jaxon_b
asked on
Sending Large Video Files
Over the next month we are going to have a field team of two people traveling the USA with video cameras doing interviews. The total data consists of roughly about half a tb. There are 100 interviews averaging about 5gigs per interview. I am looking for some insight on how to get the data back to our corporate site securely and efficiently since these are very big files. Please note they will be traveling to locations with poor internet speed and mailing the data back in not a option.
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What I would do is setup a private tracker at the mother ship and use the bittorrent protocol to upload the data.
It's amazingly resilient to bad internet connections. It will check every chunk of data as it comes in and immediately re-download bad pieces.
It's amazingly resilient to bad internet connections. It will check every chunk of data as it comes in and immediately re-download bad pieces.
ASKER
dan-We can send over the internet I just need a good resume feature with any service or apps since the internet speed can vary.
Then, as I was saying, use Bittorent protocol. Most Linux distros have the option to download their releases using a torrent.
You just need to setup the tracker on a server with a static IP. Then you let your field team create a new torrent with the interview, set your server's IP as the tracker, then leave the laptop open.
You can then download the file regardless of where they are. Just load the torrent file in your torrent client and you're set. It will take time, proportional to the field team's internet speed, and it will pause when they no longer have internet, then resume after.
No, torrents are not only for pron and warez :)
You just need to setup the tracker on a server with a static IP. Then you let your field team create a new torrent with the interview, set your server's IP as the tracker, then leave the laptop open.
You can then download the file regardless of where they are. Just load the torrent file in your torrent client and you're set. It will take time, proportional to the field team's internet speed, and it will pause when they no longer have internet, then resume after.
No, torrents are not only for pron and warez :)
I'd recommend BTSync, I'm using it to sync data between remote locations. Works great and easy to set up.
http://www.bittorrent.com/sync
http://www.bittorrent.com/sync
ASKER
My concern with BTSync is there business model
What do you mean by "business model"?
Is the security aspect the problem? The licensing? Privacy?
Is the security aspect the problem? The licensing? Privacy?
ASKER
Security, Licensing and privacy. Perception is everything. Bit torrent has a questionable name in our industry.
You can try the I suggested or Dropbox.
Bittorent is simply a protocol. A good one, for quickly transferring large files over the internet.
Yes, it has been used mainly for dubious files. But so was TCP/IP.
TCP/IP is the protocol that allows spam, viruses and NSA to enter your computer.
My point is that a protocol is independent of the content it carries.
Yes, it has been used mainly for dubious files. But so was TCP/IP.
TCP/IP is the protocol that allows spam, viruses and NSA to enter your computer.
My point is that a protocol is independent of the content it carries.
There are lots of online storage options now. I like the Amazon services which are quite cheap ( now 3 cents per GB per month for S3) and support by many clients which offer encryption, resume features and integrity checking.
Here's a couple of popular clients,
http://s3browser.com/
http://www.cloudberrylab.com/free-amazon-s3-explorer-cloudfront-IAM.aspx#
Typically large files will be broken up into smaller chunks and sent.
The big issue is how long it is going to take to actually send these files. You will probably have to do some research to find some locations where you can hang around for several hours at a time to do transfers. Maybe a hotel that does not throttle the crap out of internet service or offers a good upload speed paid option so you could get 1 full file out overnight.
Here's a calculator which will give you an idea of how long you are talking about,
http://www.ibeast.com/content/tools/band-calc.asp
A single 5 GB file will take quite a while - as in many hours in total - without access to a decent DSL or better service. The point being if the internet options are too crappy it is possibly completely impractical.
There is some pretty cool portable satellite gear but its quite expensive for anything that could actually upload a 5 GB file within a 24-48 hour period.
Cellular might be an option if there are some area's along the way that have decent cellular data service available. If you add a cellular booster kit the range/speed can be significantly improved. Just be wary of the data usage cost.
Here's a couple of popular clients,
http://s3browser.com/
http://www.cloudberrylab.com/free-amazon-s3-explorer-cloudfront-IAM.aspx#
Typically large files will be broken up into smaller chunks and sent.
The big issue is how long it is going to take to actually send these files. You will probably have to do some research to find some locations where you can hang around for several hours at a time to do transfers. Maybe a hotel that does not throttle the crap out of internet service or offers a good upload speed paid option so you could get 1 full file out overnight.
Here's a calculator which will give you an idea of how long you are talking about,
http://www.ibeast.com/content/tools/band-calc.asp
A single 5 GB file will take quite a while - as in many hours in total - without access to a decent DSL or better service. The point being if the internet options are too crappy it is possibly completely impractical.
There is some pretty cool portable satellite gear but its quite expensive for anything that could actually upload a 5 GB file within a 24-48 hour period.
Cellular might be an option if there are some area's along the way that have decent cellular data service available. If you add a cellular booster kit the range/speed can be significantly improved. Just be wary of the data usage cost.
Use PCFTP (pigeon courier file transfer protocol).
At the end of the day, put the camera memory card in a small envelope, strap to a pigeon and let it fly home to the office.
Fedex will work as well, maybe even plain snail mail.
Ask your logistics office to help you with arrangements.
This is small change compared to the cost of sending 2 people for a trip across the US.
At the end of the day, put the camera memory card in a small envelope, strap to a pigeon and let it fly home to the office.
Fedex will work as well, maybe even plain snail mail.
Ask your logistics office to help you with arrangements.
This is small change compared to the cost of sending 2 people for a trip across the US.
- you cannot send data physically back using a courier or post office
- you cannot send data through internet
Those 2 requirements pretty much guarantee that the way to get back the data is to wait for the interviewers to come home...