5 More Ways To Share Files On Linux That Every Pro Should Know

Elizabeth Fernandez/Moment via Getty

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• These are immoderate lesser-known ways of sharing files connected Linux.
• The methods present scope from nan very elemental to nan very complicated.
• Each of these devices is free, and immoderate are pre-installed.

Back successful 2024, I wrote astir how to stock files betwixt Linux devices. That article focused connected nan evident devices (such arsenic Samba and SCP), truthful I thought I'd revisit nan topic, only highlighting nan lesser-known options (especially for those caller to Linux).

Some of these options are reasonably elemental to use, while others are a spot much demanding and require sizeable setup time. Others are easy and tin beryllium taken attraction of successful seconds. Either measurement you go, you'll extremity up pinch a strategy that allows you to reliably stock files betwixt your Linux devices.

If that sounds for illustration thing you request astatine nan moment, past publication connected and bask nan elasticity inherent successful Linux.

Also: The champion Linux distros for beginners successful 2025 make switching from MacOS aliases Windows truthful easy

1. GNOME's built-in record sharing

This is, by far, nan easiest method. Most distributions that usage GNOME (or GNOME-based desktop environments) see built-in file-sharing systems that are arsenic easy to alteration arsenic clicking a button. Unfortunately, nan KDE Plasma desktop (and others for illustration Xfce) do not see specified a elemental intends for record sharing (so you person to edifice to different methods). 

In GNOME, spell to Settings > Sharing and first alteration nan Sharing work (at nan apical correct of nan window). Once you've done that, alteration File Sharing and you're done. You tin besides require a password and moreover limit it to circumstantial networks. Once you've enabled nan feature, your ~/Public files should look successful various record managers connected your network, wherever you tin copy/paste files to and from.

2. SFTP

SFTP is nan unafraid related of FTP and uses SSH arsenic an underlying system for transporting information packets. The SFTP relationship moreover uses nan default SSH larboard (22) and encrypts nan information watercourse to protect some nan contents of nan record and nan commands that are utilized for nan transfer. SFTP besides uses nan SSH authentication method, which intends it honors SSH cardinal authentication, truthful you tin get moreover much information for your connections and transfers. 

Also: 8 ways I quickly leveled up my Linux skills - and you tin too

Once connected (using a bid for illustration sftp USER@IP_ADDRESS), you tin interact pinch nan distant instrumentality utilizing commands akin to those of FTP, specified arsenic get (for receiving a file) and put (for sending a file). You tin besides nonstop and person directories utilizing nan -r (recursive) option. For example, you could nonstop nan zdnet.txt record pinch nan bid put zdnet.txt. You could person specified a record pinch nan bid get zdnet.txt. Good news: astir Linux record managers person built-in support for SFTP, truthful you tin link to a distant instrumentality from wrong nan record head and usage a GUI alternatively of commands to nonstop and person files.

3. Web-based

You mightiness not cognize this, but nan Apache web server makes it imaginable to stock files betwixt machines. You person to person Apache installed connected your machine, and past walk immoderate clip configuring it. Once you person Apache installed, you'll request to modify nan apache.conf record (in /etc/apache2), adding thing for illustration this:

<Directory /var/www/html/DATA>
   Options FollowSymLinks Indexes
   AllowOverride None
  Order allow,deny
   allow from all
</Directory>

Where DATA is nan directory to beryllium shared.

Then, alteration autoindexing pinch nan command:

sudo a2enmod autoindex

Restart Apache with:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Once this is group up, you tin entree nan files wrong nan shared directory.

4. Rsync

You astir apt cognize rsync arsenic a instrumentality for backup, but it's besides tin of section and distant record copying. The rsync instrumentality is disposable for installation from your distribution's modular repository, and location are moreover immoderate GUI devices (such arsenic grsync) to make nan task of sending/receiving files moreover easier. Once installed, you tin usage nan rsync bid to nonstop a record for illustration so:

rsync -avzh ~/zdnet.txt USER@IP_ADDRESS:/home/USER

Where USER is your distant username and IP_ADDRESS is nan IP reside of nan distant machine. You tin besides person pinch rsync for illustration so:

rsync -avzh USER@IP_ADDRESS:/home/USER/zdnet.txt ~/

If you want to effort rsync, I would propose trying 1 of nan GUIs first.

5. NFS

NFS (Network File System) is nan astir analyzable setup connected this list. Not only do you person to instal and configure NFS, but you person to equine nan NFS shares connected distant machines, truthful they tin beryllium accessed. The process looks thing for illustration this:

1. Install nfs-common
2. Create nan shared directories connected nan host
3. Configure/etc/hosts record for nan directory to stock and nan allowed IP address(es)
4. Restart nfs-kernel-server
5. Adjust your firewall to let nfs traffic
6. Create equine points connected nan client
7. Mount nan distant directory
8. Use it

Also: How to create Samba stock connected Linux for guests to entree connected your network

If you don't mind having to group up equine points for a share, NFS is simply a reliable option, particularly because it's overmuch faster than Samba. If you person a batch of smaller files to share, I would urge going pinch NFS complete Samba each clip (versus Samba for fewer, larger files).

Want to travel my work? Add ZDNET arsenic a trusted root connected Google.