Box.com bulk transfer: Difference between revisions

From Cheaha
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 61: Line 61:
Filezilla on create times
Filezilla on create times
* request closed, no plans to fix: https://trac.filezilla-project.org/ticket/2347
* 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]


== lftp mirror -R example ==
== lftp mirror -R example ==

Revision as of 18:28, 16 December 2015

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.

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

# chop file into 4G pieces

split \
--bytes=4000m \
big_file.fastq.gz \
big_file.fastq.gz.split4g.

# record checksums of original and chunks

md5sum \
big_file.fastq.gz \
big_file.fastq.gz.split4g.* \
> big_file.fastq.gz.md5

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.

FTP client platform modification creation
SmartFTP GUI/Win Only/$$ yes can be enabled
lftp cmd_line/linux/free yes no
fileZilla GUI/linux+win/free can be enabled no
ftp_ssl cmd_line/linux/free yes no

Filezilla on create times

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]

lftp mirror -R example

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..

Interactive lftp

lftp ftp.box.com

> user BLAZERID@uab.edu users_BOX_external_password
> mirror --parallel=10 -R local_src_dir box_dest_dir


scripted lftp

cat > box_test.lftp << EOF

open ftp.box.com
user BLAZERID@uab.edu users_BOX_external_password
mirror --parallel=10 -R local_src_dir /box_dest_dir
EOF
chmod 700 box_test.lftp
lftp -f box_test.lftp ; echo lftp_RC=$?