Introduction - starting your own Ftp server using 'Serv-U'

This tutorial is for people that need general help with the program Serv-U. This tutorial asumes you have some basic computer knowledge. I also assume that you are using a standard dial-up connection or are on a network. Also I assume that you are not behind any kind of firewall or anything else that is not normal for a dial up to have and you are running Windows 95 or above. If you have any comments please contact the author.

Getting and Installing Serv-U

You need to download Serv-U from ftpserv-u.com or my Utilities section. Download the newest evaluation version to your desktop or a folder you usually download to. After you download it double click on it and follow the instructions to install the program. When it completes you will have a folder under your start button/programs that is called Serv-U.

Using Serv-U

Go in there and open the program. This will bring up a screen similar to this its the main Serv-U screen . Now the first thing you have to do is look at it , the line that says Ftp Server online: IP-number(s) will tell you what your ip address is , for instance min is 208.243.196.6 so it tells me Ftp Server online: IP-number(s):208.243.196.6 . The next thing it tells you will be the port of your ftp . The default is port 21 , so as soon as you start the program up it will tell you port 21 this is the info you will give people who you want to connect to your ftp .

Now its time for you to set up your ftp , go to setup and a menu just like the one you see above should pop up. Go to Ftp Server and the following screen will magically pop up .

Now this is where you would change the port number of your ftp or set a text file to display a msg when someone connects to your ftp. It also gives you the option to stop users from hammering or repeatedly connecting to you ftp.

Another important option here is the Max. No. of users option. Be sure to set it, try and keep it set according to your connection if you have a 56k modem you wouldn't want 50 people connecting to your ftp and downloading all at once, you don't have enough bandwidth for all of them so set it accordingly.

If you wanted to set up ratios this is the place to do it , but ratio's are very lame and I have better things to do with my time than teach you how to be lame .

OK now lets move on to some important stuff and add some users go back to the menu where you found the ftp server options and go to the second to the last option its called users [what a big surprise] and click it then a box like the one you see below should pop up.

The first blank you need to fill in is the user name , this will be the login for the person you are setting up an account on the ftp for. It can be anything next you need to set up a password and give the user a home dir, the password can be anything.

Now when you give someone a home dir you generally don't want to give them access to you whole hard drive , you want them to just be able the browse the folder or two with the Mp3's you set up as your ftp. So be careful when selecting your home dir , you wouldn't want to give someone you don't know access to C:\ or they could download all of you password files or whatever they want.

Next you need to setup the file dir access rules , to do this you have to select the dir you want to edit access to go to add and then choose the dir you gave the user access to and the check the options you want the user to have.

In the above picture I gave usa permission to do anything to my hard drive he wants remotely , DO NOT DO THIS ! someone will delete everything on your hard drive or even worse if you are lucky I recommend you only check Read and Write under files and List and Make under Directories and check Inherit the only box under sub-dirs or the they wont be able to see the folders inside the folder you gave them access to, and your ftp would realy be no good if the users could see the directories but now browse them .

Well that should be all you need to know, its easy enough and in a few clicks you can have your own ftp.

This tutorial is provided for the purpose of setting up a small ftp server to share only your own songs and personal files. You cannot provide any copyrighted material on your ftp. If you do so, you may be liable in copyright infringement.