git-annex/doc/tips/using_Amazon_S3.mdwn

git-annex extends git's usual remotes with some [[special_remotes]], that
are not git repositories. This way you can set up a remote using say,
Amazon S3, and use git-annex to transfer files into the cloud.

First, export your S3 credentials:

	# export ANNEX_S3_ACCESS_KEY_ID="08TJMT99S3511WOZEP91"
	# export ANNEX_S3_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY="s3kr1t"

Now, create a gpg key, if you don't already have one. This will be used
to encrypt everything stored in S3, for your privacy. Once you have
a gpg key, run `gpg --list-secret-keys` to look up its key id, something
like "2512E3C7"

Next, create the S3 remote, and describe it. 

	# git annex initremote cloud type=S3 encryption=2512E3C7
	initremote cloud (encryption setup with gpg key C910D9222512E3C7) (checking bucket) (creating bucket in US) (gpg) ok
	# git annex describe cloud "at Amazon's US datacenter"
	describe cloud ok

The configuration for the S3 remote is stored in git. So to make another
repository use the same S3 remote is easy:

	# cd /media/usb/annex
	# git pull laptop
	# git annex initremote cloud
	initremote cloud (gpg) (checking bucket) ok

Now the remote can be used like any other remote.

	# git annex copy my_cool_big_file --to cloud
	copy my_cool_big_file (gpg) (checking cloud...) (to cloud...) ok
	# git annex move video/hackity_hack_and_kaxxt.mov --to cloud
	move video/hackity_hack_and_kaxxt.mov (checking cloud...) (to cloud...) ok

See [[special_remotes/S3]] for details.