Among the most popular programs for organizing network connections using a server in a home or small corporate network is Filezilla. What are the features of its settings? What should I look for when setting certain options in the corresponding program?
Program installation
Obviously, before considering how to configure Windows 8.1 or higher versions of the OS, which is necessary to ensure the functioning of Filezilla Server, we will examine the features of installing the program in question. The distribution available to the user must be started, and then select the optimal software installation mode: standard, full, only FTP, only the interface, selective installation.
The standard option involves the installation of the software in question, with the participation of the user in all the main stages of installing the program. The full version is generally similar to the first, but it also involves copying the source code of the solution in question onto a PC. The third scheme involves installing only FTP modules without interfaces for organizing access to it from the managed PC - it becomes possible in this case, for example, from a remote computer. The fourth option, in turn, involves installing only the management interfaces — as an option — to gain access to the remote server. You can use the fifth option - a custom installation, where various combinations of options are possible, and the user can choose the best from the point of view of ensuring the functioning of the network.
In general, experts recommend choosing the first option to install the program. Then select the directory in which you want to install the program. After that, you need to select the installation model, as well as start the server. There are 3 options here:
- Install the server as a service and set it to start when the computer boots;
- install the server as a service and set the program to start manually when the PC boots;
- use a simple installation when manually downloading software.
In general, no problems with the functionality of the program in question should appear if you use, for example, the first option. The interface can be directly launched via 3 mechanisms as well:
- directly at system startup - for any user;
- at OS startup - for a specific user;
- in manual mode.
It will be useful to consider the selection criteria for a particular interface loading model in more detail.
Installing Filezilla: Choosing an Interface Boot Model
This nuance of the software installation in question is important primarily from the point of view of protecting the server control modules from unauthorized access. Of course, when installing Filezilla Server , a firewall can be configured to minimize the possibility of unauthorized connections to the network, however, access control directly to the computer on which the software in question is installed should be considered an equally important security aspect.
If one user most often works on a PC, then it will probably be possible to choose the first option for loading interfaces. If several people work on the computer, then the second option for loading interfaces will probably be more optimal. If necessary, you can further enhance the security of server use by setting up manual loading of interfaces.
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, which are supposed to be used when organizing access to the server. You will also need to set the program administrator password.
The main interfaces of the program
The Filezilla Server solution, which is configured in several stages, consists of 2 main interfaces.
Firstly, this is the actual FTP server. It functions as a standalone system module and cannot be configured through any user interface from an administered PC. If necessary, this module can be found in the list of functioning system services through the OS control panel. Using the appropriate tool that is available in Windows, you can start the FTP server or, conversely, stop it - for example, if during server installation an option is selected in which its interfaces must be started manually. But, as a rule, Filezilla Server (Windows XP, Vista or a more modern version of the OS does not differ too much from the point of view of the corresponding function) starts automatically in the part of the system service in question, immediately when the computer boots.
Secondly, the software in question is represented by an interface that is designed to control the main modules. As soon as it starts, it is connected to modules that perform server functions. In the inactive state, the program management interface window minimizes to the system tray, which is located near the OS clock.
Let us now consider how it is implemented in practice - using the specified interfaces of the Filezilla Server program - setting up the appropriate software.
Setting up Filezilla Server: what to look for?
What, first of all, will be useful to pay attention to when setting up the program in question? In some cases, some functions of the software related to monitoring network processes may be useful for the network administrator .
For example, through the control panel of the program you can see the contents of the log of network processes. It captures the actions of certain users connecting to the server. This interface also displays a list of specific PCs that are in communication with the server. Thus, it is possible to trace how network traffic is distributed.
Another feature of Filezilla Server is that the configuration of the corresponding solution due to this function can be optimized in many cases; it is possible to use the solution interfaces from other PCs. To do this, you only need to set the correct settings in the service, which by default blocks server management 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 with adjustments in these settings, you can accidentally set optional restrictions on incoming and outgoing network connections.
Similarly, in the Miscellaneous option for users, settings are available that will not have special significance in terms of correct server settings. Among them - a ban on showing the password in the interfaces, the size of the data transfer buffers. Ensuring the functionality of the network will practically not depend on making changes to the corresponding settings group. Also, most likely, you will not need to configure the Kerberos GSS protocol through the GSS Settings interface.
