MongoDB GridFS, Rails 3, X-Sendfile and ACL, HOW-TO?

Question

I have a Rails 3 project that uploads / downloads a file with permissions (the User has many Files and can only read / write his own files).

If I store files on a classic file system, I can check access to the file in my rails application, and then use the X-Sendfile header to redirect to the file if the user has access. Thus, the user cannot access the file without permission, and the download is quick.

• Can I download files from GridFS as fast as the X-Sendfile and pass docking with them through the rails / rack?

• Would piping through rails / racks be terribly slow?

• Can I download files from GridFS as fast as the X-Sendfile and pass docking with them through the rails / rack, AND ALSO have the ability to force access rights?

Answer 1

So far, I have found and thought about possible solutions:

• Use something like gridfs-fuse to connect GFS to the local FS and use the X-Sendfile as always.

• Use something like nginx-gridfs , which is c-fast and out-of-rails (doesn't block my req- application at boot time). The disadvantage is that it is server specific