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. # git config remote.mys3.annex-s3-bucket myannex # export ANNEX_S3_ACCESS_KEY_ID="08TJMT99S3511WOZEP91" # export ANNEX_S3_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY="s3kr1t" # git annex copy my_cool_big_file --to mys3 copy my_cool_big_file (to mys3...) ok # git annex move video/hackity_hack_and_kaxxt.mov --to mys3 move video/hackity_hack_and_kaxxt.mov (to mys3...) ok An Amazon S3 remote works just like a ssh remote, except it does not have a git repository at the other end, and it costs you money. :) For full details about setting them up, see [[special_remotes]].