• 0

What's a good simple ftp server application in 2014?


Question

Hi there.

 

I'm looking to setup a simple FTP server so i can acces my files on the go. I don't need advanced settings, just a simple good application that will let me do it easily. Been reading some review online, but i'd like you opinion as well.

 

What i'm looking for:

 

  • A simple setup
  • Multiple user accounts (I'm just going to have a couple of user accounts, so nothing big)
  • Low memory footprint

 

Thanks in advance

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

yeah I agree filezilla server works and is very easy to configure and run.

But to be honest I would not open just plain ftp to the public internet. Ftps -- and you can run into some pain with ftp data and control channels, depending if your using passive or active. And when using ftps there is implicit and explicit. When you run ftps and the control channel is encrypted many routers have issues with the ftp helper and can not see the data port so you need to open them via port forwards, etc.

I would suggest you use sftp which is just 1 port and secure default is 22 (ssh port) and much easier to use with nat. Or look into something that provides you web access to your files. Dropbox for example - you can keep copy of files in the cloud. And can access via web interface if need be.

Or setup VPN or ssh tunnel into your network to do you ftp over.

FTP while still viable protocol is very dated and problematic to setup when your normally behind 2 nats, your location and the location your ftping too, etc.

There are much easier ways to skin the cat these days -- how many files are we talking space wise?

@Jub -- he asked for servers not clients.

BTW - http://www.freesshd.com/ is windows sftp server. There are few others but having a hard time remembering names of them.. You could run one in cygwin if need be. But any linux distro has ssh/sftp out of the box and is very easy to run via a vm and then just mount your window shares if need be, etc. Like I said many ways to skin the cat.

Best option to getting to your network remotely is vpn hands down, openvpn is free, etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

flash fxp is another piece of software just asking for your money right?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

i agree w/ budman a secured version (sftp or ftps) would be better

 

I'll post the sftp server i use when i get home. can't remember the name atm but i like how it functions

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

@Jub -- he asked for servers not clients

Noticed that when I got home. Phone + bus + reading comprehension failure = moot information.

I agree with you that SFTP is the way to go though. There isn't much reason to use FTP for only a few users.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

^ problem with ftps is I don't know of any helpers that work with it since they can not see the port/pasv command in the control channel to change the IP, etc. So you have to fully understand the protocol and setup your port forwards correctly to work from behind a nat, etc.

Here is another free windows ssh/sftp server http://www.kpym.com/2/kpym/index.htm

There are a few of them out there.. There is another one I run on one of our jump boxes, I believe its free for non commercial use - have to connect to it because for the life of me can not remember the name ;) brb

Here is is

http://www.extenua.com/silvershield.htm

This one rocks!!! The free version is limited to 1 connected client at a time, but they have pro version for $200.. Its not really a home user type product..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Before I switched to a commercial setup for my own thing, I've had pretty decent results with freeSSHd and freeFTPd too. Does both SSH and SFTP (can install either/or), NTLM support, all the expected bells and whistles. Could always go the OpenSSH route too but more hassle than it's worth personally, better options for the platform. And yea, FileZilla's another good one. Not a fan of Kpym though, at least the SSH portion anyway, has a "buy me" nag built in.. oddly enough though the source is included so you can do away with that, doesn't handle odd terminal sizes properly either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.