this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2025
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I’ve got a server, a friends got a server, what’s the best way to share stuff between the two?

top 38 comments
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[–] sns@lemmy.dbzer0.com 53 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Station wagon full of tapes.

[–] non_burglar@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

I don't know... I'm skeptical of its bandwidth.

[–] darkreader2636@lemmy.zip 14 points 2 days ago

You can't beat the bandwidth and reliabilty of mailed ssd's

[–] mike_wooskey@lemmy.thewooskeys.com 19 points 2 days ago (2 children)

If you're wanting to share all files, many of the methods already mentioned work well. If you're wanting to share specific files, CopyParty is a good way to go.

[–] N0x0n@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 hours ago

The documentation gives me yt-dlp PTSD 😶

[–] 48954246@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Absolutely this OP. Have a quick watch of the feature showcase video and you will see just how perfect this is for your needs

[–] cannedtuna@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Yeah this right here looks exactly what I was looking for.

Been transferring files for sometime over a Wireguard connection, but it’s a bit of a pain to use so I’ve been looking for something better.

Appreciate the tip @mike_wooskey@lemmy.thewooskeys.com

[–] undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch 27 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Surprised no one just said Samba or NFS over a tunnel (Tailscale, WireGuard, etc).

Or by “sharing” do you mean keeping files synced between the two for replication?

[–] AuroraZzz@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Using a tunnel is definitely the way to go and very easy to set up. Please don't share over https if you don't know what you are doing

[–] undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch 2 points 2 days ago

Even worse, don’t use the suggested Samba, NFS without a tunnel either! You should probably have the default ports blocked at the router.

[–] JoeKrogan@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

If you want a quick and easy way to share the odd file you could set up a syncthing shared folder and COPY things in to it that you want to share. When the other side MOVES them out of the shared folder they will be removed from the shared folder on your side.

The advantage of this is security. No access is given to your system. If your friends box is compromised you dont have an nfs mount or ssh key on their machine. The worst that can be done to you is copies in the shared folder are removed or malicious files are placed in the shared folder but they wont be able to execute.

You also dont need to open any ports for syncthing , it will use relays if it cant make a direct connection.

[–] drkt_@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 2 days ago

Exposing it over HTTP ensures all can access, but that's my best solution. I don't know what your intentions are, or what your pain-points are, or what you're willing to deal with, or what your data is and if it poses a risk to you personally to have it exposed.

[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

Get 'em in the same room together, put on some Barry White, and let the magic happen.

[–] irmadlad@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Just a feeling I get, but open directories and hoarders are going to become more popular.

[–] cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

SFTP or WebDAV would work.

[–] RamRabbit@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

Yeah, forwarding a port to a server with SFTP allows you both to have two-way links. Have done this with some of my friends as well.

Sneakernet via a HDD is also damn helpful for initial bulk transfers.

[–] randombullet@programming.dev 12 points 2 days ago

We use Tailscale to share between accounts.

But for large transfers I use an encrypted HDD.

[–] boletus@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 days ago

Sync thing has been great and convenient for me. Use tailscale, zero tier or just raw wire guard to see each other

[–] aichan@piefed.blahaj.zone 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

LAN party!! You have the optimal excuse to make one happen ;)

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

May as well crack out DC++ and start heading your files.

[–] testfactor@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago
[–] goatinspace@feddit.org 2 points 2 days ago

Maybe not the best place to ask but, who's down for similar? The how can be discussed

[–] mesamunefire@piefed.social 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Flash drive in person.

They take what they want, you do the same. Boom both are better off.

[–] Hello_there@fedia.io 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Export the titles of files and ask them to pick then mail a 1tb USB drive back and forth

[–] RheumatoidArthritis@mander.xyz 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Or just meet and maintain that friendship

[–] lps2@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

Depends how close they are. Most of my friends (that are into self-hosting and collecting Linux ISOs) are across the country / world. So mailing encrypted SSDs works best for large transfers and nextcloud for small transfers

[–] NutinButNet@hilariouschaos.com 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

SFTP has been mentioned and is a good choice but this could also be done over torrents too. It’s the other most common legal use besides Linux distros.

[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 days ago

For large volumes of data, nothing beats shipping a large external drive (with a fast interface) from location to location.

You could also set up a jellyfin (for media) or gameyfin (for games) container, expose that to the internet and give them credentials.

[–] 4am@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago

If you want to run a mirror, rsync over ssh is one of the simplest ways.

[–] Unsealed9041@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days ago

You could do tailscale shared nodes and share just your jellyfin servers that way.

[–] 7U5K3N@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 days ago

You could set up a tunnel between the two.. a job that rsyncs a folder to the other server automatically when something is added.

Just a thought.

[–] Antagnostic@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] droolio@feddit.uk 4 points 2 days ago

FXP

Oh wow, there's a name I ain't heard in a while.

[–] determinist@kbin.earth 2 points 2 days ago

@cannedtuna@lemmy.world

Messenger Pigeons.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 1 points 2 days ago

Define share?

Keep all files in sync between two points?

Enable ad-hoc access to all files, or a subset?

[–] JoeBidet@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago