How perform unattended transfers in a script using perhaps SSH,SCP or HTTPS/SSL?, p***

From: Peter *** (p***@yahoo.com)
Date: 06/02/02 

From: p***@yahoo.com (Peter ***)
Date: 1 Jun 2002 22:29:23 -0700

I am confused due to lack of knowledge being a newbie in this area

Here is basically what we want to do and perhaps you might be so kind
to fill in the blanks and some resources for me. I thank you in
advance.

I am asking quite a few things at once. However the goal is to provide
file data transfer at low cost from our HP UNIX or Windows Box to 5 of
our customers (with Windows most likely).
The files are EDI files--just a file we need to encrypt and send via a
scheduler or via command line/script mode (not interactive with
someone sitting there-i.e.: unattended transfer of an encrypted file).

I have no clue on the following:
1. What is the best approach to sending the files from our site to
theirs in an encrypted manner?

I have heard of Secure FTP, PGP encryption, SSH, SCP and SCP, not to
mention SSL over an HTTPS connection. I do not understand all of
these yet with respect to what is the best approach, decent support,
works reliably, etc.. Again this must operate in an unattended mode
and allow a command line interface.

I have been researching my brains out. Not an idiot. But this is
somewhat new to me being a Web Manager familiar mainly with Windows
2000 Internet Server and IE Browsers.

We are not running any sort of FTP server now. Only FTP we do is the
out of the box command line FTP with windows or Unix.

Some people have suggested running HTTPS with SSL (to send files to
our customers) BUT I do now know what is needed (in terms of all
software) to achieve such on our end and the customers??

Also not sure how to perhaps perform the above using SSH or SCP
instead of HTTPS/SSL?

In other words-I am a bit lost.
Not sure what options are the best.
Not sure of costs.
Not sure what software needs to be loaded at each end (sender and
receiver)

Thanks for any help and some recommendations and some basic How-to's,
pitfalls, costs, and so on.

Sincerely
Peter
p***@yahoo.com