FL310
14th Apr 2002, 20:03
There are several requests on my desk to show how to have an own FTP server.
First--> it is possible, second--> it is easy, third--> it is safe.
Two pieces of software are required, later more.
The basics are simple, when you log-on to the internet, your ISP provides your machine with an IP-address. Since this address changes each time when you log on, it would be almost impossible to have others find your server.
What you need is a static IP (some of you may have a static IP, in this case you do not need to follow the first part.)
Faking a static IP
Some very nice guys provide (for free!!) a service where your machine logs on and with a given name a valid address is provided, rerouting back to your machine. This goes in a very easy and fast way.
Go to www.getmyip.com and sign up. In the name field use a fancy server name (such as PPRUNER_FOREVER) and if it is still available, you will get it. The password field is selfexplanatory, and the email address should lead to a real one.
Click Create Account.
The group should be filled with "all".
That was it, your server has now the address ppruner_forever.getmyip.com
Next step, use the site to find the software which uses the now available service (look under CLIENTS). I use DynSite for W2K (and update_py on Linux), a small program which starts when firing up the PC and connects speedy to the net once it detects a connection. It is also free and more information can be seen on the creators website at http://www.noeld.com/
The installation is very much selfexplanatory.
Here now the work for all, also the static IP users.
Next step is the server, for W2K I use Bulletproof-FTP, find it at http://www.bpftpserver.com/ . You are NOT interested in the client, as this is the software your visitors will need (they can use any FTP client they may have, i.e. WS-FTP or WinCute or even the latest Netscape and IE Browser will do.)
You need the server!
On the site is a very comprehensive help available as well as a Testversion for free download. The full version is just U$29.95 and worth the amount.
After downloading, the setup runs very straight forward.
Now the set up.
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> GENERAL
- FTP server Use a name (does not matter which one) which appears at you visitors end as your server name
- Listen on port is always 21
- Max number of users this depends on your connection speed, I use 2
- System tick 3,4,5,6,7
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> OPTIONS
I did not tick
- Delete partially uploaded files
- Diable log to screen..
- Show received messages
- Limit user/pass...
- and nothing in IP options
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> ADVANCED
- Leave buffer at 4096
- Uploads and Downloads (well, this is your choice)
- Priority on normal (unless you have a dedicated server :o )
- Anti Hammer , Block IP 5 min if 20 connections in 40 secs (will keep attacks off...)
- Click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> OPTIONS
- Directory Cache -nothing-
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> STAT GENERATOR
- if you want to have statistics, well enable it, my one is off
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> SCHEDULER
- nothing-
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> DYNAMIC IP
- tick the box and set the time to 30 mins
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> VISUAL MISC
- I have only the switch time left ticked
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> LOG OPTIONS--> SETUP
- you can set a different log file, I left the default
- Logging method on single file otherwise you have a file for each session
- Log screen 100 and tick show passwords
- Logging rules to apply to both
- Log all IPs ticked
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> LOG OPTIONS--> ADVANCED
- tick Use standard log syntax
- in the color fields you can specify other defaults, I did not see any reason.
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> LOG OPTIONS--> SCREEN
- tick all
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> LOG OPTIONS--> FILE
- tick all
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> MULTI IP SETTINGS
- leave everything as is
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> FREE FILES
- leave everything as is
- click OK
So far the general setup.
Now we create users.
First we open Windows Explorer and create a main FTP directory, call it whatever suits you. Change to the directory and now create one directory GUEST and directories for everyone you want to access your FTP service. We stay in the Guest directory for further explanation.
Change to the Guest directory and create an UPLOAD (if you want to enable uploads to your server) and a DOWNLOAD directory.
Back to Bulletproof.
