Hello everyone,

I'm still working through the nuances of this whole linux world, and having a blast doing so. To that extent, I am now in need of setting up some sort of FTP server so that I can have my RC club ftp image files to me so that I can incorporate them onto our clubs website and newsletters.

My plans are as follows: I will be using an older Poweredge 600 Desktop server with Ubuntu Server 14.04 LTS as the FTP Server, as well as a home file server too. I would like this to be setup so that I an allow FTP access only to this server from the outside network, of course using specific logins for security.

To this end, I'm not exactly sure what all is needed from an ISP standpoint, and my internal network setups, but if I could get some basic advice on where to start, what things to consider, and how to keep the ftp server from affecting my current home network, that would be awesome.....

Thank you all for your continued help and support of my crazy plans.....

Mikey

Ubuntu has a nice guide for doing this:

https://help.ubuntu.com/10.04/server...tp-server.html

I saw this article about setting up the FTP server on the physical server, but I'm kinda stuck as to how to allow other people to upload/download files to my server. Do I need to setup a domain name or some sort of website that would allow someone to upload pics to the server? Setting up the server on the backend is understandable, but the interface/FTP Client connection is where my confusion is.......

Does this make sense?

Are you setting this up on a home machine? If so, you will need some way for persons to find it, such as a domain name and a DNS service of some sort.

For about five years, I self-hosted my website using no-ip.com; I used the free service for a couple of years, then got a domain name. I found them very reliable. (In fact, that's I how got started with Linux--someone told me I could self-host my website with it!)

Also, if you are using a home machine, you should check your ISP's terms of service. Most prohibit public-facing servers; some are more aggressive in enforcing that than others. The one I have now is one of the aggressive ones--it actively blocks port 80, among other things. Yours may do the same.

1 members found this post helpful.

I recommend using SFTP: ftp with ssh encryption. It's safer and also, I find, easier to setup.

What Frank says above is all applicable, and to that I would add that you will probably need to open a port in your router/firewall in order for outside traffic to find the box actually serving (S)FTP.

1 members found this post helpful.

Hello again and thank you for your responses.

I've been trying to read up on the various FTP server options, and have decided to go ahead and install the VSFTPD server on my Ubuntu box. So far, it seems to be working, but I'm trying to get a more secure FTP option setup on my server, but running into some connection errors. Need to read up a bit more, but I'm able to view and move files via FTP, so seems to be working so far.

I'll post another update after I read up a bit more on my error before presenting it for your help.....

Thanks again.

Mikey