Old computer + ? = online ftp?

[Chewy_Solo]

i have an old computer that i had before this computer, plenty good to be an FTP, anyway im wondering what sort of programs and such id need to make into into a server and such, and i dont want to spend any cash.

Also anything i need to do to "prep" it? and its got a 160GB HD... i know over the top but it works.... it comes into comflict with my current pc anyway

[Scinto]

FlashFXP,

you can assign usernames/passwords through the program i did use it a few years ago for the exact same thing but i have no idea how to set it up again.

[Chewy_Solo]

sounds good, but is there anything i need to do to set it up, and this computer is completely seperate from my gaming pc btw

EDIT: ok, i tried booting it up and it loads windows and such and then reboots before it loads, but it works fine in safe mode... is it windows? thats what im thinking... if so maybe a fresh install sadly

bump
....

[TheLeper]

fresh install of windows would be suggested if it is now gonna be used as a server, clears off all the existing crap

[Chewy_Solo]

i reformated and such im just having trouble actualy making it work as in clearing ports and such...

[Merlin]

You could use that old hardware as a NAS (Network attached storage) server. There is a free UNIX operating system called freeNAS, check it out.

[looqas]

There are plenty to choose from if you google them. The real issue here are answers to these questions.

How many people you expect to use it and are they using it simultaneously? What are you hosting? Do you have a static IP or can you set up DNS? Where are you going to place it? If the answer is in your home then know this many ISPs prohibit running ftp servers on home connections.

What is your upload speed? The upload speed if it's like 512kb/s and two people are downloading at the same time two files (two simultaneous downloads to same IP, which is quite common) per person; this makes 512/4 = 128kb/s = 16kB / s download speed per file. And if the files are big then it's gonna take time.

I've used one of those free ftp server software myself to give some pictures/videos to my brothers. The whole packages were around 50-150MB and it took time. For small time things this works but if there are more users then it's practically useless. And for public use it's not worth while. This might work within a clan where not all try to download stuff at the same time, but that's about the upper limit.

By having ftp server on renders your connection unusable for playing unless you limit the upload and even then it can and will affect your ping.

[Chewy_Solo]

hmm, it is from my home, i have windows xp currently installed but i cant seem to get past my firewall to even access it im not even sure if it is my firewall... and this would be minimal usage just to upload photoshop things and such
so not too major

[looqas]

From security center turn the XP firewall off and then try to ping the ftp server from some other machine. Or do you use third party firewall?

I doubt it's the firewall though.

[BoloMarkXXX]

I have been dual booting Linux Suse 10.3 desktop, I like it better for multitasking my work apps ....anyway here is a step by step "How-to" setup a Linux Suse server that wont cost anything all the software is free.

http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect_server_opensuse10.3

[Chewy_Solo]

may look into that.. but thats not really the issue, i cant seem to get it past my router... like for example, what is my external IP for the server so i can even connect??

[BoloMarkXXX]

OK your router gets an IP from your ISP so you need to find out if it is dynamic ( new IP everytime you connect ) or static ( IP never changes ). Then your router hands out internal IP's to your comupers, probably defaut and no doubt you have your computers set to get IPs automatic.

To get this to work you will need a STATIC IP from your ISP and set the router to give the server a static internal IP then port forward FTP requests to the servers IP.

[Chewy_Solo]

uhhhh how do i find if i have a static ip or not? and when i find out how do i set up those settings :|:

[looqas]

Ask your parents what is your connection type and ISP (if you don't know). Usually you can get a static IP from your ISP (Internet Service Provider) if you pay some extra. In some connections the static IP might come as a bonus if you have a high end connection type from the ISP (meaning 8-100Mb usually).

[Shrooms(Scott)]

I turned my old computer into a game server, quite fun