This has to be done very every user of your service, unless you want to have all to login as GUEST
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> SETUP
- on the right side under USER ACCOUNTS right click and select +ADD
- in ACCOUNT NAME enter guest
- in ACCESS RIGHTS right click under DIRECTORIES and click +ADD
- select the path to the GUEST directory, tick READ, LIST, +SUBDIR
- again right click and +ADD
- now select the path to the GUEST/UPLOAD directory, tick all
- again right click and +ADD
- now select the path to the GUEST/DOWNLOAD directory, tick READ, DELETE, LIST, +SUBDIRS
- in the centre bottom give the guest a unique name to login, we will use again GUEST
- in the password field use a unique password, for our purpose here we just use also GUEST
- in HOME IP select ALL IP HOMES
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> MISCELLANEOUS
- tick ENABLE ACCOUNT
- tick ENABLE TIMEOUT select 600
- tick FILES--> SHOW RELATIVE PATH
- tick COMMANDS--> ALLOW NOOP COMMAND
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> LINKS & MESSAGES
- tick LINKS TO ADD TO DIRECTORIES
- tick TREAT AS VIRTUAL DIRECTORIES
- tick RESOLVE WINDOWS SHORTCUTS
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> RATIO, QUOTA, BPS
- nothing
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> IP & BANNED FILES
- nothing
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> NOTES
- in the NOTES field it may be a good idea to put the password as you cannot keep track of all...
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> STATUS
- there is nothing to do...
- click OK
That was it.
Once you click SERVER--> GO ONLINE you will see a message like this one here:
14.Apr.02 20:30:46 - FTP Server On-line : IP(s) 213.122.126.27, on port 21
which confirms we are online....
Now, your friend wants to download something from your server.
With any FTP program the server name is the name we used at getmyip.com in our case here ppruner_forever.getmyip.com
login name is GUEST
password is GUEST
and he/she should reach within moments the drectory yourFTPdirectory/GUEST and he/she can see all files in there as well as both subdirs UPLOAD and DOWNLOAD.
Pretty straight forward, isn't it?
With Netscape or Internet Explorer they need to put
FTP://GUEST:GUEST@ppruner_forever.getmyip.com into the address field, where the first GUEST is the login-name and the second GUEST is the password.
Problems with firewalls.
With Zonealarm once you start the server you are asked for server-rights which you have to grant. As
soon as someone logs on (only on the first ever event) you are also asked for rights of incoming
traffic, you need to grant these as well. Thats all in Zone Alarm.
With Windows XP it is a bit more intensive, as I do not have XP here, I cannot assist on this,
feedbacks so far showed that the internal XP firewall had to be switched off (which is anyway a good idea as Zone Alarm offers easier protection).
Once you are comfortable with the system, read also the manual of Bulletproof, it gives clarification and much more indepth knowledge about each possible setting.
Enjoy and have fun....and don't block the Internet!!!
First--> it is possible, second--> it is easy, third--> it is safe.
Two pieces of software are required, later more.
The basics are simple, when you log-on to the internet, your ISP provides your machine with an IP-address. Since this address changes each time when you log on, it would be almost impossible to have others find your server.
What you need is a static IP (some of you may have a static IP, in this case you do not need to follow the first part.)
Faking a static IP
Some very nice guys provide (for free!!) a service where your machine logs on and with a given name a valid address is provided, rerouting back to your machine. This goes in a very easy and fast way.
Go to www.getmyip.com and sign up. In the name field use a fancy server name (such as PPRUNER_FOREVER) and if it is still available, you will get it. The password field is selfexplanatory, and the email address should lead to a real one.
Click Create Account.
The group should be filled with "all".
That was it, your server has now the address ppruner_forever.getmyip.com
Next step, use the site to find the software which uses the now available service (look under CLIENTS). I use DynSite for W2K (and update_py on Linux), a small program which starts when firing up the PC and connects speedy to the net once it detects a connection. It is also free and more information can be seen on the creators website at http://www.noeld.com/
The installation is very much selfexplanatory.
Here now the work for all, also the static IP users.
Next step is the server, for W2K I use Bulletproof-FTP, find it at http://www.bpftpserver.com/ . You are NOT interested in the client, as this is the software your visitors will need (they can use any FTP client they may have, i.e. WS-FTP or WinCute or even the latest Netscape and IE Browser will do.)
You need the server!
On the site is a very comprehensive help available as well as a Testversion for free download. The full version is just U$29.95 and worth the amount.
After downloading, the setup runs very straight forward.
Now the set up.
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> GENERAL
- FTP server Use a name (does not matter which one) which appears at you visitors end as your server name
- Listen on port is always 21
- Max number of users this depends on your connection speed, I use 2
- System tick 3,4,5,6,7
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> OPTIONS
I did not tick
- Delete partially uploaded files
- Diable log to screen..
- Show received messages
- Limit user/pass...
- and nothing in IP options
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> ADVANCED
- Leave buffer at 4096
- Uploads and Downloads (well, this is your choice)
- Priority on normal (unless you have a dedicated server :o )
- Anti Hammer , Block IP 5 min if 20 connections in 40 secs (will keep attacks off...)
