How to Setup and Connect to an FTP Server Using FileZilla. Part I: Setting up the server

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1 How to Setup and Connect to an FTP Server Using FileZilla The ability to store data on a server and being able to access the data from anywhere in the world has allowed us to get rid of external flash drives, and big hard drives. Now so called cloud computing, has been around for a while. This is essentially what an File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Server does and people have been using this technology for years, before it was referred as cloud. This instruction set will show you how to setup your own FTP server (aka Data Cloud) on your local machine and access it using program called FileZilla. FileZilla is a free, crossplatform FTP software and also one of the most widely used. Note: This instruction is for computer running windows 7 x64 bits operating system. It assumes computer has access to internet and is connected to network. It also assumes user has elementary skills to operate a computer and has administrative privileges on the computer. Part I: Setting up the server Create a folder or use an existing folder which will be shared. You can name this folder anything you want and can place it anywhere you want on your computer. (For the purposes of this document I have created folder on my desktop and named it ENG202C.) Download FileZilla from here: To install use default settings. Default settings will allow the server to start automatically whenever you boot up operating system (OS).

2 Note: You can change default settings and select manual option as shown below. But I won t recommend it! After the server is installed, a FileZilla icon will be created on desktop. FileZilla Icon Double click the icon and you will see a little screen popup as seen below. Leave everything as default and click OK. Note: There is no password yet as we are just setting up. You may add one later at any time.

3 Now you are on the FTP server and should have windows similar to one below: Now we need to host our server on network and give it an address. Click Edit Settings. Following window should pop up:

4 Select Passive mode settings from the left panel In passive mode settings select Use the following IP: option. This option will allow user to access server from any-other network. Once selected a text field below is enabled. In the text field below we have to enter external IP address. An external IP address is what rest of the internet sees. To obtain your external IP address go here: Enter the IP address obtained from the website in the text field and hit OK. We now need to specify the file path for the shared folder repository and add users, who will be using this server. Click on Edit Users.

5 Following window should pop up: Under Users section click on Add button: Enter the user name in the text field and click OK

6 Now under Page section select Shared folders. Then under Shared folders click Add button Browse and select the folder you created and then click OK (For the purposes of this document, I created folder Eng202C on my desktop.)

7 Next we need to set user permission and it can be found as seen below: Note: User permission are set of rights given to a particular user. It is important as it is first layer of security between user and the server. For my account I ve allowed myself all permissions. Once done click OK. Now you have successfully setup server. Next we will establish connection to the server using the FileZilla program.

8 Part II: Connecting to the Server In order to connect to server we need client interface. Download client interface from here: Use default settings for installation. Open FileZilla from start menu and a window will pop up similar to one shown below

9 We can see there are a few blank panels and couple with the folders. We need to focus on quick connect bar but I will come back to this bar. *IMPORTANT If you want to connect to server locally, i.e. if the computer you are using is connected to same router, which the server is running off. We will have to enter internal IP address. Steps needed to obtain internal IP address: 1. Open command prompt (cmd) from START 2. In the command prompt type ipconfig /all 3. Look for IPv4 address. See the image below for reference: Note: The IPv4 address highlighted is different for different machine. Don t use the IPv4 address highlighted in the image. If you want to connect to server remotely, i.e. the computer you are using is not connected to same router as the server is running off. Then we will enter external IP address of the server. You should know this address from Part I. OR

10 Coming back to quick connect bar As seen there are four fields Host, Username, Password and Port. Host: In this field we will enter our server s IP address*. Username: In this field we will enter user name created in previous Part I. Password: In this field we enter password for user if any created. Port: In this field we enter FTP server port number which by default is 21. Once you enter correct information and hit Quickconnect you window should look similar to this: Congratulations now you have successfully set up and connected to your FTP server.