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Key takeaways of zdnet
- These are some of the low-following ways to share files on Linux.
- The methods here are very simple to very complex.
- Each of these devices is free, and some are pre-installed.
Back in 2024, I wrote how to share files between Linux devices. This article focused on clear devices (such as Samba and SCP), so I thought I would see the subject again, only highlight the low-finished options (especially for those new).
Some of these options are quite simple to use, while others are slightly more demanding and require considerable setup time. Others are easy and may be taken care of in seconds. In any way you go, you will be finished with a system that allows you to share files firmly between your Linux devices.
If it seems that you want something at this time, read and enjoy the flexibility contained in Linux.
Also: It is so easy for beginners to switch to the best Linux Distros MacoS or Windows in 2025.
1. Gnom underlying file sharing
This is, so far, the easiest way. Most distributions that use GNOME (or GNOME-based desktop environment) include the underlying file-sharing systems that are easy to enable as clicking on a button. Unfortunately, KDE Plasma desktop (and other like XFCE) does not include such a simple means to share a file (so you have to resort to other methods).
In GNOME, go on sharing Settings> Share and enable the first shared service (to the top right of the window). Once you do this, enable to share the file and you are. You may also need a password and even limit it to a specific network. Once you enable the convenience, your ~/public folder should appear in various file managers on your network, where you can copy/paste files.
2. SFTP
SFTP is the safe brother of FTP and uses SSH as an underlying mechanism to transport data packets. The SFTP connection also uses default SSH port (22) and encrypted the data stream for the protection of both the contents and commands used for the file. The SFTP SSH also uses the authentication method, which means that it respects SSH key authentication, so you can get even more protection for your connection and transfer.
Also: 8 methods I quickly level my Linux skills – and you can also
Connect once (eg using command SFTP user@ip_address), You can interact with the remote machine using the same command as the FTP, such as the gate (to get a file) and put (to send a file). You can also send and receive the directory using -R (recurrent) option. For example, you can send zdnet.txt file with command Enter zdnet.txtYou can get such a file with the command Get zdnet.txtGood news: Most Linux File Managers have the underlying support for SFTP, so you can connect a distance machine from within the file manager and use GUI instead of command to send and receive files.
3. Web-based
You may not know this, but make it possible to share files between the Apache web server machines. You have to install an Apache on your machine, and then spend some time to configure it. Once you are installed apache, you will need to modify the Apache.conf file (in /etc /apache2), adding something in this way:
Options follow the indexing
nobody
Allow the order, deny
Allow from all
Where there is a directory to share data.
Then, enable autoindexing with the command:
Sudo A2enmod Autoindex
Restore Apache:
Sudo Systemctl restart apache 2
Once it is set, you can access the files within the shared directory.
4. rsync
You probably know RSYNC as a tool for backup, but it is also able to mimic the local and remote file. The RSYNC tool is available for installation from your distribution standard repository, and there are some GUI equipment (eg GRSYNC) to make/obtaining the task of sending/obtaining files. Once installed, you can use the RSYNC command to send a file:
RSYNC -AVZH ~/ZDNET.TXT user@ip_address:/home/user
Where the user has your remote user name and IP_ADDDRESS is the IP address of the remote machine. You can also get with RSYNC:
RSYNC -AVZH user@ip_address: /home/user/zdnet.txt ~/
If you want to try RSYNC, I would suggest trying one of the first GUI.
5. NFS
NFS (network file system) is the most complex setup in this list. Not only you have to install and configure NFS, but you have to mount shares of NFS on remote machines, so they can be accessed. The process looks something like this:
- Install NFS-Common
- Make a shared directory on the host
- Configure/etc./host for the directory to share and permitted IP address (ES)
- Restart NFS-Kernel-Server
- Adjust your firewall to allow NFS traffic
- Create mount point at client
- Mount remote directory
- use it
Also: How to make samba shares on Linux for guests to reach your network
If you have no objection to setting a mount point for a share, NFS is a reliable option, especially because it is much faster than Samba. If you have a lot of small files to share, I would recommend going with NFS on Samba every time (less, samba for large files).
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