Using the Admin Interface Settings, 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 the configuration of the router is not related to this option of Filezilla Server. A different IP address is registered on the router. By using the option in question, you can configure the list of IP addresses from which computers can access the server.
When using the Logging option, the administrator can activate the recording of various operations within the network connections in separate files, as well as set a limit value for these files.
The Speed Limits option can be very useful, through which the administrator can limit the speed of file transfer between the server and the PC that connect to it. In this case, the restriction can be set constantly, or according to a schedule.
To save traffic volumes, another noteworthy option of the program under consideration will help - Filetransfer compression. It is noteworthy that the corresponding function can activate the minimum or maximum degree of file compression. In addition, you can fix IP addresses for requests from which traffic compression will not be activated.
Key settings
Let us now examine in more detail how the most requested Filezilla Server parameters are set. Setting up the program in question starts from the General Settings page - the software interface in question is written in English. By choosing this option, the user will be able, for example, to change the standard port for connection - by default, he is assigned the number 21, to some other.
Another option is to set the optimal number of users who can connect to the server on which the software in question is running. In addition, the corresponding interfaces allow you to define settings for terminating communication with a PC that cannot correctly connect to the network.
IP settings
The next noteworthy point of the Filezilla Server program is the configuration of the FTP server regarding the registration of IP addresses. In this case, we are talking about using the IP Bindings setting. Using this option of Filezilla Server, the FTP server can be configured by setting the IP addresses at 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 expand the powers of other computers.
By activating the IP Filter setting, you can configure specific IP addresses, as well as a range of certain addresses from which it will not be possible to connect to the server, and if necessary, set certain exceptions.
Passive Settings
Another notable Filezilla Server option is the passive mode setting. To do this, the user needs to use the Passive mode option in the interfaces of the program in question. The corresponding setting thus forms the parameters that are needed to provide a passive connection to the managed server. In this case, it may be necessary when making adjustments to the corresponding parameters of Filezilla Server - setting up the router. TP Link, for example, and other popular brands-manufacturers of routers, allow you to enter the necessary parameters into the software of the corresponding device. Of course, it is important that the router supports the firewall and NAT functions to activate many of the necessary options.
Most likely, the user will need to find out the specific IP address that is assigned by the provider. It can be recognized just by using the software interfaces of the router. This task can be successfully solved regardless of which operating system Filezilla Server is installed on - Windows 7 will be configured to get access to the corresponding addresses in the same way as if it were, for example, Windows 8.1. In practice, in most cases, adjustments to the IP address settings are required if there are problems connecting one or another PC to the server.
Server Security Settings
We will now learn how to configure the security of using server connections. In order to optimize the relevant parameters of Filezilla Server, we will need to configure SSL. It is implemented through the SSL / TLS Settings interface. In this case, you need to activate support for the relevant protocols. As a rule, in this case it is necessary to fix the address of the private key, certificate, as well as the password in the settings.
But, it should be noted, such options in practice are used by experienced administrators. In general, SSL is not required when adjusting the default settings. Server security can also be enhanced by filtering failed user connections.
Account Settings
The next most important group of settings for the software in question is associated with the registration of user accounts. In order to create a new account, select the Edit menu item, then select the Users option. After that, it will be possible to work with user accounts.
In order to add a new account, select the Add item. After that, 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 created account. You can also activate a limit on the number of connections to the server.
Experts recommend setting the password for the account in the program in question, if possible, although, in principle, you can do without it. Technologically solving this problem is not difficult, especially given 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 according to the same algorithms.
Configure Folder Sharing
Another notable feature of the software in question is shared folder access. For this, the Share Folders module is used. In order to select the directories to which access will be organized, you must click the Add button, and then select the one you need on the disk. A list of access rights to a particular directory is also specified. For example, you can control operations such as reading, writing, deleting, as well as making changes to files that are located in a particular directory.
How to provide users with a server?
Another important task after the necessary options are set in Filezilla Server - setting up Windows 7 or a newer OS requires fairly quick access to key interface parameters, which may consist in providing users with a managed computer. To do this, you must first find out the IP address of the server. To find out, you may need to contact your provider or, again, enter the router 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 that we examined above.