Transfer Files Between Linux & Other Computers Using Snapdrop
Through a browser-base operating system called "Snapdrop", transmissions of files and data from a Linux computer to anyother has become easy and super quick, with absolutely no involvement of "the cloud", the data remains inside personal network.
Files and Data transmission through a Linux computer to any other computer is possible in a number of ways. Transferring data and files to a computer with a different brand, means a dissimilar operating system displays an array of problems and requires immense effort to deal with. Most of the time you cannot mess with the changes of the other computer which ultimately ends up making one-off movements of files non-shareable. Operating up a Small Message Block (SAMBA) or Network File System (NFS) becomes unwarranted, which in the end becomes a headache in the movement of files.
While coming across these problems, people come up with a list of various solutions for the transformation of data that takes a lot of time, energy, and the internet. And that too does not give a long time and permanent solutions. Like the small files are sent through email which is much a slower process consuming double internet and efforts with risk of email not dealing likely with dangerous files attachments and binary executables.
Using a USB memory stick has the highest risk of viruses for both devices. Similarly uploading files and data in cloud storage, and then opening the cloud from another device and downloading data from there through the same cloud. This method takes a lot of time, double effort, and the internet with a risk of sensitive files getting stored in the storage of the cloud.
The most simple and easiest way to transfer files between different computers is “Snapdrop”. The most secure, fast, free, and highly helpful service for it.
Snapdrop
Snapdrop is a boasting system that provides its services with security and solace. It was released under the GNU GPL 3 License. Being an open-source project; it operates in the browser and makes data transformation possible within your own network. Course code and reviews are available online and are recommended to be read, for more surety and reliability.
Through the utilization of the Progressive Web Application and Web Real-Time Communications technologies, it makes the process fast as in:
- WebRTC lets processes running in browsers use peer-to-peer communication
- Traditional web application architecture requires the webserver to broker the communications between two browser sessions
- WebRTC removes that round-trip bottleneck
- It shortens the transmission times
- Increases the privacy and security of the data and PC
- It also encrypts the communication stream
How to use Snapdrop?
No signup, creating an account, login shit required for using Snapdrop. Simply open the Snapdrop website through a browser. There you will view a simple webpage with an icon made up of concentric circles at the bottom of the screen.
A name would be created by choosing a color and a type of animal and that would be assigned to the user. We are the Aqua Basilisk in this scenario. There would be much to do with us when another person connects.
However, they will be visible on your screen as soon as someone else on the same network opens the Snapdrop website. They would be displayed in the center of the screen. As more computers join, they will be displayed as a group of named icons.
The operating system and browser type are displayed for each connection. Sometimes, Snapdrop can recognize the Linux distribution a person is using. If it cannot, it uses a generic “Linux” label.
Click the computer’s icon or drag and drop a file from a file browser onto the icon to start a file transfer to another computer. A file selection dialog would appear as soon as you would click the icon.
Look for the location of the file that you wish to send and select it. Several files can be sent, by highlighting several of them at once. Click the “Open” button (located off-screen in our screenshot) and send the file. A “File Received” dialog box will appear on the destination computer which would let your receiver know that a file has been sent to them.
When they will save the file, a file browser will appear so that they can select where to save the file.
Check the “Ask for save each file before downloading” checkbox and set your downloading process with locations according to your choice.
Through a short message service, you can let the person know before sending the file. Secret identity would be hidden and once the message is delivered, it would appear on your screen as well for confirmation.
Android Snapdrop
Snapdrop is easily available on web apps but for a more convincing app can be downloaded on “Google Play Store”. Because of “AirDrop” in iPhones, Snapdrop is not available as an app but can easily be accessed through a browser.
Settings in Snapdrop:
For Settings, head over to the icons in the top-right corner of your browser or Android app. The bell icons for notifications would appear, which a user can choose according to his/her choice.
The moon icon deals with “on” and “off” dark modes. The lowercase ‘i’ gives options of the source code on GitHub, the donations page on PayPal for the app, a pre-formed tweet for Snapdrop that can be sent if wanted, and the (FAQ) page, Snapdrop Frequently Asked Questions.
