How do I transfer files between a local computer and a WorkSpace?

Resolution

For security purposes, you can't copy and paste or transfer files between your WorkSpace and a local host. Instead, you must use the WorkSpaces client to copy and paste text and images.

To copy a text file, copy the text, and then paste the text into a new text file in WorkSpaces. For other file types, take one of the following actions.

Use Amazon S3

Upload the files to an Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) bucket from your local machine. Then, download the files into your WorkSpace.

Or, use the AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI) to allow the WorkSpace to access the S3 bucket with your files.

Note: If you receive errors when you run AWS CLI commands, then see Troubleshoot AWS CLI errors. Also, make sure that you're using the most recent AWS CLI version.

Complete the following steps:

1. To grant your WorkSpace permission to access the S3 bucket, run the configure command:

   $ aws configure

   Note: You can use AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to manage the access keys for your IAM users.

2. To list your S3 buckets, run the ls command:

   $ aws s3 ls

   Note: To create an IAM policy that allows read and write access to the bucket, see Allowing read and write access to an Amazon S3 bucket.

3. In the command's output, verify that your S3 bucket is on the list.

4. To download the files from the S3 bucket to your WorkSpace, run the cp command:

   aws s3 cp s3://testbucket/file.txt D:\Users\username\Desktop

   Note: Replace testbucket with your bucket name, username with your username, and file.txt with your file.

Use FSx for Windows File Server

Complete the following steps:

1. Create an Amazon FSx for Windows File Server file system.
2. To integrate your file system with WorkSpaces, join the file system with AWS Directory Service for Microsoft Active Directory or a self-managed Active Directory.
3. Configure your file system to be accessible from your local machine and your WorkSpace. On your local machine, set up network connectivity with the virtual private cloud (VPC) where the FSx for Windows File Server is located. To set up access to the VPC from an on-premises environment, use AWS Direct Connect or AWS VPN.
4. Configure the network security groups and firewall rules. They must allow inbound SMB traffic on TCP port 445 from the local machine and WorkSpaces environments to the Amazon FSx file system's security group.
5. From the local Windows computer, map the Amazon FSx file share as a network drive. Use the DNS name or preferred IP address of the Amazon FSx file system.
6. From the WorkSpace, map the Amazon FSx file share as a network drive.

Use an external storage system

Use an external storage system, such as an AWS Transfer Family server, OneDrive, or Dropbox. Copy the file to the external storage system. Then, open the external storage system on the WorkSpace, and download the file.

Use a VPN

Use AWS Client VPN to establish a VPN connection to a VPC.

High latency when you transfer data

If you experience performance issues when you transfer data between your WorkSpace and a local computer, then take the following actions:

• To view your resource usage during the transfer, check the CPUUsage, MemoryUsage, UserVolumeDiskUsage, and RootVolumeDiskUsage Amazon CloudWatch metrics.
• Run a Wireshark capture when you transfer the file to determine whether there are networking issues.
• Use the Process Monitor tool to run a capture when you transfer the file. To access the tool, see Process Monitor v4.01 on the Microsoft website.

Note: High CPU levels or overall low bandwidth from the client to the source can slow file transfers.