I'm starting a new job where I need to manage a lot of files and directories on EC2, but I'm finding it frustrating to do this through the command line in Ubuntu. It involves moving nested directories around and lots of manual searching for files of various versions. Since this is just a small part of my job, I want to know if setting up Ubuntu Desktop on EC2 for a GUI might simplify things. Are there any drawbacks to this setup?
5 Answers
I get that the command line is powerful, but can you elaborate on what exactly makes your file management convoluted? Are you dealing with lots of nested directories and individual files? That could clarify the problem.
Have you tried using a command-line tool like Midnight Commander? It’s similar to Norton Commander and can really help navigate files without needing a full GUI.
What are your actual storage options on EC2? Tools exist that can connect via SSH and provide GUI file browsing. But remember, if you're set on using Ubuntu Desktop, it may involve launching a new instance.
You might want to look into using X11 forwarding over SSH. That way, you can use a file manager like Nautilus to make file transfers easier.
Setting up Ubuntu on EC2 is a bit trickier than going for a Windows instance, but there should be pre-configured images available in the marketplace. Just make sure to secure the inbound ports first!
I wish I could just use Windows, but unfortunately, they won't cover the costs.