MacFUSE, FTP, and You
Windows has supported desktop FTP for a while. It’s a useful way to save or retrieve files from other computers. Unfortunately, via the Finder’s Go→Connect to Server menu item, Mac OS X can only mount FTP servers as read-only volumes. One of many excellent third-party FTP clients is required to upload files.
A streamlined solution is available.
- Download and install MacFUSE-Core (for Tiger or Leopard)
- Download and run MacFusion (a basic front end)
Choose Quick Mount→FTP from the MacFusion menubar item and enter a server address and username. The server is mounted as a regular volume. Not only can you write to it from any application, but all the jazzy Leopard Finder tricks like Quick Look and Cover Flow view work, too (if you’ve got the bandwidth).
Again, it’s worth emphasizing that this system allows you to save images, web pages, and other files directly to your web site without an intermediate FTP program. (It’s prudent to keep a local copy, of course.) You’ll find MacFUSE volumes listed under the main “Computer” device in file dialogs and the Finder sidebar.
Lest you think FUSE is just about FTP, take a look at Amit Singh’s introductory video and GrabFS for clever examples of what else can be represented as plain old filesystems.
Posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2008 in Macintosh.
One Response to “MacFUSE, FTP, and You”
Posted by Jim on 4 March 2008 at 9:01 AM.
Coincidentally, John Gruber has just posted a review of a commercial product, ExpanDrive, that performs a very similar function. I can’t attest to its relative merits, but it does appear to be based on MacFUSE.
Also note that you can use MacFusion’s SSH Quick Mount option with most FTP servers for added security. Apparently ExpanDrive’s implementation is more polished – but you can’t beat free.