Filezilla Server: Setup and Connectivity

Among the most popular programs for organizing network connections using a server in a home or small corporate network is the Filezilla solution. What are the features of its configuration? What should I look for when setting up certain options in the corresponding program?

Installing the program

Obviously, before we consider how to configure the Windows 8.1 or older versions necessary for the operation of Filezilla Server, we will study the installation details of the program in question. The distribution that is available to the user, you need to start, then choose the optimal mode for installing the software: standard, full, only FTP, only the interface, selective installation.

The standard version involves the installation of the software in question, with the user's participation in all the major stages of the installation of the program. The full version is generally similar to the first, but it also involves copying the source code of the solution under consideration to the PC. The third scheme involves the installation of only FTP-modules without interfaces to access it from the administered PC - it becomes possible in this case, for example, from a remote computer. The fourth option assumes, in turn, the installation of only management interfaces - as an option - to gain access to the remote server. You can also use the fifth option - a selective installation, where different combinations of options are possible, and the user can choose the optimal network from the point of view of network operation.

In general, experts recommend choosing the first option for installing the program. Then select the directory in which you want to install the program. After that, you must select the installation model and start the server. Here there are 3 options:

- Install the server as a service and set it to start when the computer boots;

- install the server as a service and set the manual start of the program when the PC is booted;

- use a simple installation when manually downloading the software.

In general, there should not be any problems with the functionality of the program in question, if you use, for example, the first option. The interface can also be started directly by means of 3 mechanisms:

- directly at system startup - for any user;

- when starting the OS - for a specific user;

- in manual mode.

It will be useful to consider the criteria for selecting one or another model for loading the interface in more detail.

Installing Filezilla: selecting the interface boot model

This nuance of the software installation in question is of primary importance in terms of protecting the server management modules from unauthorized access. Of course, it can be done by installing Filezilla Server to configure the firewall, which minimizes the likelihood of unauthorized connections to the network, but an equally important aspect of security should be considered the organization of access control directly to the computer on which the software is installed.

If one user is working on the PC most likely, it will probably be possible to select the first option for loading interfaces. If several people work on the computer, then probably the second option of loading interfaces will be more optimal. If necessary, you can further enhance server security by configuring manual interface downloads.

After the software in question is installed on the computer, the user will need to set the optimal IP address, as well as the port that is supposed to be used when accessing the server. You will also need to set the program administrator password.

The main interfaces of the program

Solution Filezilla Server, which is configured in several stages, consists of 2 main interfaces.

Firstly, it's actually an FTP server. It functions as a stand-alone system module and can not be configured via any user interface from the administered PC. If necessary, this module can be found in the list of functioning system services through the OS control panel. With the help of the appropriate tool that is available in Windows, the FTP server can be started or, alternatively, stopped it - for example, if you selected the option when you installed the server, in which its interfaces should be started manually. But, as a rule, Filezilla Server (Windows XP, Vista or more modern version of the OS from the point of view of the corresponding function is not too different) runs automatically in the part of the system service in question, directly when the computer boots.

Secondly, the software under consideration is represented by an interface that is designed to manage the main modules. Once it is started, it is connected to the modules that perform server functions. In the inactive state, the program management interface window is minimized to the system tray, which is located near the OS clock.

Let's consider now how it is implemented in practice - with the use of the specified interfaces of the program Filezilla Server, - the configuration of the corresponding software.

Configuring Filezilla Server: what to look for?

On what, first of all, will it be useful to pay attention when setting up the program in question? In some cases, some functions of software related to monitoring of network processes can be useful for a network administrator .

For example, through the control panel of the program, you can see the contents of the network process log. It records the actions of those or other users who connect to the server. This interface also reflects the list of specific PCs that are in communication with the server. You can, therefore, trace how network traffic is distributed.

Another feature of Filezilla Server - setting the appropriate solution due to this function can be optimized in many cases, is the ability to use solution interfaces from other PCs. To do this, you only need to set the correct settings in the service, which by default blocks the management of the server from third-party computers.

Experts do not recommend making any changes to the Security Settings options in the interfaces of the software in question. The fact is that when adjusting in these settings, you can accidentally set optional restrictions on incoming as well as outgoing network connections.

Similarly, in the Miscellaneous option, settings are available for users, which will not have much importance in terms of correct server configuration. Among them - the ban on showing the password in the interfaces, the size of data transfer buffers. Providing the functionality of the network will not practically depend on making changes in the corresponding group of settings. Also, most likely, you do not need to configure the Kerberos GSS protocol through the GSS Settings interface.

