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31 Aug 2005, 09:41 AM | #1 | ||
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WEBDAV clients for use with FastMail file storage
Now that WEBDAV access to the file storage is available on FastMail, at least for playing (alpha testing) it's a good time to discuss the available options to use WEBDAV, i.e., the available client software we can use on our computers to access this feature (WEBDAV client software).
On LINUX: Konqueror people just type in webdav://dav.messagingengine.com/ or webdavs://dav.messagingengine.com/ for secure connection (haven't tried it myself(. On WINDOWS: Internet explorer can access Fastmail's webdav server. Just use https://dav.messagingengine.com/ and enter your username and fastmail. All you get are links to files and folders (and once I logged into one account it doesn't even ask me if I want perhaps to access another one). Windows XP has another way to access webdav: under "My network places" choose "add a network place" from "network tasks" and put the same URL (https://dav.messagingengine.com/) in the proper place where asked. This gives a better interface that allows file and folder dragging and dropping, double-clicking to open a file etc. I tried to use it to "save file" from an appliation but it failed (after asking me for username and password, despite the fact that it was open in another window and the username and password were supplied just a few seconds before. And then nothing happened, and I wasn't able to save the file) Some people claimed that there are problems with the WinXP built-in webdav client. Brong said: Quote:
Prognathous said: Quote:
Anyone has experience with any of the open source solutions? Anyone care to test any with the FastMail alpha server and share their experience? Anyone uses Mac? |
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31 Aug 2005, 10:38 AM | #2 |
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Windows DAV support is so frustrating. I wrote a fairly detailed report a while back here:
http://wiki.fastmail.fm/index.php/Fi...investigations I noted there that there were 2 completely separate DAV implementations, well it appears there's actually 3 if you include the one that comes with recent versions of Office. *sigh* Anyway, there appears to be 2 relatively solid ways to get DAV working in XP. The My Network Places method 1. Open the "My Network Places" icon on the desktop 2. Click the "Add a network place" link on the top left of the "My Network Places" window 3. Click "Next" and choose the "Choose another network location" option. Click "Next" 4. Enter "http://dav.messagingengine.com" or "https://dav.messagingengine.com" as the "Internet or network address". Click "Next" 5. Accept the security certificate 6. Enter your username/password. Click OK 7. Give it a name (eg My Files @ FastMail). Click "Next", click "Finish" And that should do it. You'll be able to move around directories like regular windows explorer, and copy, paste, drag and drop files. You won't be able to double-click most files to open them though. Generally office documents will work, but most others won't. The other option that we want to get working is the "net use" approach, which involves running a command like: net use * http://dav.messagingengine.com To map the network drive. This uses a different DAV dll internally which has better remote/local support, but unfortunately has it's own problems (eg no https, doesn't work without a trailing # which breaks us at the moment, etc). So basically for the moment if you use windows, either: 1. Use the "My Network Places" approach above 2. Use a third party client like: a) webdrive (see above) b) novell netdrive (see above) c) DAV Explorer (Java - http://www.ics.uci.edu/~webdav/) Some interesting comments available here: http://svkbook.elixus.org/nightly/en...v.clients.html Rob |
31 Aug 2005, 03:30 PM | #3 |
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Mac users can connect by opening a Finder window, choosing 'Connect to Server' from the Go menu, and entering http://dav.messagingengine.com and their email address and password, when prompted. Unfortunately, OS X doesn't support WebDav through https, so the connection is not secure with this method.
For a secure connection (using https), you can download Goliath (http://www.webdav.org/Goliath). It can't integrate your online folder as a volume in Finder, but you can drag and drop files in/out of the Goliath window and it's pretty easy to use. |
31 Aug 2005, 05:35 PM | #4 |
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FYI from what I recall, the Novell NetDrive app floating around on the net is an older version of WebDrive...
I've been using WebDrive and built-in My Network Places in Windows to access FTP/DAV sites. Have only used "net use" mostly to automate mapping LAN shared drives though... |
31 Aug 2005, 05:54 PM | #5 | |
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31 Aug 2005, 06:02 PM | #6 |
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FYI, I've just been playing around a bit, and here's what I can tell.
1. Use the "My Network Places" procedure above seems to work reasonably well for me, though with the big limitation that you can't just double click on files to open them as normal 2. I've installed NetDrive, and it seems to work really well. Despite having a slightly complex interface to setup, it does most of the intelligent stuff you want. Double clicking on files just works, and it seems to do quite a lot of local caching, so performance feels really good after the first time you access a file. It's also quite nice in throwing up a progress meter of longer operations so you know something useful is happening For those that want to use it, basic process is: 1. Download and install (http://www.bcuc.ac.uk/main.asp?page=2117) 2. On the main window, click "New Site" 3. Give it a name (eg My Files) and use the site URL as http://dav.messagingengine.com or https://dav.messagingengine.com then click Finish 4. Make sure the new site is selected in the list on the left 5. Unselect the "Anonymous/Public Login" checkbox 6. Enter your username/password in the textboxes 7. Click "Connect" And that should do it. Everything then just seems to "work" quite nicely. Can anyone find out the full licencing situation behind net drive 4.1? This currently seems like the best free solution available for DAV access under windows. Rob |
31 Aug 2005, 06:42 PM | #7 | |
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1 Sep 2005, 10:48 AM | #8 |
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The Novell iFolder 3.0 client (current version, see www.ifolder.com) does not work. It requires (as near as I can tell) an iFolder server and won't just connect to a WebDAV client like NetDrive will.
I tried to get it working and, when it didn't with some really minor playing, I punted and went to what I do know works. tim |
1 Sep 2005, 11:00 AM | #9 | |
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Quote:
For the Novell step-by-step on configuring NetDrive (not that Rob's explanation wasn't good), look here. tim P.S. If you can figure out what the heck the Novell answer to the "can we use it" question, let me know because that's as obtuse an answer as I have ever seen from a company. Also, excellent work to bron. Have a schooner on me! (I just renewed my account for 3 years.) Edit: Hadaso already posted the link to the Novell answer (see above). I really don't see Novell serving anyone with a cease-and-desist over their use of the application. Last edited by cailloux : 1 Sep 2005 at 11:07 AM. |
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1 Sep 2005, 07:44 PM | #10 | |
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Quote:
Just in case anyone else got caught by this, I accidentally used https://dav.messagingengine.com/ (with a trailing slash) which didn't seem to work. Removing the slash fixed it. Simon |
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1 Sep 2005, 07:46 PM | #11 |
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Hey all!
I've been reading the threads about WevDAV here and on the fastmail alpha forum.... I'm wondering if anyone's got any ideas about a problem I've got with Windows XP and the "Add Network Place" method? When I try to do this to add https://dav.messagingengine.com/ (or even plain old http://), it tells me the folder does not appear to be valid. I take it some people had success with this, so any pointers would be welcomed! Thanks! Jon |
5 Sep 2005, 09:58 AM | #12 | |
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15 Sep 2005, 04:04 AM | #13 |
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I'm having the same problem as medicjrh using Windows XP Home Version 2002 Service Pack 2 (maybe low WiFi connectivity? Nope, moved closer to router and same problem with an Excellent connection.)
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15 Sep 2005, 09:49 AM | #14 | |
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If you have Pro at your reach give it a try. |
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15 Sep 2005, 01:21 PM | #15 |
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I highly recommend checking out Netdrive. I've been using it on my machine with Windows and it just works really well. It seems to do sensible amounts of caching, and displays a progress for long operations so you know something is happening. All up, just feels right.
It would be great if the inbuilt windows DAV client worked well, but it just seems to be horribly broken in many different subtle ways. Rob |
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