FTP servers

[zmzhang]

I am getting cable internet in less then 2 weeks. I want to set up a ftp server so that i can get stuff off my hd when i am somewhere else. How would i go about doing this?
Thanks

 

[n0cmonkey]

Download an ftp server, or your OS may be robust enough to come with one. Read the documentation on that. Install it. Set it up. Double and tripe check your security settings. Pirate away.

 

[Workin']

<< Pirate away. >>

n0cmonkey, why do you always assume everyone is a pirate? There ARE legitimate uses for FTP, you know.

 

[jkukowsk]

Yea, but very few.

 

[Workin']

<< There ARE legitimate uses for FTP, you know. >>



<< Yea, but very few. >>

You're joking, right? Or else your perspective is very narrow. Or you are stupid (I'm sure you're not, I'm just covering all the bases)

Practically every software company has an ftp server. Most engineering firms I've worked with have ftp servers. Lots of graphics design shops have ftp.

But more to the point of the original poster's question, I and several of my co-workers have ftp servers at home so that we can exchange work-related files with our home PCs. I know it's hard to believe, but some people actually have DATA files because they do actual WORK. No pirated stuff at all. And quite secure using SSH and sftp.

zmzhang - please make sure you have your security down tight, as ftp is notoriously insecure. I would suggest using SSH to secure the connection, and also have all your file and directory permissions and user accounts properly configured. I would not run an ftp server from Windows 95, 98, or Me, BTW - unless you want your data destroyed by hackers within a day of setting it up.

 

[ttn1]

SFTP does not equal FTP though. All my servers are linux for the sole purpose of having openssh running on them for file transfer. SSH is far more secure, especially if you have a fair number of people on your subnet. Which you will have if you get a cable modem. Anyone who decides to listen can pick up you plain text passwords from ftp.

I use ssh to not only transfer my Phd work to home every night, but also to setup encrypted tunnels for VNC when I need to run something on a home machine from work. There are non-pirate, ahhrrrr matey, uses for an ftp site. I would still say that at least half, if not more, the people coming on here asking "how to setup an FTP site" are going to use it for less than legal purposes.

Edit:Spelling

 

[zmzhang]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<<

<< Pirate away. >>

n0cmonkey, why do you always assume everyone is a pirate? There ARE legitimate uses for FTP, you know. >>



I am a cynical bastard.



<< Practically every software company has an ftp server. >>



But I bet almost none are running off of a consumer based cable line. FTP is only worthwhile if you are allowing ANONYMOUS access.

scp is a better solution. Every worthwhile OS has an scp client, most of them installed by default. It is much more secure than FTP.

 

[Workin']

<< But I bet almost none are running off of a consumer based cable line. >>

I wouldn't bet *almost none* - I would bet *none*!

<< FTP is only worthwhile if you are allowing ANONYMOUS access. >>

There are other times it is worthwhile, like anything else the "right tool for the job" varies depending on the job.

<< scp is a better solution. Every worthwhile OS has an scp client, most of them installed by default. It is much more secure than FTP >>

In some cases scp is better. In others maybe not. I tried scp at first but it did not give enough flexibility to access resources that I needed on my remote system (mainly I could not access other drive partitions, I don't know if that's because the Windows scp clients suck or what). So using non-anonymous FTP through an SSH tunnel fits the bill perfectly. It's just as secure as scp but gives me more flexibility.