- Click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> OPTIONS
- Directory Cache -nothing-
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> STAT GENERATOR
- if you want to have statistics, well enable it, my one is off
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> SCHEDULER
- nothing-
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> DYNAMIC IP
- tick the box and set the time to 30 mins
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> VISUAL MISC
- I have only the switch time left ticked
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> LOG OPTIONS--> SETUP
- you can set a different log file, I left the default
- Logging method on single file otherwise you have a file for each session
- Log screen 100 and tick show passwords
- Logging rules to apply to both
- Log all IPs ticked
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> LOG OPTIONS--> ADVANCED
- tick Use standard log syntax
- in the color fields you can specify other defaults, I did not see any reason.
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> LOG OPTIONS--> SCREEN
- tick all
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> LOG OPTIONS--> FILE
- tick all
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> MULTI IP SETTINGS
- leave everything as is
- click OK
Click SETUP --> MAIN--> FREE FILES
- leave everything as is
- click OK
So far the general setup.
Now we create users.
First we open Windows Explorer and create a main FTP directory, call it whatever suits you. Change to the directory and now create one directory GUEST and directories for everyone you want to access your FTP service. We stay in the Guest directory for further explanation.
Change to the Guest directory and create an UPLOAD (if you want to enable uploads to your server) and a DOWNLOAD directory.
Back to Bulletproof.
This has to be done very every user of your service, unless you want to have all to login as GUEST
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> SETUP
- on the right side under USER ACCOUNTS right click and select +ADD
- in ACCOUNT NAME enter guest
- in ACCESS RIGHTS right click under DIRECTORIES and click +ADD
- select the path to the GUEST directory, tick READ, LIST, +SUBDIR
- again right click and +ADD
- now select the path to the GUEST/UPLOAD directory, tick all
- again right click and +ADD
- now select the path to the GUEST/DOWNLOAD directory, tick READ, DELETE, LIST, +SUBDIRS
- in the centre bottom give the guest a unique name to login, we will use again GUEST
- in the password field use a unique password, for our purpose here we just use also GUEST
- in HOME IP select ALL IP HOMES
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> MISCELLANEOUS
- tick ENABLE ACCOUNT
- tick ENABLE TIMEOUT select 600
- tick FILES--> SHOW RELATIVE PATH
- tick COMMANDS--> ALLOW NOOP COMMAND
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> LINKS & MESSAGES
- tick LINKS TO ADD TO DIRECTORIES
- tick TREAT AS VIRTUAL DIRECTORIES
- tick RESOLVE WINDOWS SHORTCUTS
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> RATIO, QUOTA, BPS
- nothing
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> IP & BANNED FILES
- nothing
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> NOTES
- in the NOTES field it may be a good idea to put the password as you cannot keep track of all...
- click OK
Click SETUP --> USER ACCOUNTS--> STATUS
- there is nothing to do...
- click OK
That was it.
Once you click SERVER--> GO ONLINE you will see a message like this one here:
14.Apr.02 20:30:46 - FTP Server On-line : IP(s) 213.122.126.27, on port 21
which confirms we are online....
Now, your friend wants to download something from your server.
With any FTP program the server name is the name we used at getmyip.com in our case here ppruner_forever.getmyip.com
login name is GUEST
password is GUEST
and he/she should reach within moments the drectory yourFTPdirectory/GUEST and he/she can see all files in there as well as both subdirs UPLOAD and DOWNLOAD.
Pretty straight forward, isn't it?
With Netscape or Internet Explorer they need to put
FTP://GUEST:GUEST@ppruner_forever.getmyip.com into the address field, where the first GUEST is the login-name and the second GUEST is the password.
Problems with firewalls.
With Zonealarm once you start the server you are asked for server-rights which you have to grant. As
soon as someone logs on (only on the first ever event) you are also asked for rights of incoming
traffic, you need to grant these as well. Thats all in Zone Alarm.
With Windows XP it is a bit more intensive, as I do not have XP here, I cannot assist on this,
feedbacks so far showed that the internal XP firewall had to be switched off (which is anyway a good idea as Zone Alarm offers easier protection).
Once you are comfortable with the system, read also the manual of Bulletproof, it gives clarification and much more indepth knowledge about each possible setting.
Enjoy and have fun....and don't block the Internet!!!