Can i connect to my PS3 from PC and transfer files?
- Thread starter schnipps
- Start date
I like:
http://www.rejetto.com/hfs/
and
http://www.redkawa.com/fileserver/
Both are good but redkawa can be a little fussy. Basically they're HTTP servers that run on your computer (obviously you have to configure these servers to make the files you want to transfer available to any clients), you can then use the web browser on the PS3 to connect to said server and download files in the background (by pointing at the file in the browser, pressing triangle and selecting download). Once the file is downloaded, assuming it's a format the PS3 is capable of viewing/playing, you simply find it in the XMB and play it like you would with a video from the PSN.
It's worth noting that the format that the PS3 hard drive uses has no filesize limit (within reason), so you can store files that are 12GB+ on it. I'd advise having it connected via ethernet cable for transfers of that size though as over wireless it takes quite a while.
http://www.rejetto.com/hfs/
and
http://www.redkawa.com/fileserver/
Both are good but redkawa can be a little fussy. Basically they're HTTP servers that run on your computer (obviously you have to configure these servers to make the files you want to transfer available to any clients), you can then use the web browser on the PS3 to connect to said server and download files in the background (by pointing at the file in the browser, pressing triangle and selecting download). Once the file is downloaded, assuming it's a format the PS3 is capable of viewing/playing, you simply find it in the XMB and play it like you would with a video from the PSN.
It's worth noting that the format that the PS3 hard drive uses has no filesize limit (within reason), so you can store files that are 12GB+ on it. I'd advise having it connected via ethernet cable for transfers of that size though as over wireless it takes quite a while.
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Ok i have got the HSF one running, can you help me configure this, never really used a ps3 before today so im totally lost as to how i do this, for some reason i just assumed you could browse the drive from the PC, its never simple. PS3 is wired into router which is then wirless to the pc running vista
Ok, in HFS, enable the shell menu option when you start it for the first time. Now in windows browse to the file/folder you want to share, right click on it and select 'add to HFS'.
Now look at HFS, the folder/files you have added should now be shown, click the 'open in browser' button to view the server just to make sure if you want. Note down the address shown next to this button (in my case http://192.168.1.130/).
Now go to your PS3, open the web browser, enter the address you just noted down, this will take you to the HTTP server. Find the file you want, point at it, press triangle and select the option to download it (can't remember what this option is called exactly off the top of my head). Tell it to download the file in the background, wait, play!
Now look at HFS, the folder/files you have added should now be shown, click the 'open in browser' button to view the server just to make sure if you want. Note down the address shown next to this button (in my case http://192.168.1.130/).
Now go to your PS3, open the web browser, enter the address you just noted down, this will take you to the HTTP server. Find the file you want, point at it, press triangle and select the option to download it (can't remember what this option is called exactly off the top of my head). Tell it to download the file in the background, wait, play!
Thought it was a simple case of setting HFS to run as a service on your host PC, link to a folder on the PC using the HFS interface software, it should become clear as you open the app up on your PC.
then on your PS3, open a webbrowser up, nav to the IP address of your PC with /hfs at the end, so http://192.168.x.x/HFS for example and it will list the contents of the folder from your PC to the browser on your PS3, copy the file to the internal HDD.
Another option, is use a USB drive, or memory stick to transfer files across...
I use HFS, works well for me.
then on your PS3, open a webbrowser up, nav to the IP address of your PC with /hfs at the end, so http://192.168.x.x/HFS for example and it will list the contents of the folder from your PC to the browser on your PS3, copy the file to the internal HDD.
Another option, is use a USB drive, or memory stick to transfer files across...
I use HFS, works well for me.
All viewing/downloading/transferring files is done via the PS3. You cannot browse the contents of a PS3 from any other device, no matter what software is on the machine.
2 types of sharing software exist:
a) HTTP servers - these make your PC act as a server and you use the PS3 web browser to browse your machine and right click to save the files to the PS3 HDD. This will only work for file types that the PS3 recognises (music, video, pictures).
b) DLNA Media Sharing servers - These make your PC act as a media sharing server. Windows Media Player is one example of this, you add your files to the library, then on your PS3 you can "see/browse" them in the relevant sections (Music, Video, Photos) and then press Triangle to save them to the PS3 HDD.
rp2000
Just to add to this point, you have to ensure that the USB drive or memory stick is formatted to FAT32 which sadly has a 4GB filesize limit. As stated previously HFS allows you to overcome this limitation by transferring the file directly to the PS3s hard drive which has no limit (within reason).
This is also a good option if you wish to simply stream files to the PS3. Last time i checked however it was impossible to download files in the background from the media server so i quickly gave up on it and searched for an alternative for file transfers (which is when i found HTTP servers). It's been a good 6 months since i used this method though so Sony may have patched in background downloading.
Yep, quite true. I failed to mention this. Still a quick method of transferring files to a PS3 if the file is under 4GB.
And also to add. Windows Media Sharing is fantastic 'if' the PS3 has a decent network connection. I've found wireless streaming on a PS3 to be all but usless, but that could be down to my wireless network.
DLNA media sharing however if using wired networking is very good.
Ok thanks for all of this, few more questions 
Is there any need to secure the web page you create with some login details for security? If so how do you do that.
Secondly where on the ps3 interface do you go to delete/manage whats on the hard drive?
Is there any need to secure the web page you create with some login details for security? If so how do you do that.
Secondly where on the ps3 interface do you go to delete/manage whats on the hard drive?
not too sure, but there was a PS3 MKV streamer out, but its lacking development, and when I tried it, my wireless network just wasn't up to the task...
Downloading the file via HTTP to the local HDD is perhaps the cleanest method, and I've found HFS to do this perfectly fine, even over wireless.... Just takes hours to transfer an 8GB mk2 file...
Ok thanks for all of this, few more questions
Is there any need to secure the web page you create with some login details for security? If so how do you do that.
Secondly where on the ps3 interface do you go to delete/manage whats on the hard drive?
you can delete files from the HDD by selecting the file, and pressing Triangle.
As for securing the page, if your internal network is secure, and its only you or members of your household using it, then why secure?
It doesn't publish it across the internet, so provided your point of access, as in your router is firewalled from the outside world, then no need to IMO.
Ok thanks for all of this, few more questions
Is there any need to secure the web page you create with some login details for security? If so how do you do that.
Secondly where on the ps3 interface do you go to delete/manage whats on the hard drive?
As techman has rightly said, if your network is secure (router? firewall?) you'll be fine. HFS runs the HTTP server internally within your own network and the only way to get access to afaik is to breach the aforementioned countermeasures.
You delete/manage stuff by going to the video section, the square button can be used to organise stuff and the triangle button to delete/rename/change other properties.
not too sure, but there was a PS3 MKV streamer out, but its lacking development, and when I tried it, my wireless network just wasn't up to the task...
Downloading the file via HTTP to the local HDD is perhaps the cleanest method, and I've found HFS to do this perfectly fine, even over wireless.... Just takes hours to transfer an 8GB mk2 file...
I've setup PS3 media server for my parents' PS3 and it works a dream when transcoding mkv files on the fly. Their PS3 has line of sight to their router however so the signal strength is enough to handle streaming 720p media over wireless. I agree that HFS is just the 'cleanest' method of getting video files on your PS3, it just works effortlessly. Have you looked into ethernet plugs for your wall sockets? They cost a couple of quid but are superior to wireless.
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