Share with unauthenticated recipients using public links

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You can use public links to share folders in your Files app without requiring your recipient to log in. Be aware that the public link you send is not restricted to the person you send it to. For additional security, you can set and require a password to use the public link.

Note: The Aspera on Cloud administrator can disable this feature.

You can use a public link to share with:

AoC users in your workspace.
AoC users who are not members of your workspace.
Colleagues who do not have an AoC account.

Note: Be aware that the public link you send is not restricted to the person you send it to. The recipient of your public link can forward the link to someone else, who can then use the link to access the content you shared. Share these links only with trusted colleagues when the security of the folder content is not vital.

Aspera on Cloud prompts the recipient of your link to download and install IBM Aspera Connect. It may be helpful to remind them that, after they install Connect, they may need to adjust their browser settings to allow Aspera Connect to run.

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To share with an outside user, do the following:

Right-click a folder row and select Get shared link.
Select Public link. Anyone can access this folder with this link.
Note: Be aware that the public link you send is not restricted to the person you send it to. The recipient of your public link can forward the link to someone else, who can then use the link to access the content you share. Share public links only with trusted colleagues when the security of the folder content is not vital.
If this is the first public link to this folder, click Create one.
If a modal displays with a an editable text field, you can customize the link you are about to create. Enter a link name that will be useful and informative to you and to potential recipients; click OK. If you don't see this field, your admin has not configured this customization capability; go to the next step.
Set the expiration for this link to determine the duration that your recipient should have access to this folder. After that duration, the link becomes invalid.
Set the permission you want your recipient to have to the contents of this folder. For details, see "Content Permissions" below.
To require a password for this link, select the check box labeled Require password.
Aspera on Cloud generates and displays a password.
1. To generate a new password, click the circular icon.
  When you regenerate a password, all previous passwords become invalid. If past recipients are using this link with a previous password, give your past recipients the new password.
2. To create your own password, delete the generated password and enter your desired password into the field.
3. To copy the password, click the copy icon.
  The password remains on your clipboard until you copy something else. Be sure to save the password in secure file before you copy anything else.
  
  Important: Aspera on Cloud does not save the password. Once you click Save in the following step, you cannot recover the password. You can regenerate the password for a link, but when you do, the former password becomes obsolete: other users (if any) of the link will be locked out unless you give them the new password.
  
  Note: If you use multiple password-protected links, consider keeping a secure file of links and their passwords. You cannot recover a lost password.
4. Click Save.
5. Deliver the password to your recipient according to your local site security practices.
Deliver the public link to your collaborator using one of these methods:
- Click the Copy icon in the link field, then deliver the link to your recipient according to your local site practice.
  Important: When you click Copy, the link overwrites anything existing on your clipboard. If you previously copied the password, be sure your stored the password in a secure location before copying the link itself.
- Enter an email address or username, and an optional message; then click Send.
  AoC sends an email notification to each recipient. When they click the link in the email, AoC presents a portal that displays the folder.
Results:
- When your recipient tries to use the link, AoC prompts them to download and install IBM Aspera Connect, the same software you installed to enable high-speed transfers between your desktop and an Aspera server. It may be helpful to remind them that, after they install Connect, they may need to adjust their browser settings to allow Aspera Connect to run. Just like you, they must install the Connect app once on their computer, and they must add the browser extension once in each browser they'll use to access Aspera on Cloud. For details, see Aspera Connect transfer client.
- Link recipients can act on the folder according to the permissions you set, until the expiration you set for the link.

Send an existing link

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To share a folder using an existing link, do the following:

Right-click the row of the folder to share, then select Get shared link.
Select Public link.
Select the intended link, then click the Send icon.
Either click the Copy icon in the link field and send the link to your recipient, or enter the recipient name, along with a message if desired, and click Send.

Note: Changes you make to existing links affect all the users you previously shared that link with.

Managing Existing Links

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You can change or delete links you've made. If you are a folder collaborator with Edit permission to the folder, you can manage all links to the folder – both links that you've created and links that other users have created.

To change an existing link, do the following:

Right-click the folder and select Get shared link; the Share link window displays.
In the Share link window, click Manage links.
For private links that you can share with current folder collaborators, you can do the following:
1. Click the Send icon to send this link to one or more folder collaborators.
2. Click the Copy icon to copy the link to your clipboard.
3. Click the Trash icon to delete this link. The link becomes invalid immediately. Anyone who has this link can no longer use it to access the folder.
For public links that you can share with anyone, you can do the following:
1. Click the Edit icon to change the expiration or permission set on this link, or to apply a password to this link, or to reset an existing password. Such changes become effective immediately, and anyone who already has this link will be affected.
2. Click the Send icon to send this link to more recipients.
3. Click the Copy icon to copy the link to your clipboard.
4. Click the Trash icon to delete this link. The link becomes invalid immediately. Anyone who has this link can no longer use it to access the folder.

To delete a link, do the following:

Right-click the row of the folder to share, then select Get shared link.
Click Manage links.
Find the intended link in the list of public links and click the delete icon to the right.

Share with unauthenticated recipients using public links

Share a public link

Send an existing link

Managing Existing Links