MacFUSE + sshfs = Cool
January 23rd, 2007 by Marcos
Google recently announced a port of FUSE (file system in user space) to the Mac, aptly titled MacFUSE. I didn’t pay much attention until today. Combined with sshfs (ssh file system) this is fairly useful method to mount other computers as volumes on a Mac. Granted, if you’re connecting to another Mac, Appleshare is probably better. It seems like a possible alternative to NFS exports, etc.
The idea of sshfs is that any ssh server can be mounted as a volume (seen in the Finder.) For copying files, the Finder and sshfs are about half as fast as sftp (sftp speeds done via Transmit.)
For editing of remote text files though (say, if you want to use TextWrangler), sshfs is probably a bit simpler than the download/re-upload method that Transmit and Fugu use.
Another cool trick is SpotlightFS, which turns spotlight queries into real functional folders (unlike smart folders in Tiger) that can be accessed via the Terminal.
Check it all out at Google’s MacFUSE site. MacFUSE requires MacOS X 10.4 (Tiger) or later.
Doc Kinne Says
Marcos:
Had to say this was a WONDEROUS hint! Thank you!!
Jan 25th, 2007 at 2:09 am