Data Sharing Script (WSL-Windows)

Overview

data_sharing.sh is a Bash script designed to facilitate seamless file transfers between Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and Windows environments. The script provides an interactive menu-driven interface for bidirectional file and directory transfers.

Features

• Bidirectional file transfer between WSL and Windows
• Interactive menu interface
• Directory structure inspection tool
• Detailed logging system
• Support for both file and directory transfers
• Configurable source and destination directories

Prerequisites

• Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) installed
• Bash shell environment
• Read/Write permissions in both Windows and Linux directories

Installation

1. Copy the script to your desired location in WSL
2. Make the script executable:

   chmod +x data_sharing.sh

Default Directory Structure

The script uses the following default directory structure if no parameters are provided:

Windows Directories

• Source: /mnt/c/Users/<username>/Desktop/linux_sharing/export-zone
• Destination: /mnt/c/Users/<username>/Desktop/linux_sharing/land-zone

Linux Directories

• Source: <current_directory>/export-zone
• Destination: <current_directory>/land-zone

Usage

Basic Usage

./data_sharing.sh

Custom Directory Configuration

./data_sharing.sh <windows_source_dir> <windows_dest_dir> <linux_source_dir> <linux_dest_dir>

Menu Options

Main Menu

1. Import from Windows
2. Export to Windows

• e: Exit

Transfer Menu (Import/Export)

1. File Transfer
2. Directory Transfer
3. Inspect Source Directory
4. Change Source Directory

• b: Back to Main Menu

Directory Inspector Tool

The inspector tool provides basic file system navigation and inspection capabilities:

Available commands:

• ls: List directory contents
• cat: Display file contents
• clear: Clear screen
• exit: Exit inspector

Note: The inspector tool is restricted to the source directory tree for security purposes.

Logging System

The script maintains detailed logs of all transfer operations:

• Log Location: ./logs/YYYY_MM_DD.log
• Logs include:
  • System information
  • Transfer operations
  • Success/Failure status
  • Timestamps

Color Coding

The script uses color coding for better visibility:

• Red: Errors
• Yellow: Warnings
• Green: Success
• Blue: Information

Security Features

• Restricted directory navigation
• Permission checks
• Error handling for file operations
• Logging of all operations

Error Handling

The script includes comprehensive error handling for:

• File/directory existence checks
• Permission issues
• Transfer operations
• Invalid user input

Limitations

• Cannot navigate outside source directories in the inspector tool
• Command options are not supported in the inspector tool
• Requires appropriate permissions in both Windows and Linux environments

Best Practices

1. Ensure proper permissions are set for source and destination directories
2. Regularly check logs for any transfer issues
3. Use relative paths when specifying files/directories for transfer
4. Keep the directory structure organized

Troubleshooting

1. If transfers fail, check:
   • Directory permissions
   • File existence
   • Path validity
2. Consult the log files for detailed error information
3. Ensure WSL has proper access to Windows directories