Can someone help me set up a FTP server?

I

Imprimis_Obscurity

Gawd
Joined
Dec 23, 2003
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730
I am running Ubuntu 8.10, and I want to be able to use FTP to access my files from any computer. This is for my personal files, so I would want to be able to have a username and password that only I would know. Pretty much I would just want to be able to throw some files into a folder on my computer, and be able to access them anywhere. Can someone help me with this?

Thanks
 
do you have a domain, or any sort of DNS pointing to your machine?
Not sure how savy you are or your intensions...you can remote into your machine without ftp as well...
 
I was trying to use vsftpd to do this but the instructions are too complicated. Any sort of GUI program for Linux that can do this?
 
I just want to do this because I would like to be able to transfer files between my computer and my parents computers on the other end of the city. Also I was wondering if this can be expanded to publish web pages?
 
There are lots of guides to setting up an FTP server in Linux. Just follow the guide step by step. It's pretty much just a matter of editing a couple config files to suite your needs and set the daemon to startup. It's quite likely that you have at least one FTP server included with your distribution list which you could load using the package manager.

As for your question regarding the serving of web pages... You would be looking for a web server. Apache is the most popular, again probably included with your distro and can be loaded using the package manager although most will recommend that you download the latest version due to security updates etc.

I apologize for not being able to give any kind of step by step guide, it's been quite some time since I played with this stuff. I just have to tell you that anything to do with Linux will be much easier once you have read the man pages for it. Most things are explained and many configuration files are also commented. It's not as bad as it seems.

Now, onto the important component of this whole thing... Does this violate your TOS for your ISP? Do you subscribe to a special business level account that permits the hosting of a web or FTP server? Many ISPs stricly forbit this type of activity and may actually suspend your account if they find that you are in violation of your TOS, this may be worth considering when doing something like this.

You may wish to try out Microsof'ts Live Mesh. It allows you to sync all your desired files to an online website that you can access from anywhere.
https://www.mesh.com/Welcome/Default.aspx
 
Vsftpd's man page is very complete. You should read the manual. It wraps so well with SSL. I personally think it is a lot faster than others.
 
I don't understand why no one can give me an answer without asking me about my intentions, or just throwing a link with bad instructions at me. I am pretty good at this stuff but I feel it is a low for me to get on one of these boards and ask for help. It is none of anyone's business what I'm doing with this server. So far I have only gotten responses questioning my intentions. I can't just get help. Everything has some kind motive to it right? I quit. It was a mistake to ask for help. Thanks for nothing.
 
there are probably too may steps involved without following a guide (what
I usually do) already on the web. For instance, running Freebsd,
I would first bypass it's Handbook and the /usr/ports/ftp/[many] installable
ftpd servers, and google for "freebsd" "ftp server setup" "security" or something,
because if it is (sometimes) done right ( a few extra steps)
beforehand, it may de-necessitate a re-do which sometimes is
more problematic than could be otherwise, also if it is done right it can serve
twice as many years without reconfiguration (speaking generally of network-type
programs)
 
Imprimis_Obscurity said:
I was trying to use vsftpd to do this but the instructions are too complicated. Any sort of GUI program for Linux that can do this?
Click to expand...
Too complicated??? There's like three steps. 1. Install vsftpd (apt-get, compile, etc...your choice). 2. Edit config file. 3. Edit users that need access (add to the proper group). DONE! Complicated, not even. If this is complicated for you then maybe you shouldn't be trying to run a server out of your house. ;) There's a reason people get paid to do this stuff.

Imprimis_Obscurity said:
No Domain. I thought there was a way to just set it up and on another computer type ftp://Youripaddress to access it
Click to expand...

Yes, as long as your network is setup properly, you can do it this way.

As far as rolling it into a web server, well you have to setup a web server first (Apache, ngnix, lighttpd, etc). You can either point your home dir to that document root dir or just browse to it once you ftp in. Then put your files in the document root dir. DONE! Not complicated at all.
 
ill just chime in and say maybe use SCP instead of FTP?

you would just "sudo aptitude install openssh-server"

and then make sure you port forward 22 to the computer (or maybe have an outside port of 222 point internally to 22 in order to reduce bots trying to login)

and with a file manager (like Nautilus) you just "connect to server" and put your external ip
 
I personally believe ssh transfers and ftps (secure) are both valuable tools. I usually give FTP over SSL to users and ssh to admins and developers. Ssh will give them interactive command tools that might increase vulnerabilities in the security. FTP with SSL is almost as secure. SSL offers a very tight encryption. In this case, this is own private machine, so ssh is probably a lot easier step to approach.
 
DropBox

I've been using this for several months now and it works well. I can access my files from both my work and home computer as it keeps them synchronized.

If I am on another computer then I sign into the website and have access via a browser. One of the coolest features is I can give others access to either one file or a folder by sending them a hyperlink.

Free for up to 2 GB. Above that they have some pay plans.
 
man this guy threw a virtual fit!

intentions were only asked because I'm sure there are different options for different applications to what you possibly wanted to do.
 
turb0 said:
man this guy threw a virtual fit!

intentions were only asked because I'm sure there are different options for different applications to what you possibly wanted to do.
Click to expand...
Yep, but some people get e-butthurt all too easily. Usually those that are so defensive about their intentions are usually the most guilty. :p
 
supergper said:
Yep, but some people get e-butthurt all too easily. Usually those that are so defensive about their intentions are usually the most guilty. :p
Click to expand...

lol.

if you want help be honest. we won't care.

so...... you want to share your digital porn stash with others..... great.... just let us know and we can help.....:eek:
 
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