faq Ubuntu One re understanding behaviour of compressed files, particularly large ones

[candtalan]

New FAQ question:
To enable better understanding of the handling of compressed files by Ubuntu One. This understanding is significant when using Ubuntu One for 'off site' backup, which is attractive for me. Large compressed files would be typically used then. My use of U1 has included use of a single tar.gz file of 800MB size, however this is not successful, even when leaving the PC on for apparently long periods.

My ISP speed might be relevant of course (?) 3.5MB broadband here. The PC gets turned on and off variously and I do not know if the file is uploading elegantly in a fragmented way, or if it has to begin all over again if the PC is turned off (!!)

I use U1 2GB at present. Hoping in future to use 50GB facility if I can get my head around the progress visibility issues.

I have tried using non compressed files of various sizes 7MB, 14MB, 21MB, 28MB, 35MB, 42MB (wav files) and smaller document files, all work well from my 9.04 machine to my 9.10 machine. Compressing to tar.gz the 42MB file works ok, but it transfers slowly, at least, it takes a long time. But it still works ok. The large compressed file is - so far - a bit of a mystery

I see no useful visible indications of progress for the slower transfers. Its ok with 7MB files, a response in a minute or so is intuitive.

With long timescales, I loose confidence that it is working or a progress value. Perhaps it is not working?

Improvement of my basic understanding of the transfer rates and times, in ball park ideas would be really useful (typical circumstances say)

tia

[Matt Griffin (mattgriffin)]

Are you still experiencing this issue? Thanks.

[candtalan (aeclist)]

yes, the issue is a lack of understanding about what to expect from ubuntu one at the various stages of it use. I posted the faq bug early on when I was more of a novice. I was then on a 2gb account and using it hold a tar.gz file of over 1gb.

I am still using u1, (now 50gb) but am still having )(various) showsopper issues - (also separately registered ok) however, because there is necessarily some time delays, of between a few seconds to a few days (11GB) then as a user, even a novice user, I have to make decisions on what to do.

For example, to estimate the time that things will take. With a 2gb account, a single compressed file of 1.9 gb on my upload speed will take a couple of days full time uploading. What happens if I turn the machine off twice a day for example?

On recent versions of u1 I first saw the symbols on folders as red circle with white cross, and did not know what that meant or what to expect.

The faq can hopefully answer many of these type of uncertainties in future? I would help but I simply dont know enough yet anyway :-).
Thanks

[Matt Griffin (mattgriffin)]

Thanks. Appreciate the research and comments. The delays and speed issues that you mention are being addressed with infrastructure and client improvements. Probably the best place for this type of analysis would be Ubuntu Forums (ubuntuforums.org). I'm going to close this bug for now.

[candtalan (aeclist)]

Matt Griffin wrote:
> Thanks. Appreciate the research and comments. The delays and speed
> issues that you mention are being addressed with infrastructure and
> client improvements. Probably the best place for this type of analysis
> would be Ubuntu Forums (ubuntuforums.org). I'm going to close this bug
> for now.
>
> ** Changed in: ubuntuone-client
> Status: Incomplete => Invalid
>

Ok thanks Matt

--
alan cocks
Ubuntu user