FTP Servers

[sirius]

How easy is it to set up a FTP thingy on my machine?. Somebody has a big set of files I want and they want to send them to me over the net.
Im not too well up on this side of things, Im assuming its some sort of account I create on my computer with SmartFTP (which I have) a bit like sharing a folder on Kaaza.
I would like it to be safe, so no unwanted peeps can wipe my hard disk clean or the person sending can only see and download files I let them etc....is this possible and how?.

What exactly is an FTP account/server? I dont need webspace do I? Is SmartFTP enough to do this, (cos its the one Im used to)?


Thanks,

Sirius.

[fugjostle]

I use BulletProof FTP Server and its really easy to setup on windows. Have a look at http://www.bpftpserver.com/

If you want a more professional ftp server then get wu-ftp and linux up and running. I can help you set it up... and it blows everything else out of the water.

[fugjostle]

Originally posted by sirius
What exactly is an FTP account/server? I dont need webspace do I? Is SmartFTP enough to do this, (cos its the one Im used to)?

The file transfer protocol (FTP) is a better method of transfering files when compared to something like HTTP. Which is why you sometimes see sites the have both an FTP and HTTP download link. An FTP server is similar to a HTTP (or web) server... a web server stores text files whereas an FTP server stores program files. You can access any old FTP using the command line or a tool like smartFTP. Most FTP servers require you to log in, usually as "anonymous" with the password as your email. But you can set it up so that only people you want can access the server and therefore you have to set up accounts for them... basically a username/password and list of what they can access.

You can't use smart FTP because its a client that connects to a server. In other words once you set up your FTP server people could use smart ftp to access it. There are lots of different makes of FTP server but they all do pretty much the same thing.

The more advanced ones do things like ratios where a user can download x% the amount he uploads. Warez ftp servers tend to do this.

[sirius]

cheers!.

Now youre in for some real hassle!. Ive got a version of the *ahem* full application and installed it. I have tried the help files and managed to set up a trial purpose account and set up a particular folder on my machine which that user can look at and up/download too.
I have set it so that they have to provide a case sensitive password, limited the 'hammering'.

So far so good. What Im stuck on now is

1) What else do I do to protect myself from somebody unwanted gaining entry.

2) What do I need to do to/How do I tell someone where to find me? Do I have to type in a specific name - I dont get it.

3) My bro says I probably cant do it cos of 'Dynamic' IP addressing. He reckons it wont work cos evertime I log off and on again my IP may change......Were on BT Broadband, so is it true you reckon? Is there a way around this - it sounds a bit poo dunnit.

Im sure theres more questions, but thats enough for now .


Cheers,

Sirius.

[sirius]

Where are you fug man??.........


cheers


Sirius.

[wildpitch]

Sirius mate. I use a service called DNS2GO to map my Dynamic IP to a name. You have to pay a tenner a year for their service but there are free ones out there if you look hard enough. Basically DNS2GO allow you to pick a name such as Sirius.dns2go.com, you run a client on your PC, which logs your IP with them when you boot up, logon to the web etc, so whatever it is people can get at your server via the name.

As for your FTP and security, as long as you only allocate a folder to it, you should be safe. You can do things like run your FTP on a non standard port, which really minimises people hacking your server. This also means that people can have difficulty getting on to it if they are behind a firewall tho, so I don't bother. I've had an FTP on-line for a couple of years and haven't any problems yet, but maybe I've been lucky. You'll want to switch off anonymous logins, and possibly remove delete rights to the folder you've setup.


Does that make any sense?

[sirius]

Thanks wildpitch m8. Yeah, it kind of made sense, however I only forsee this being a short term venture. I want to recieve some files which may well wiegh in at over a gig and theres no other way of doing this as easy. Perhaps I may give this person something of intrest in return and do the occasional mp3 share because I havent any other real means of doing so.....
As long as I can recieve these files Im after without causing the sender too much hassle (because he's doing me a huge favour) I think Ill be OK.
If I want to give anyone access after that, can I find out what IP Im 'broadcasting' on (if indeed it has changed dynamicly) and let them know in relitavely realtime so I know exactly who would be working the server and when???...

Might be dumb questions, but I havent a clue at this side of things

See ya

Sirius.

[wildpitch]

Dead easy to get you IP and there's more than a couple of ways of doing it. If you're running Win 2K or XP, hit start/run, type cmd, and then at the command prompt type ipconfig.

If you're in Win9X or Me, Start/Run winipcfg

[fugjostle]

Wildpitch is da man.... without dynamic dns you have to use your current IP. As for security, my advice is not to leave the ftp server running when its not needed and as long as your anonymous access is disabled all should be well :-)

[Mike]

Try www.no-ip.com cos it's freeeeeeeee!!!

[sirius]

Cheers all .

Havent sussed it yet, as my PC is on its way out again and ready for a 're do'.

Ive heard winXP pro has a built in FTP server....is this true? Is it any good if it is?. Im going to reinstall, but Im putting on WinXP Pro intead of my dual boot 2000 server and Xp Home this week.

Failing that, Bulletproof FTP has looked OK and that IP site above looks interesting....is it safe to entrust others with your details though?.

Cheerio

Sirius

[wildpitch]

I think both flavours of XP come with IIS on the disc, which is pretty good as a web server, but the FTP side of it is quite poor compared to the dedicated ones, such as ServU and Bulletproof. Probably best to avoid it if you have a copy of a pucker FTP server.

Is it safe to trust others with your details? Depends who the others are! Do you know them? Again go for a pucker FTP server and give them a fixed time to use it. eg Disable the account after so many days if you only need them to access your FTP temporarily.

[sirius]

RIGHT, I need your help here again peeps.

Ive redone the old pc again, installed Bulletproof and set up an account to try out myself to see if I can get in on another computer.

Theres a bit I need to fill in which I dont understand:

Under the 'general' tab of the setup, theres a bit which says

"FTP Server name:______________"

Can I type anything here? does the program automatically link it to my personal computer location? or do I need to type in a specific numer sequence (ftp stylee)?.
I thought it may be my ip addy or something, but when I type ipconfig in dos I just get my local home network address eg 129.186.*.*.

The plan is to set it up asap, give it a try myself somehow then log off completely and relog on to see if I can still get in......


Hope you understand my dumbness here .

Sirius.

[sirius]

Anyone?. as above, I still dont undrstand what I need to do to get myself visable to others etc......

Cheers

Sirius.

[wildpitch]

PM the address if you want it testing Sirius. I'm not familiar with the setup of the FTP your running. The field is unlikely to be for an address, and is probably just for a name. Does it work for you locally? FTP to 127.0.0.1 when you have the service running as a test.