RTOS Ready WebDAV Server

What is WebDAV?

The Barracuda Application Server's WebDAV server plugin is a secure and convenient way to share files with users on a variety of different devices, including PCs, iPhones, Android devices, and Linux systems. By using WebDAV, a set of extensions to the HTTP(S) protocol that allows a web server to function as a standard network drive, the file server can be accessed by any device with a native WebDAV client without the need for additional software installations. To use the file server, users simply need to map or mount a drive from their operating system to the WebDAV server, making it easy to access and share files from any device. Whether you are working on a small-scale project or a large-scale enterprise deployment, the Barracuda Application Server's WebDAV server plugin can help you build reliable and scalable solutions that meet the needs of your organization.

WebDAV Versus Samba (SMB/CIFS)

If you are familiar with sharing files within your organization using SMB/CIFS on a local intranet, you may be aware that this method is only suitable for closed networks and is not secure when used over the internet. WebDAV is a different protocol that uses HTTP (or HTTPS, for secure and encrypted communication) to transport files and is designed specifically to be secure for use over the internet. This makes it a great choice for organizations that need to share files securely over the web, whether within the company or with external partners. One of the key benefits of using WebDAV is that it can bypass company firewalls and proxies since the communication protocol is HTTP, the same protocol used by web browsers. This means you can securely access your files from anywhere if you have an internet connection and a device with a native WebDAV client.

WebDAV Versus FTP

WebDAV is a more user-friendly protocol than FTP, as it allows you to access your remote file server just like a standard drive on your computer without additional software. This makes it much easier to use than a traditional FTP server, which requires special software to access and transfer files. Additionally, WebDAV is a more modern protocol than FTP and is often seen as its successor. If you are looking for a simple and easy-to-use solution for sharing and transferring files over the internet, the WebDAV server is a great option to consider.

Unlike SMB/CIFS, WebDAV can be used from mobile devices such as iPhone, iPod, iPad, Android, and Blackberry -- that is, you can work directly on files in your embedded devices using any mobile device.

How to Connect to WebDAV

The one-minute video to the right shows how to connect a Windows and Mac computer to the FuguHub server, which includes our WebDAV plugin. Follow the instructions in the video and use the WebDAV test server URL below.

Online Linux WebDAV Server Demo

https://tutorial.realtimelogic.com/fs/tmp/.

You may connect a WebDAV client to the above URL.

Web File Manager

The WebDAV server can be used "as is" or combined with our Web File Manager. The two products, when combined, are referred to as the Web File Server in our documentation.

WebDAV Security: OpenID Connect Compatible

Supports HTTP Digest, HTTP Basic, and OpenID Connect Authentication.

Features

  • Implements WebDAV Class 1 and Class 2 with relaxed locking.
  • Implemented in "C" code as a "C" library and can be integrated with any software.
  • Uses our own small footprint XML parser.
  • No WebDAV and XML experience required to create your WebDAV server.
  • Supports UTF-8 Unicode file names.
  • Supports SSL(HTTPS) by using our extremely compact SSL stack.
  • Supports an unlimited number of concurrent uploads/downloads by using asynchronous sockets.
  • Range / Content-Range header support; i.e. can resume broken downloads.
  • Supports GZIP compression for uploads and downloads.
  • Any number of WebDAV instances can be dynamically created and inserted in the server at runtime.
  • Can mount AES-encrypted ZIP files and make any number of ZIP files look like network drives.
  • Can mount databases, thus making it possible to view a database as a network drive.
  • Supports Digest and Basic authentication, thus making it work with clients that support only Digest or Basic.
  • Accepts the incorrect domain name added by Microsoft WebDAV clients when authenticating.
  • Excellent support for authorization based on rule set makes it possible to authorize/deny users and groups access to various resources.

Download

The WebDAV server is integral to the Barracuda App Server (BAS). You can compile the BAS C library into various setups -- monolithic firmware or as a standalone runtime on platforms like Linux and Windows.

If you're interested in skipping the BAS C code compilation phase and diving right into using the WebDAV server, consider these ready-to-run solutions:

  • Mako Server: Optimized for high-level operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and (embedded) Linux systems. A ready-to-use WebDAV server can be enabled via the Mako Server's config file.
  • Xedge32: This fully furnished RTOS development environment designed specifically for the ESP32 processor provides a solution for rapid Lua development and deployment. The Xedge32 IDE includes a ready-to-use WebDAV server accessible at http://ip-addr/rtl/apps/

WebDAV Documentation and Examples

The World's Smallest WebDAV Server:

Do you want to learn how to create the world's smallest WebDAV server?

Using a WiFi-enabled $8 microcontroller equipped with a 128GB micro SD card, we show you how to bring this vision to life. After an easy firmware flash and SD card insertion, you're on your way to enabling your own tiny WiFi-enabled WebDAV server. The tutorial also explains how to fortify the server with authentication. See the tutorial The World's Smallest WebDAV Server for details.

The world's Smallest WebDAV Server


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