Another route might be to try standalone utilities like Curl or Wget. They can help reveal the steps necessary to authenticate and transfer data.
This sample shell script shows how curl can submit form data, store cookies, and initiate downloads.
#!/bin/sh
#
# This sample script demonstrates how the cURL utility can download Side Effects
# software. It requires a valid
sidefx.com username and password, and creates
# a temporary web cookie called “cookie.txt”.
#
# 2014-02-04
# Provide a valid Side Effects name and password:
sidefx_name=MrMasamitsuNiitani
sidefx_pass=FancySalami
# Compile application build details; build number changes frequently.
# For the latest build number, query the RSS feed at:
#
http://www.sidefx.com/download/buildfeed.php?release=daily_stable [
sidefx.com]
version=13.0
build=288
platform=linux_x86_64_gcc4.6
format=tar.gz
saved_file=“houdini_$version_$build.$format”
# Save some shortcuts to common
sidefx.com addresses:
login_page="
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_forum&Itemid=172&page=login [
sidefx.com]“
license_terms=”
http://www.sidefx.com/components/com_download/accept_terms.php [
sidefx.com]“
dailies=”
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_download&Itemid=208 [
sidefx.com]“
# Navigate to download destination. Disposable cookie will also appear here:
cd ~/Desktop
# Provide login credentials, save resulting cookie to text file:
echo ”Attempting to log in as ‘$sidefx_name…’\n“
curl -b cookies.txt -c cookies.txt -s -d ”login=Login In&autologin=on&username=$sidefx_name&password=$sidefx_pass“ $login_page
curl -b cookies.txt -c cookies.txt -s $dailies
# Almost ready to download. Must accept license terms at least once.
# Assemble all the variables and submit as a form.
# If everything is complete, the download will begin immediately:
echo ”\n\nAttempting to fetch Houdini version $version, build $build…\n“
curl -b cookies.txt -c cookies.txt -d ”terms_menu=Accept&submit=Continue&always_accept=on&version=$version&build=$build&platform=$platform&format=$format" $license_terms -o $saved_file
If successful, the file transfer should begin promptly:
http://curl.haxx.se [curl.haxx.se]
https://www.gnu.org/software/wget/ [
gnu.org]