A Simple, Secure App for filesharing on my online Server?

May 15, 2007 12:47 PM

Is there a simple, secure (open source preferably) application I can set-up on my server (dreamhost) to allow my parents a simple password protected webpage they can download (simple right click) the pictures and kids' films I make?

I have searched here but really don't know the correct terminology. I tried eyeOS but it is slow. I am no expert with php but have installed several CMS apps on other domains.

Anyone know of something simple and secure?

posted by thedoctorpants to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

Best answer: Why not just use .htaccess?

If you're using cpanel, there's a button to create a password protected page...which it does using .htaccess.
posted by TomMelee at 12:52 PM on May 15, 2007

Best answer: As TomMelee says, this is a builtin feature of your webserver. See the Dreamhost documentation or just dive right in (it's under Goodies/htaccess in your panel).
posted by caek at 12:56 PM on May 15, 2007

Response by poster: So I can adjust it with the htaacess. Is that difficult? Remember I do not know php..
posted by thedoctorpants at 1:00 PM on May 15, 2007

Response by poster: I just looked and this may be what I need. I found file thingie too. I will give those ideas a try.. Many thanks!!!
posted by thedoctorpants at 1:02 PM on May 15, 2007

Dreamhost does one-click installs of Gallery. It is easy to use, and also will look a bit nicer than just a directory listing of files.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:08 PM on May 15, 2007

It doesn't seem as if you need to bother with passwords. This is a case where "security through obscurity" is probably good enough. Just create a web page (or directory) with an unusual name, tell your parents about it, tell them not to tell anyone else, and don't link to it yourself.

Then search engines won't find it and no one else will, either.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 2:14 PM on May 15, 2007

Use the One-Click install of Gallery. It's easy, free, and looks decent. You can make user accounts for them, too.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 4:47 PM on May 15, 2007

try file browser. just drop it in the folder you want stuff displayed in and it displays - no fuss. it'll display anything from movies to documents. it reads subdirectories and can be skinned if you know CSS. Gallery is good, but if youre talking S-I-M-P-L-E, file browser is the simplest.
posted by Davaal at 5:39 PM on May 15, 2007