Notes

Problem: I have a seedbox and for FTP and SFTP connections get limited (probably my ISP?).

They’ll start strong, but quickly get throttled down to 300 kbps. I know my home connection goes “up to” 2 mbps.

Solution A:

Download a couple files at a time, with either Transmit or via a couple SCP processes in Screen. Not ideal as now you’re waiting just a long for a single file, but you’re multitasking.

Solution B:

1. split -b 500MB filename.mkv

2. scp them in Screen

3. cat xa* > filename.mkv

4. rm xa* locally and on the server.

Faster for a single file, but wholly tedious. Lots of parts to remember. Depending on your file (4GB+ HD files), splitting and catting can take a couple minutes on both ends.

Solution C: LFTP

1. lftp on Mini

2. open [server name]

3. [queue] pget filename.mkv

Automates the worst parts of Solution B. Uses segmented downloading, and out of the box it downloads the file in 5 parts, saturating my connection. Locally there’s no cruft to join or delete. Super fast.

Key LFTP Commands:

• open -u [username],[placeholder password] sftp://[server address] - connect to your remote server

• pget [filename] – segmented download of a single file

• mirror [foldername] – download a directory

• queue [command] – add said command to the task queue. The queue starts immediately.

• queue – see current status of queued tasks

• bookmark add [name] - save your remote server login information

• open [name] - connect to a bookmark

LFTPRC

Create a .lftprc in your home directory and add these to ensure speedy downloads:

# use 10 connections by default (instead of the standard 5)
set pget:default-n 10

# use segmented downloading for directories
set mirror:use-pget-n 10

set mirror:parallel-transfer-count 2
set mirror:parallel-directories true