Best way to access files on a windows server from linux webpage?

[Hfnet]

Hi,

We have a set of folders on a Windows server and currently I am copying pdf files from there onto our web server (FC8), and we want to be able to have a live link if possible to the windows files, so any time a file is updated the web page hyperlink will always show the current copy.

I have tried making a samba share on the linux box and putting our files in there but wondered if there was a way we can just pull the file from the windows server when the link is clicked, as our windows server has a tape backup and a disaster recovery solution, and the linux box is only a tape backup.

 

[thedaver]

Not entirely sure I understand your plan. However it sounds to me that you want to be using 'rsync', which will work nicely.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/answers/Networking/Using_rsync_to_mirror_data_between_servers

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[Hfnet]

Almost, I need to look at it further, but what I want to do is have the master files on our Windows server and links on the web server:

Someone goes to a web page (on the web server) and clicks a hyperlink to open a pdf, but the pdf is actually located on the Windows server, not the web server.

Not sure if this is possible?

 

[lgarner]

Check out Samba. You should be able to mount the Windows share on the Linux computer.

 

[elgrandeperro]

Is the problem the files are not in a single directory or sets of directory? You say you used Samba to map already, but then imply that "putting our files in there". With Samba on your web server, you should be able to map directly to your windows share. The caveat is that if they are protected, this might pose a problem.

 

[Hfnet]

I am trying to convince the boss to move the files.

Currently the structure on the windows server is \\share\company name\network diagram\xxx.pdf

Unfortunately it doesn't follow that the company name is the same as the information held on the web server (for example, the windows box may be abc painters (uk) ltd, but the web server may have the info as abcpainters) and I don't want to open up any issues with people attempting to access anything other than the pdf.

I have for the moment convinced him to have a copy of the pdf saved on the web server, but this relies on people remembering to do this.

 

[lgarner]

Oops. Obviously I didn't read the 2nd paragraph very carefully.

When you have to consider access control, it's probably best to copy the public material to the public space rather than trying to limit access. As thedaver mentioned, a periodic rsync run would be a good way to do this. Just copy the pdf files and ignore the rest.