I was curious about how they are managing to do this, and I think I've figured it out.
First I found the page, Map An Ftp Server As A Drive, at http://www.astahost.com/info.php/map-ftp-server-as-drive_t7292.html Which describes the process for manually mapping the drive on your system.The catch is this, the FTP server needs to be configured to support the NetBEUI or NetBios protocols, as described at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/timothydevans/nbf.htmWhich is possible to do for both Unix and Windows based systems, for instance, by ensuring that SAMBA is installed on the server.
I suspect that this is how they are doing this behavior. 1. They have an FTP server that is properly configured with these protocols.2. They probably have a setup program that will automatically create the correct Host mappings as described in the first link.
Presumably anyone could do this if so. All that you would need to do is1. configure your FTP server to support the same protocols, or find a public service that does. 2. Then manually configure your Host file to point in the right direction as described on the page "Map An Ftp Server As A Drive". You could even get fancy and create a small Windows app to do this if you are into programming. It should only take a bit of Host file manipulation and Commandline statements, and bang, you have your own service!
I'm only surmising though... I really have no idea what I'm talking about...----- Original Message ----- From: "Tyler Littlefield" <tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 6:18 AM Subject: Re: Better: Re: Zumo Drive
gotcha. It's a great idea, was just pointing out the security problem there.Thanks, Tyler Littlefield Web: tysdomain.com email: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx My programs don't have bugs, they're called randomly added features.----- Original Message ----- From: "Bryan Garaventa" <bgaraventa11@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 11:40 PM Subject: Re: Better: Re: Zumo DriveYes, this wouldn't be recommended for sensitive data. However, you still have the choice to not include the login info, and simply enter this when prompted.----- Original Message ----- From: "Tyler Littlefield" <tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 7:30 PM Subject: Re: Better: Re: Zumo DriveOnly problem I see with this is security. If your on a linux system, ftp accounts are usually tied to shells. You've just handed everyone your shell login and password that may be listening on the wire.Thanks, Tyler Littlefield Web: tysdomain.com email: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx My programs don't have bugs, they're called randomly added features.----- Original Message ----- From: "Bryan Garaventa" <bgaraventa11@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 8:25 PM Subject: Better: Re: Zumo DriveActually, there is a very simple way to do this without requiring an outside service. This method makes it possible to access any FTP server in the same manner. You just need to make sure that your login has the right permissions to modify files on the remote server.For instance, I have a ReadyNAS Duo at home, configured as an FTP service. I use www.dyndns.org to update my dynamic ip automatically. So when I want to point to my server, I can use a link like the followingftp://Username:Password@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/MyFTPEnabledFolderNameSo, with such a link, which will work on any FTP service, such as those provided by remote services like Bizland.com, or any other as well, you can do the following to enable one click access:1. Go into your Windows folder at c:\windows 2. Right-click the file "Explorer.exe", open Send to, and choose "Desktop (create shortcut)".3. Now rename this to whatever you want, like "Personal Library" or whatever. 4. Now open the properties for the link, where you will see the following for the Target fieldC:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe5. Now, within quotes, add the url to your FTP service at the end of this string, with a space separating the two values like so. C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe "ftp://Username:Password@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/MyFTPEnabledFolderName";6. Click OK, and that should do the trick.You can now have Windows Explorer access to any FTP site using this method, from anywhere in the world. And if you have your own server like mine, using a ReadyNAS or similare unit, you can have unlimited storage, such as 2 to 4 TB. The only draw back, is that it won't work in My Computer. Still though, it's free, and you can attach a hotkey to the shortcut.Bryan----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>To: "NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List" <nfbcs@xxxxxxxxxx>Cc: <nfb-web@xxxxxxxxxx>; "NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List" <gui-talk@xxxxxxxxxx>; <nabs-l@xxxxxxxxxx>; "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk@xxxxxxxxxx>; "Professionals in Blindness Education Division List" <pibe-division@xxxxxxxxxx>; "NFB of Missouri Mailing List" <nfbmo@xxxxxxxxxx>; <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 12:26 PM Subject: Zumo DriveGood afternoon everyone,Some of you on certain lists probably heard me saying, "I'm putting my files in the clouds." I'm doing this via a neat service I heard about on a Web 2.0 Podcast. The service is called "Zumo Drive." It's a hybrid cloud storage application that permits you to store files remotely so they'll be available from any computer you use. Unlike other types of remote storagesolutions Zumo Drive integrates with your PC and is accessed via MyComputer. Those of you that use external drives know that it appears as anadditional drive whenever you enter My Computer or Windows Explorer.Think of Zumo drive as an auxiliary drive without the physical hardware. Instead of your files being stored on a physical drive they're stored on asecure remote server which can be accessed from multiple computers andmobile phones. This is achieved by downloading and installing the Zumo Drive Application which you can obtain from their Web Site. Both the Zumo DriveWeb Site and the application are accessible and very easy to use;particularly because it appears as an additional drive on your computer. Ibelieve this is what's commonly called a virtual drive. The onlyaccessibility glitch I encountered was when I needed to register my copy with their service. Using your screen reader's mouse cursor should allow you to complete the registration on your own once the "Registration" Icon isactivated.Once installed and your account is created Zumo Drive works exactly like any other drive on your PC. It's possible to store files locally on yourcomputer, or save them on your Zumo Drive from within any application;although larger files may take longer to save due to their having to be transferred to the remote server. It's also possible to save a file obtained from another Internet location directly to your Zumo Drive. I did this thismorning and think it's pretty cool.Depending on their type the files saved remotely will be downloaded andopen in the application or in the case of audio and video content willstream to your PC. For example I was able to listen to a podcast on VirtualColonoscopy on Mary's computer though the file does not reside on her machine. It was a simple matter of opening up QuickTime, and typingZ:\path\filename. The file opened and the documentary began playing exactlyas it would if stored on the local machine.Upon creating your Zumo Drive Account you receive 1 GB of storage space to allow you to try the system out. There are several subscription plans you can purchass depending on the amount of remote storage you require. Butenough from me. For additional information visit: http://www.zumodrive.comSince file storage is always an important concern I wanted to share thisinformation with everyone. All the best for a great weekend. Peter Donahue "Given a chance to dream it can be done. The promise of tomorrow is real. Children of Spaceship Earth the future belongs to us all." 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