Through the Admin Interface Settings interface, the user can set the optimal IP address, as well as the port that will be used to gain access to the server management modules. It should be borne in mind that to this option Filezilla Server configuration of the router is irrelevant. A different IP address is assigned to the router. By using the option in question, you can configure the list of IP addresses from which computers are allowed access to the server.

When using the Logging option, the administrator can activate the recording of various operations within the network connections to separate files, and also set the limit value of these files.

Very useful is the option Speed Limits, whereby the administrator can limit the speed of file exchange between the server and the PC that connect to it. In this case, the restriction can be set permanently, or according to a schedule.

To save traffic volumes one more notable option of the program under consideration is Filetransfer compression. It is noteworthy that the corresponding function can activate the minimum or maximum degree of compression of files. In addition, you can fix IP-addresses, when requests from which the compression of traffic will not be used.

Key Settings

Let's consider now in more detail how the most popular parameters of Filezilla Server are exposed. The configuration of the program in question starts with the General Settings page - the interface of the software in question is in English. By selecting this option, the user can, for example, change the standard port for the connection - by default it is assigned the number 21, to some other one.

Another option is to set the optimal number of users that can connect to the server on which the software in question operates. In addition, the appropriate interfaces allow you to define settings for disconnecting from a PC that can not connect correctly to the network.

IP settings

Another noteworthy item in the Filezilla Server program is the setting up of the FTP server in the part of registering IP addresses. In this case, it's about using the IP Bindings setting. By means of this Filezilla Server option, the FTP server can be configured by assigning IP addresses, through which other computers will connect to the administered one. The user can configure access to the server for PCs located only within the local network, or in a certain way to extend the credentials of other computers.

By activating the IP Filter configuration, you can configure specific IP addresses, as well as a range of addresses from which you can not connect to the server, and, if necessary, specify specific exceptions.

Passive Mode Settings

Another notable option Filezilla Server - setting passive mode. To do this, the user needs to use the Passive mode option in the interfaces of the program in question. The corresponding setting thus generates the parameters that are needed to provide a passive connection to the administered server. You may need to do this when making adjustments to the corresponding Filezilla Server settings - setting up the router. TP Link, for example, and other popular brands-producers of routers, allow you to make the necessary parameters in the software of the corresponding device. Of course, it is important that the router supports the firewall and NAT function to activate many desired options.

Most likely, the user will need to know the specific IP-address, which is assigned by the provider. You can learn it by using the software interfaces of the router. This task can be successfully solved regardless of which operating system is installed Filezilla Server - the configuration of Windows 7 in terms of accessing the corresponding addresses will be the same as if it was, for example, Windows 8.1. In practice, making adjustments to IP settings in most cases is required if there are problems with connecting a particular PC to the server.

Server security settings

We will now study how to configure the security of using server connections. We need to configure SSL in order to optimize the appropriate Filezilla Server parameters. It is implemented through the SSL / TLS Settings interface. In this case, you need to activate support for the corresponding protocols. As a rule, in this case it is necessary to fix the address of the private key, certificate, and also the password in the settings.

But, it should be noted that in practice these options are used by experienced administrators. In general, you do not need to configure SSL when adjusting the default settings. Server security can also be enhanced by filtering failed user connections.

Setting up accounts

The next most important group of settings for the software under consideration is the registration of user accounts. In order to create a new account, you must select the Edit menu item, then select the Users option. After that, you can work with user accounts.

To add a new account, select Add. After the user name is entered , and, if necessary, the group to which the computer should belong. After the necessary settings are made, you will need to set a password for the account you created. You can also activate the limit for the number of connections to the server.

Experts recommend, if possible, to set a password for the account in the program in question, although, in principle, you can do without it. Technologically, this task is easy, especially, taking into account the versatility of the Filezilla Server solution. Setting up Windows 7 for access from an external network, for example, or setting the necessary options in Windows 8.1, is carried out using the same algorithms.

Configuring Folder Sharing

Another noteworthy option of the software under consideration is shared folders. To do this, the Share Folders module is enabled. In order to select the directories to which access will be organized, it is necessary to click the Add button, then select the desired one on the disk. A list of access rights to a particular directory is also specified. For example, you can adjust operations such as reading, writing, deleting, and making changes to files that are located in a particular directory.

How to connect users to the server?

Another important task after the necessary options are set in the Filezilla Server - the configuration of Windows 7 or newer OS involves fairly quick access to the key parameters of the interfaces, it can be to connect users with the computer being administered. To do this, you first need to know the IP address of the server. To find out, you may need to contact the provider or, again, enter the router's settings interface if the network administrator uses it.

Also, users will need to transfer logins and passwords to the server, as well as the port number, if it has been changed in the order discussed above.