[Parvez]

How do I go on about setting a ftp server on my macbook? I know you have to enable File Sharing then add the folders you want to share then go to Option and tick the FTP box. Then it says you can access it at ftp://192.168.1.2/

I forwarded the port 21 in my router already. When I put a file in that folder and give people ftp://my.ip.address.here/ (not my router ip, my external ip address from ISP)

For some reason.. my friend can't access it. It gives some 506 permission denied.

However, when I enable Web Sharing and put files in the "Sites" folder... my friend can access it via http://my.ip.address.here/foldername/

What am I doing wrong here?

[besson3c]

First of all, are you aware that using FTP is unsafe? SFTP/SSH is a much better option all round.

Is this user authenticating as you? If not, does he have readable access to these files? Is the permission denied error he is getting after a successful login?

[Parvez]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

First of all, are you aware that using FTP is unsafe? SFTP/SSH is a much better option all round.

Is this user authenticating as you? If not, does he have readable access to these files? Is the permission denied error he is getting after a successful login?

Why is it unsafe?

Then how do I get on setting up the SFTP?

[besson3c]

It's unsafe because your packets including your password are sent unencrypted, in the clear when you use it (by design).

To enable SFTP, turn on "Remote Login", open up port 22 from your router, and simply connect to your server over the SFTP protocol rather than the FTP protocol. Your friend may need to change clients if his doesn't support SFTP (although many do).

Traffic will be a a little slower over SFTP since it will be sent through an encrypted tunnel.

[Parvez]

Thank you. It seem to be working.

Is there any way I can give my friend a link to access it? Or he has to use a client to access it?

[besson3c]

It's best to use the client to access it directly anyway... I'm not sure that most operating systems will know to direct ftp:// requests to the appropriate FTP client, and I'm not even sure that any would support sftp:// requests.

[Parvez]

Ah using sftp:// brings up my client to access it.

Also is it worth using http://ipaddress? Some people are not so computer savvy and they may not be comfortable using a client. You know what I mean? If I use http:// to allow a friend to access to a folder... do I have to drop it in the Sites folder or Public Folder? Dropping it in the Sites folder worked for me but what's the point of Public Folder then?

[besson3c]

Files that are served by Apache over HTTP need to be served from Sites, although you could reconfigure Apache to serve files from Public. The Public folder was designed to share files with people over AFP, Sites is for serving websites.

Serving files over HTTP is fine, although unless you setup an authentication scheme they are obviously exposed to the world. Moreover, many browsers do not support resumeable downloads like FTP/SFTP clients do, which usually makes FTP/SFTP the better choice for serving large files.

[Parvez]

Thanks a lot for the help.

[besson3c]

No problem!

[Parvez]

One more thing... Let's say I am using the http://ipaddress to give to my friend and he downloaded the files I have in the folder. Is there any way I can see how many times the file was downloaded/accessed or a log where it shows incoming connection?

[besson3c]

Sure, via the Apache access log. You can install something like awstats that analyzes the logs and generates a good overview and summary of your traffic.

[Parvez]

Where are the log files located? Do I have to ssh to view it?

And OMG.. that Awstats is too advanced for me. I just found bunch of files with scripts and they make no sense to me, lol.

It's okay though.

[besson3c]

/var/log/httpd/access_log

[Parvez]

Thanks again

[Parvez]

I keep on bumping this thread by replying back again, haha.

I wanted to ask what would be the best way to send a friend of mine a copy of Microsoft Office? He recently got a MBP with VMWare Fusion w/ Windows XP. I have the disc for MS Office. Do I just drag all the contents in the disc and place them in another folder then .zip that folder?

And would you recommend me putting it on the HTTP server? He said he gets around 65kbs when he tries to download from my HTTP server. I guess he'll have to leave the MBP on over night if he downloads from my HTTP?

Any other alternatives?

My upload speed at home isn't so great. At work, I get around 1532kbs for upload so I can do it from work as well. But what would be the best way?

[besson3c]

Uploading from your home broadband connection is going to be slow no matter what protocol you use, as most ISPs severely cap upload bandwidth. There are a number of ways in which you can send your friend the file, many of which you have covered.

[Parvez]

Well I mentioned about uploading from home and work.

My work computer has Windows XP so it doesn't have a HTTP server. What do I do now then?

And will it work if I .zip the contents from the disc? What I mean by work is that.. will he be able to install it in his VMWare?

[besson3c]

The Mac version of Office? No, because OS X will not run as a VM guest. The Windows version? Sure...

You're on your own with getting the file to your friend.

[chichow]

Better you create a disc image using the disk utility or Toast and then just have him burn the image to CD.

[Parvez]

Thanks for the suggestions. He came over to my house and he hooked up to my network and sent over local network.

By the way... why is that when I go to Sys Pref > Sharing > Enable File Sharing > Option > Check Share files and folders using FTP

When I go to ftp://192.168.1.6 it says "You don't have permission to open this page." under it, "You don't have permission to view "Testfolder"

Already forwarded 21 port.

I know it's not secure enough. But I am just curious to why it isn't working. It's pissing me off.

Edit: PureFTPd did the job.