Box.com bulk transfer

UAB has an Enterprise contract with Box.com, which is currently in BETA.

This page describes what we have learned about doing bulk-transfers of data.

Warning: size limitations
Box.com claims to have a 5G max filesize limit
 * Now 15G max filesize (2/18/016; private email), but "that file size limit is still considered to be in a beta phase"

There was a rumor this would be increased in early 2016. Offically, this is all we know: https://community.box.com/t5/Managing-Your-Content/What-s-the-maximum-file-size-I-can-upload/ta-p/307

If you need to work around this, you can use the Linux "split" utility

Warning: time stamps
When using an FTP client to transfer data up, it is easy to lose both modification and creation timestamps. In particular, many clients will (optionally) preserve modification time, but few will (optionally) preserve creation date.

Filezilla on create times
 * request closed, no plans to fix: https://trac.filezilla-project.org/ticket/2347

Warning: Shared-to-you folders can't be moved
If someone creates a folder and shares it to you (as an reader, editor, co-owner, etc), it will live in your top level directory, and you will NOT be able to move it into any subfolder.

"Currently, users can't rearrange their own view of folders they are invited to collaborate within. As you note, when someone invites you to collaborate in a folder that you have never had access to before, you will see that folder on your root level." [box.com]

Workaround: if your collaborator makes you the full owner of the folder, then you will be able to move it.

Fix timeframe: "We've heard requests that people be able to rearrange their views before, and this is being considered as part of a larger product experience change next year" [box.com]

Rclone
Check out our YouTube video: Setting up rclone for Box.com file transfer to/from Cheaha

rclone config
Data Transfer Cheaha to BOX. In the terminal (inside the VNC session), load the module rclone module load rclone/1.48.0 The initial setup for Box involves getting a token from Box rclone config walks you through it. Here is an example of how to make a remote called remote. First run: rclone config This will guide you through an interactive setup process: No remotes found - make a new one n) New remote s) Set configuration password q) Quit config n/s/q> n name> remote Type of storage to configure. Choose a number from below, or type in your own value [snip] XX / Box   \ "box" [snip] Storage> box Box App Client Id - leave blank normally. client_id>  Box App Client Secret - leave blank normally. client_secret>  Edit advanced config? (y/n) y) Yes n) No y/n> n Remote config Use auto config? * Say Y if not sure  * Say N if you are working on a remote or headless machine y) Yes n) No y/n> y If your browser doesn't open automatically go to the following link: http://127.0.0.1:53682/auth Log in and authorize rclone for access Waiting for code... Got code [remote] client_id = client_secret =  token = {"access_token":"XXX","token_type":"bearer","refresh_token":"XXX","expiry":"XXX"} y) Yes this is OK e) Edit this remote d) Delete this remote y/e/d> y

rclone ls
List the objects in the path with size and path. rclone ls remote:path [flags] -h, --help  help for ls

Note that ls and lsl recurse by default - use “--max-depth 1” to stop the recursion. There are several options related list commands
 * ls to list size and path of objects only
 * lsl to list modification time, size and path of objects only
 * lsd to list directories only

The commands do not recurse by default - use “-R” to make them recurse. Listing a nonexistent directory will produce an error.

rclone mkdir
Make the path if it doesn’t already exist. rclone mkdir remote:path [flags] -h, --help  help for mkdir

rclone copy
Copy files from source to dest, skipping already copied. Note: Use the -P/--progress flag to view real-time transfer statistics rclone copy source:sourcepath dest:destpath

rclone copy directory
Pending issue : https://github.com/rclone/rclone/issues/1228 Work around solution rclone copy source:sourcepath "dest:DIR" DIR when passed as a variable creates a remote directory

rclone delete
Remove the contents of path. rclone delete only deletes objects but leaves the directory structure alone. If you want to delete a directory and all of its contents use rclone purge rclone delete remote:path [flags] -h, --help  help for delete

rclone purge
Remove the path and all of its contents. rclone purge remote:path [flags] -h, --help  help for purge

lftp mirror -R examples (UPload)
lftp mirror
 * "mirror" copies directory hierarchies DOWN from box.com to local
 * "mirror -R" copies directory hierarchies UP from local to box.com

error handling
 * the box server frequently looses connection (fails) on particular files
 * just re-run the "mirror -R" and it will upload only new/failed files..

Single-line lftp (non-shared box)
Warning: This one makes the password visible to "ps" so should only be used on personal machines

scripted lftp - externalize password
file ~/.netrc contains your box external password once (works for wget, lftp, etc)

then for each transfer, you create a local .lftp file w/o a password. Much more secure and easy to keep up to date.

scripted lftp
Arguments
 * --loop keep restarting until there are no new files left to download - helps if someone else is uploading to that directory while you're downloading it!
 * -v verbose level 1: includes bytes transferred and transfer speed.
 * --parallel=10 use 10 concurrent TCP/IP connections (much faster)

Issues to resolve
* we see our traffic randomly going over the commodity internet
 * Routing over Iternet2

Linux Support
Unfortunately, Box doesn't provide a Linux client (is it on the road map?).