stuff to transfer, the network speed, the
time requirements, the software available on
both systems, possible ways to access each
system, which system is pulling or pushing
the files, whether modification date-times
need to be preserved, and many, perhaps
dozens, of other mysteries, I hesitate to
waste my time suggesting any particular
method in detail.

[Taifur]

Hi,

Among scp, ftp, samba- scp is best because it is more secured for file transfer from one host to another host.

ftp is normal file transfer from one host to another host.

samba is easier for file transfer.

Rgds//
Taifur

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] please ignore the security issue as
> the data is not sensitive [...]

> [...] scp is best because it is more
> secured [...]

Sigh.

[avizen9]

i think better we should wait for heaman1 reply before giving any more suggestions :), thanks,