IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Regarding SFTP

[Ernie H.]

Hey everyone,

We wanted to let you know about an upcoming change we'll be making to the way you access your network's file system and source code. Since early 2008, you've been able to access your network's file system in two ways: (1) with SFTP, or secure file transfer protocol or (2) with WebDAV (http://developer.ning.com/notes/Accessing_Source_Code_with_WebDav). These formats also enable you to modify your full network source code, if you've requested access to it.

We are transitioning next week to exclusively support WebDAV access. This means that if you are using SFTP, it will no longer be available as of September 26, 2008. We can totally appreciate this will initially be inconvenient, but WebDAV is faster and ultimately easier to use once you have it set up. Plus, we want to focus on providing one well-supported way of managing your source code vs. two.

Here’s more information on WebDAV: (http://developer.ning.com/notes/Accessing_Source_Code_with_WebDav).

Again, this change only affects those who want to access their network’s file system or full source code (http://developer.ning.com/notes/Accessing_Your_File_System). You won't see any changes to the way your network works or to the features you control under the Manage tab.

Hopefully, this gives everyone plenty of notice to make the move to WebDAV. Please let us know if you have any questions or need help with the transition.

Thanks!

[Ernie H.]

So, along with that official statement, I want to emphasize that a big factor on discontinuing SFTP does relate to security issues as ways to curtail excessive abuse for servers. I'll try my best to answer any specific questions you may have. -Ernie

[Zarzing (Dustin)]

Okay First You Take Away Or Site Editor Witch Was Hard For Alot Of Networks And Now You Are Taking Away Our SFTP Client This Is Not Right You Guys Are Making NING Harder And Harder To Use!
This Not Right

[doone]

The need to have to learn new programming tools every few months is a drawback to using the Ning platform. I wish I had decided to use WebDAV the last time you took away a Site Editing tool. What are the odds WebDAV will be phased out 6 months from now?

[Hans]

We am unable to access the code via WebDAV today as it gives me the following message:

"Documents in this folder are not available. The folder may have been moved or deleted, or network problems may be preventing a connection to the server."

We have no problem going to the source code through SFTP. As such, we want to know if this is a problem from your end or our end?

Kindly please help us rectify this problem as soon as practical as we will be actively accessing the source code from mid-Sept onwards and cannot afford unstable downtime or connection problems. Thanks.

[Russ]

I use sftp because web DAV has never worked for me. lol.

[Rob Hughes]

I have just joined NING ... this news is disappointing. Every website I've managed (hundreds) has the ability to access through FTP (SFTP) - I don't see why I should have to download yet ANOTHER program... and it seems from the statements below, many are having trouble with this...

I wish you would reconsider this idea?

[abhi]

First - i really, really think this is a bad idea.
Second - here is what worked for me - and i had to find it on the net myself.
Vista and WEbDAV don't work well together. The solution i've found oughta to work for some people.

1) install the KB from microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=17C36612-6...


< Now you can either try the methods given in the webdav tutorial or the method i used below - one of them should work>

2) right click on My Computer, and select Map NEtwork Drive - on the Map Network Drive, use 'connect using a different user name' and enter your ning login

3) now enter https://amazonkindle.dav.ning.com

that way it works.

again - using solely webdav when it doesn't work reliably with vista is just a bad decision. and the fact that i had to try so many times and ning help couldn't helpme and the method that works is comletely different from what's in the tutorial makes me sad.

btw the kb does nt work for everyone on vista. and vista has issues with webdav. removing sftp support is not a good move.

[Lynn Tsutsumi]

I've been trying to use WebDAV today and cannot access it. Says it doesn't recognize my user name and/or password. Did not have this problem last week. Is this because you're upgrading?

[Lynn Tsutsumi]

I am still trying to access my site via WebDav on Mac. I can access one of my networks (bantmasters.ning.com) but am still unable to get into my main network bondweddings.ning.com. Please advise. URGENT!!!!

[Luv]

Ernie,
I need help in general to set my site up.

Thankyou,

Luv

[Bashar]

While I loved WinSCP, I understand if you want to stop SFTP for security purposes. However my experience with WebDav have showed it's slower by ten times or more. It took me hours to upload/download while it takes much less using WinSCP. Has anyone else experience this?

[Ernie H.]

Hi everyone,

First off, thanks for everyones feedback regarding SFTP and WebDav. The decision to move only to WebDav is final and allows the Engineering teams to focus on a single method of code access to handle any issues in security, should they arise.

Regarding difficulty/performance in getting WebDav to work: we're currently collecting your feedback regarding WebDav to the Engineering team. In the mean time, along with methods to get WebDav set up with your native operating system, there are also third party WebDav clients that exist - a quick search on Google led me to a list of some clients here, which may be useful for people needing to get WebDav working with Vista:

http://www.freedownloadmanager.org/downloads/webdav_client_software/

Hopefully this helps,
- Ernie