[meirionwyllt]

IP address: 88.105.36.xxx (this is a dynamic IP, but I have registered with DynDNS to overcome this - my hostname is xxx.homeftp.net)
IP address of server (internal): 192.168.1.100
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1

Hi, I have a dedicated file server as part of my home network, and I'm trying to set up a simple ftp to access its files anywhere on the net, using FileZilla. I've never encountered FTP before so at the minute I'm just swamped in options and settings. I have three folders that I want to include in the FTP site, which I will host myself.

I've installed the Server edition of the software on the file server, and installed the client version on a PC outside of the network but on the internet. I've set the router in my home to open ports 20 and 21 for the file server.

I have fiddled around with the server edition, buw I'm not sure what I'm actually logging onto when it says "Logging on to Server". Am I just logging onto this computer, i.e. 127.0.0.1, or am I logging on to 192.168.1.100 ?

I want two users, one (me) that will have read and write permissions, and another with only read, that I will pass to my friends. Can anyone give me a sort run-through on how to set up both ends for this purpose? Sorry but I seem to have jumped in at the deep end with this FTP business.

Thanks

[NedLud]

Howdy meirionwyllt

To your first question, if you're administering the server locally (i.e. are sitting at that machine), point to the loopback address -- 127.0.0.1. If you're looking to administer it remotely, you'll use 192.168.1.100.

To set up users, click the single head icon on the toolbar of server console. Select 'add' at the right, and name the account.
Under the 'general' tab (left part of the dialog), you set passwords and connection limits (0 = unlimited).
Switch to the 'shared folder' tab to browse to the folders you want to use, and set file and folder permissions there.

Since you won't have too many people connecting in, you can likely leave the rest alone.

As for setting up the client side, you should just be able to use any ftp client or even a web browser. Just point it to xxx.homeftp.net, and you'll be prompted for username/password.

Just FYI, there's a filezilla forum here that has tons of good advice: http://forum.filezilla-project.org/


Good luck!

[meirionwyllt]

Thanks for your reply NedLud.

I think there's still something I'm forgetting about.

Under passive mode settings of FileZilla I have included xxx.homeftp.net as my IP.

I'm also now running the DynDNS Updater Client to keep DynDNS updated as to my current dynamic IP.

but still when I try to log into it (ftp://xxx.homeftp.net) from my work computer I get nothing happening.

What about opening ports for the passive mode? I don't quite understand the 'range' of ports that I need to open. I've never opened a range of ports before, only individual ones. If I open, say, ports 5900-6000, what port on my server's IP address do I map it to, 5900? Am I right in thinking that you cannot map a range of ports to a range of ports, only to an individual port?

Thanks.


P.S. When I try to log into my ftp from work, I eventually get the error message:

"The folder 'ftp://xxx.homeftp.net/' is read-only because the proxy server is not set up to allow full access.

To move, paste, rename, or delete files, you must use a different proxy. For information on changing your proxy,
contact your administrator."

but I don't that this is linked to why I can't get access to it, is it?

[NedLud]

Using PASV mode for your ftp is a good idea. Note though that you're not really opening the ports on your server, but rather telling it to select from a pre-set range of ports in establishing a data channel with a client. So using 5900-6000 would be just fine. Nothing to map here.

What you will have to do is forward that range through your router at home to the ftp server (i.e. to its 192.168 ip). If you need help with this, let us know exactly what make/model of router you're using at home.

Once you've got those ports forwarded, we'll see if that doesn't establish a proper connection, and gets rid of the read-only stuff.

[meirionwyllt]

Hi, thanks for your help on this.

I'm using a Dlink DSL-G604T at home. I went to the port forwarding section and selected my server IP address (intenal). When setting up a new rule for opening the ports, there are three boxes which MUST all be filled; Port start, port end, and port map. In the past I've only opened one port for things, so no problem, but what do I put in the Port map box for opening 5900-6000?

One other thing that I wonder about - in the Advanced section of my router's control panel there are two seemingly identical sub-sections:

Port Forwarding - Select to configure Firewall and NAT pass-through to your hosted applications.

Access Control - Select to configure Firewall to block your LAN PCs from accessing the Internet.

I've enabled the FTP server in both for now anyway.

After failing to get it working from outside my network, I tried it from within:

Typing xxx.homeftp.net took me to my router's control panel (is this right?)

Typing ftp://xxx.homeftp.net did nothing, as expected.

Typing ftp://192.168.1.xxx did nothing either.

Does this give you any clues?

Thanks so much.

[meirionwyllt]

Hi, I still can't get this to work. Can anyone suggest something? I think there must be something really basic that I've forgotten to do.

I'm still not sure about the port opening situation (above).

[meirionwyllt]

Hi, I've uploaded a few snapshots of the Port Forwarding menu within my router's control panel, hoping to get some help on the port forwarding/opening issue.

The first pic is of all the rules that are applied to the file server's IP (192.168.1.100), with PassFTP being the rule for opening the ports to allow passive mode. The second pic shows PassFTP in more detail. It also includes the opening of port 990 for secure connections. The third pic shows the Access Control menu. Am I right to leave this blank?

ftp://127.0.0.1 works from within the file server itself

ftp://192.168.1.100 does not work from across the network

ftp://xxx.homeftp.net does not work from over the internet.

Any ideas?

[meirionwyllt]

sorry, here are the pics...

[JohnWill]

Try forwarding port 21.

[Couriant]

can you connect to your server from the outside with the IP address? If you can, then it would be a DNS issue.

[meirionwyllt]

JohnWill - I have tried applying the router's preset "FTP Server" rule for 192.168.1.100, and also tried forwarding port 21 manually, but no luck.

Couriant - I cannot connect to the server from anywhere except from the file server itself, by typing ftp://127.0.0.1 in IE. Does this fact give any clues? Am I right to assume that this fact alone eliminates the possibility of it being an ISP issue?

thanks.

[Couriant]

if you cannot connect in your own network, then I would look at the services and/or firewall on the server.

[meirionwyllt]

Now I can connect no problem from across the network. I looked more closely at the Windows Firewall settigns and found the Advanced tab.

So now my problem is getting it to work from outside the network, as this still doesn't work.

After looking at the log that FileZilla produces the attempt at connection is halted when it tries to initialize Passive mode FTP, so can anyone give me a sort of checklist to ensure that I have configured Windows Firewall correctly?

cheers.

[Couriant]

If it's outside your network, you would need to look at your gateway (router) and most likely need to set up port forwarding.

[meirionwyllt]

Right, now I know for sure that it's my Windows Firewall that isn't properly configured, and not my router.

How I do open a range of ports in Windows Firewall? I can only seem to open one at a time. I need to open ports 5900-6000 to allow pasive mode.