FTP strategy - just wondering...

[sarahk]

Just trying to get my thoughts around how I should be organising the downloads on my site.

Currently I just have <code><a href="myexe.exe" _out>D'load me</a></code> and that works fine. I don't know how many downloads etc but I can live with that.

If I go to ftp there's a stack more coding to write - so what are the advantages?

Sarah

[znouza]

1. create download database table to hold download history
2. matter on how do you want to monitor your downoloads, if you only need the number of or detailed with clients addresses
3. create a php script, which will handle your downloads, and use it like <a href="download.php?myexe.exe">

sample phpscript
<?
header("Content-Type: octet/stream");

if ($QUERY_STRING)
{
lookup_db and increase counters
}
passthrough('/bin/cat $QUERY_STRING');
?>

you should control the content-type with your file request (if you know what it really is and contains).

[sarahk]

Thanks Tom, my query was more about the benefits of using ftp over a simple link ...

issues I was wondering about included stability of downloads (it's 3meg+) or better browser support.

Are these valid concerns?