File Transfer With Win_SCP (on campus)
In order to transfer files from your local computer (the one you’re working on now) to the server (your Web Space or P:/ drive, etc.) you need to complete the “File Transfer” process.
This can be done in a number of ways. The oldest method is called “Command Line FTP” but that can be cumbersome and present security risks. Currently, there are many different software packages that will handle the file transfer functions. A popular one is called WS_FTP, and is available from AU Install
(http://www.auburn.edu/oit/hardware_software/auinstall/). It does not handle secure file transfer, though, so the EDMD courses and the IT department in the College of Education has installed a different software in the computer classrooms, Win_SCP. This is also available to download from AU Install. Please note, if you are downloading from home, you’ll need to log in via the VPN in order for AU Install to authenticate that you are an AU Student. If you have trouble using AU Install, please contact the Help Desk (844-4944) or browse the help files on the OIT website
(http://www.auburn.edu/oit/index.php).
Launching Win_SCP
Win_SCP can be found in the Start/All Programs/Win SCP directory. It may also be a shortcut on the desktop. The icon looks like this:
Double click the icon if it’s on the desktop, otherwise, single click it to select it from the menus.
Once launched, Win_SCP will display the “WinSCP Login” dialog box:
1. The “Host” is the name of the server where you’d like your files to go. For use on the AU campus you’ll need to enter:
mallard.duc.auburn.edu
2. This is your username. 3. This is your password.
When you type it you will see ******** rather than the password.
Navigating Win_SCP
Once you’ve logged in to Win_SCP, you’ll see the file transfer environment.
1. This is location (folder/directory) of where SCP is “looking” on your local computer. The local computer is the one you are sitting in front of when you type.
2. This is the address of the specific folder/directory that is being displayed in the window.
3. This is the window that displays the contents of the folder listed in #2. Note the folder at the very top of the list with the upward pointing arrow. Double
clicking on this folder will cause you to navigate back to a previous level of folders. In the case illustrated above, that would cause you to move from the “My Documents” folder to the “wolfsa1” folder.
4. This is the location (folder/directory) of where SCP is “looking” on the remote computer. This should correspond with your username, as that is how you logged in.
5. This is the specific address of the space allotted to you on the server. 6. This is the window that displays the content of your server space. Note the
presence of the folder/directory with the title “public_html”. This folder is where all files that will be visible on the web will be placed.
7. This is the column that displays the “Rights” or “permissions” of each file and directory. It is important to understand how these work, or your files will not be visible. They will be discussed in detail later in this document.
To navigate to or from folders, double click on the appropriate icon. To select a file or folder, single click on it. To select multiple items use the shift+click or ctrl+click options as appropriate.
Transferring Files
The file transfer process does not move a file from one location to another. Rather, it makes a copy of the desired file to move. Your original file will remain on your local computer.
The following images and explanations illustrate the steps needed to successfully transfer files from your local computer to the server and to change the permissions of those files so that they are visible to others via the Internet.
1. Navigate to the public_html directory on the remote server.
From the initial log in screen, double click on the “public_html” folder. You’ll know you’ve done this correctly if the right side of your window looks like this:
Note that the address has changed. You will now see “public_html” at the end of it. In the illustration above, you also see a long list of folders/directories. You may or may not see a similar list when you complete this step. The more files you upload, however, the more files and/or directories you’ll see appear over time.
You’ll know that you’ve done this successfully if your window looks similar to this:
1. The specific location where your file will go. There may be different directory names at the end if you’ve dragged your file into a folder.
2. The check box to change permissions of the file. 3. The “Copy” button. This
is the button to click when you’re certain the file is going into the correct folder/directory. 4. Click the copy button when you want the file to transfer to the remote
computer. The file will appear on the right side of your window, in alphabetical order. If you don’t see your file right away, you may have to use the scroll bar to locate it.
In the illustration above, note that: 1) is the original file; 2) is the copy of the file on the remote server; 3) is the description of the permissions of that file, and 4) is the scroll bar indicating that the file was closer to the bottom of the list than the top.
Changing File Permissions to Make Them Viewable
In order to change the permissions of a file, first select the file, then click the “F9 Permissions” button (or simply press the F9 key on your keyboard). You’ll know you’ve done this correctly if a faint dotted line appeared around your desired file when you clicked it, and this dialog box is displayed (the dotted line will disappear when the dialog box appears):
1. Click in each of the “R” checkboxes for the “Group” and “Others” rows. This will tell SCP to change the permissions to let people other than yourself see your files. Do not make changes to any other checkboxes or information in this dialog box.
2. Click the “OK” button.
You’ll know you’ve done this successfully if the “Rights” column for your desired file reads “rw-r- -r- -“.
Viewing Transferred Files
In order to verify that you’ve properly transferred your desired files you should have someone using a different computer than you are right now attempt to view the files online. The beginning part of the address for the file will be:
