interesting blob conundrum

[redr4nger]

I'm working on a website for a friend's band. I'm trying to upload some of their mp3 files into a MySQL database to make them avialable on the site.

We want people to sign up on our mailing list before they download the files. I really want to use the DB as storage instead of just a folder on the webserver. If the files are out there on a folder, it will be too easy to bypass the signup page by just pointing the browser to the URL (atleast, that's my current thought).

Here's the rub: I don't have shell access to the account so access to the DB is via PHPMyAdmin. This was configured by the hosting company, so settings are pretty much locked down. Whenever I try to insert the file (as a binary blob) it times out.

I do have the files on the webserver, is there a way with MyAdmin that I can reference the directory on the server instead of a local folder??

Any other ideas? A different route entirely perhaps??

-ranger

[mtimdog]

I would suggest uploading them to a folder protected by .htaccess, then using php to stream them.