You can use files that are hosted on Amazon S3 but in order for the files to be downloaded, your S3 files must be made public. Doing that negates the file security that Easy Digital Downloads provides and would permit someone to share the file URLs, making it possible for anyone to download the files without paying.
Our Amazon S3 extension keeps the files completely secure so they are only accessible to paying customers.
ok I understand about the extension.
If the S3 files are made public, does that mean my files are publicly accessible (outside of my website, through other means)?
Yes, that means the files are publicly accessible to anyone.
I’m sorry I still don’t get it. If I have a file I want people to pay for, and I store it on S3, and use the EDD extension to pull it into my Download product, I have to make my file public. So if this file is publicly accessible to anyone, what’s stopping them from downloading it without paying me?
Also, I am using more space than I imagined, so I am considering between S3 or upgrading the space on my hosting account. Do you know which is preferable? Thanks!
The file does not need to be made public when using the EDD extension. That’s what makes the EDD extension valuable: the ability to have private files that can still be delivered to paying customers.
What’s your hosting currently look like? Who is it through?
I see!! I misunderstood your first reply to me – I thought that to use the S3 extension with EDD, I would have to make my files public! Thus my confusion. Thanks for clearing that up.
I’m with http://www.hostwithlove.com/shared-hosting.php on a S1 plan. I read up more on S3 and I think that’s the way to go. If you’ve got a minute to take a look at that page, would you agree?
I would definitely recommend upgrading your hosting account. While you may be able to get away with a $1 hosting plan, it will almost certainly cost you more in frustrations, headaches, and lost sales, than it will to upgrade to a better plan.
Wow ok thanks. Sounds like my idea was wrong. I thought I could just host my site with them and look to Amazon S3 for storage of my files that EDD will use.
You can but your experience won’t necessarily be great.
