Using FireFTP and GPROFTPD

All these instructions have been tested in several Ubuntu 7.10 computers.

First, install the FireFTP from firefox, from here

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/684

For extra help, visit this site:

http://www.simplehelp.net/2007/10/15/how-to-use-ftp-from-within-firefox/

To open, go to Tools and look for FireFTP. This program gives the capability of connecting to FTP servers and retrieve or send information easily.

FTP server

The following link gives the option to install either a basic ftp or a more secure one.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=79588

Gproftpd(First read pros and cons from the link above)

Open gproftpd, from Systems/Administration, and for its configuration use these instructions.

http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/linux/GProFTPD-Review-48205.shtml

Most of the sections are already set up by default

Server IP-address or hostname: the computer name that you’re using

Alternative server identity: Pick any name

Admin email: Pick any

Default home directory: In this directory will be your files transferred

Things to watch out

In order to have access to the ftp server, FireFTP needs the user and password created in gproftpd. Don’t forget to port forwarding the port 21 in the server. To do that the local ip address is needed, which can be obtained from the terminal window using the command ifconfig.

Test both Client and Server

In your client, go to FireFTP/Manage Accounts/Edit.

Account Name: Type anything, it doesn’t matter, it is just a name of your connection

Host: In your server go to http://www.whatismyip.com to get its external ip address

Login and Password, are the ones created in gproftpd. Click Connect and wait for it

As the author of one of the manuals above said, gproftpd is an application that is considered not secure. The author recommends to install proftpd instead. The installation is easier than Gproftpd since you can copy and paste the proftpd.conf file into your computer.

Things to watch out

Here are two things to watch out: first if you have an 530 error, update the password, and second if port forwarding doesn’t work with 1980 check with 21.

Good luck!!