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Getting Started

This guide will help you get up and running with File Mover Express quickly.

Prerequisites​

Before starting, ensure you have completed:

  1. Installation — Download and install File Mover Express
  2. IAM Permissions — AWS credentials and S3 access
  3. Configuration — Add a Remote Configuration for your S3 bucket

Using single sign-on? Instead of an AWS named profile or access keys, you can authenticate a Remote Configuration with your organization's identity provider. See OIDC / SSO Authentication to set it up.

Quick Start Guide​

Step 1: Launch File Mover Express​

GUI Mode:

Open File Mover Express from your Applications folder (macOS), Start Menu (Windows), or wherever you installed it.

If you built from source, you can also launch it from the dist/ folder or run the daemon directly:

filemoverexpress daemon

The GUI will be accessible at http://localhost:4200 when running ng serve from the src/gui folder. See Development for details.

CLI Mode:

filemoverexpress daemon

Step 2: Verify Connection​

Using GUI​

  1. Open File Mover Express
  2. Check that your remote configuration shows a green checkmark (connected status)
  3. If not connected, verify your configuration settings

Using CLI​

filemoverexpress validate-credentials [remote-configuration-name]

Step 3: Your First Transfer​

Upload Files (GUI)​

  1. Select source files: In the Local file browser (left side), navigate to and select files/folders
  2. Choose destination: In the S3 Bucket file browser (right side), select your remote configuration
  3. Start transfer: Drag and drop files from left to right
  4. Monitor progress: View transfer status in the Jobs tab

Upload Files (CLI)​

filemoverexpress upload [remote-configuration] [local-path]

Example:

filemoverexpress upload my-config ./my-video-files/

Download Files (GUI)​

  1. Select source files: In the S3 Bucket file browser (right side), select files/folders
  2. Choose destination: In the Local file browser (left side), navigate to destination
  3. Start transfer: Drag and drop files from right to left
  4. Monitor progress: View transfer status in the Jobs tab

Download Files (CLI)​

filemoverexpress download [remote-configuration] [local-destination] [s3-prefix]

Example:

filemoverexpress download my-config ./downloads/ my-folder/video.mp4

Understanding the Interface​

GUI Layout​

The File Mover Express GUI consists of three main areas:

  1. Local File Browser (Left): Browse your local file system

    • File System dropdown: Select local drives, favorites, or remote daemons
    • Navigation: Click folders to browse, use breadcrumbs to go back

  2. S3 Bucket File Browser (Right): Browse your S3 buckets

    • Remote Configuration dropdown: Select configured S3 destinations
    • Navigation: Browse S3 objects and prefixes

  3. Bottom Panel Tabs:

    • Jobs: Monitor active transfers, pause/resume/cancel operations
    • Logs: View detailed transfer logs and application messages
    • Bucket Reports: Generate and view S3 bucket inventory reports

Job Management​

In the Jobs tab, you can:

  • View Progress: See real-time transfer progress, speed, and ETA
  • Control Transfers:
    • Pause/Resume individual jobs
    • Cancel unwanted transfers
    • Rename jobs for better organization
  • Generate Reports: Create detailed transfer reports
  • View Details: Click Action button for detailed job information

Common Workflows​

Camera to Cloud Workflow​

  1. Connect camera storage device
  2. Select footage in Local file browser
  3. Choose production S3 bucket in Remote Configuration
  4. Drag and drop to start upload
  5. Monitor progress and verify checksums

Work-in-Progress Sync​

  1. Set up Hot Folder monitoring for active project directory
  2. Configure automatic upload to designated S3 prefix
  3. Files automatically upload when added/modified
  4. Team members can download latest versions

Archive and Delivery​

  1. Select final project files
  2. Choose appropriate S3 storage class (e.g., Glacier for long-term archive)
  3. Upload with checksum verification
  4. Generate bucket report for delivery confirmation

Multi-Location Collaboration​

  1. Set up remote daemon on high-bandwidth machine
  2. Connect GUI from multiple workstations
  3. Centralize transfers through daemon
  4. Share access to common project buckets

Performance Tips​

Optimize for Your Content​

Large Files (>1GB):

  • Enable autotuning (recommended)
  • Use higher thread counts if manually tuning
  • Ensure adequate local disk I/O

Many Small Files:

  • Increase max active transfers
  • Consider lower thread counts per file
  • Use file order prioritization for critical files

Mixed File Sizes:

  • Keep autotuning enabled
  • Monitor transfer speeds and adjust if needed

Network Optimization​

  • Use S3 Transfer Acceleration for geographically distant buckets
  • Set bandwidth throttling if you need to limit network usage
  • Choose nearest AWS Region for your S3 bucket

Troubleshooting Quick Fixes​

Connection Issues​

  • Verify AWS credentials: aws --profile [profile-name] sts get-caller-identity
  • Check IAM policy permissions
  • Confirm S3 bucket exists and is accessible

Slow Transfers​

  • Check network bandwidth utilization
  • Verify disk I/O isn't bottlenecked
  • Consider adjusting thread/transfer settings
  • Enable S3 Transfer Acceleration if geographically distant

GUI Won't Connect​

  • Ensure apiServer.enabled is true in configuration
  • Restart File Mover Express daemon
  • Check for port conflicts (default: 50005)

Next Steps​

Now that you're familiar with the basics:

Getting Help​

If you need assistance:

  1. Check the Troubleshooting guide
  2. Review logs in the GUI Logs tab or CLI output
  3. Generate a support file: GUI Settings → Support, or filemoverexpress support-file
  4. Open an issue on GitHub with:
    • Your configuration (remove sensitive information)
    • Error messages or logs
    • Steps to reproduce the issue