Thread: How to: Mount an FTP server in your home computer (using Serv-u)

Hello everyone! I recently wanted to transfer some files to a friend so I said why not FTP… I learned how to do it so now I’m gonna explain it to you.
First of all, this tuto works with static or dynamic IP, so you shouldn’t have any problems.

The program needed is Serv-u which you can download HERE

Install the program, go to “Server details” from the main screen and enter the serial (it’s outdated but that’s not a problem, the program is fully functional).

Step 1: Create a new domain. If you don’t have a domain created the program will ask you if you want to create one, or you can just press “New domain” in the main screen. The wizard should pop out and in the first screen you must enter the name you want for your domain. In this example I chose “Torrent Invite”, you can add a description if you want and check “Enable domain”.



Step 2: The next screen of the wizard lets you choose which ports will each transfer protocol use, I would recommend not changing this especially if you are not an specialist.



Step 3: Choose IP address, if you have static IP write it here, if you have dynamic IP don’t worry, just leave it blank.



Step 4: The domain is now created; the next step is creating users to access it, so just press Yes. Anyway you can press No and create them later by clicking “Users” on the main screen.



Step 5: Choose username. In my case “Ferchu”



Step 6: Set a password for you user.



Step 7: Choose where the user will land when he/she logs into your server. Check the box under the route if you don’t want the user to see the complete access route to the folder you chose.



Step 8: Set the access rights, in this step I would recommend to create a full access account for you (if you’re planning to use it), but set “Read only access” for your friends accounts, just to prevent them from screwing something up. Click the “Finish” button and the user is created.



Step 9: Now we are going to see the advanced settings for the user accounts. In the first tab you can find almost everything you configured with the wizard so you can change whatever you want.



Step 10: Here you can appoint the user to a group to be able to change the configuration for some users at the same time.



Step 11: Here you can set up a personalized welcome message for the user.



Step 12: Here you can allow or deny access from certain IP’s (for that particular user).



Step 13: Manage the directories the user has access to and set the privileges for every particular directory. If you want your friends to be able to upload files to their folders, you have to set the privilege here.



Step 14: Set limits to the user access, download, ratio, disk usage, etc.



(You will notice I skipped one tab, sorry, just couldn’t make it work)


At this point your server is fully functional, if you have static IP just give it to your friends and keep the program running in the tray bar. They have to enter ftp://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx to access, in case that doesn’t work add the port you selected at the end of the address, like this ftp://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:21, if this doesn’t work either check if you have the port open in your router.

But you’re probable wondering “what if I have dynamic address? I have to give my friends my IP every time it changes?”
So here comes the magical solution, you’re going to park your IP address to a domain and with a client just keep track of it. Here’s the explanation.

Step 1: Go to www.no-ip.com, create an account (use a real email to be able to confirm it), login and go to “Hosts/Redirects” and there to “Add host”.



Step 2: Select the address you want your host to have, and select a subdomain. I chose “no-ip.org” but no particular reason. Leave everything else unchanged and click “Create Host”.
Download (Download a Free Dynamic DNS Update client for your dynamic IP) and install the IP monitor while the server creates your host (won’t take longer than a few minutes).



Step 3: Open the DUC you’ve downloaded and it will ask for the user and pass of the account you’ve created at No-Ip.



Step 4: The program will start and will list every host you’ve created, just check the box of the ones you want the monitor to update and close it to tray.




And that’s it, as long as you have the monitor active in the tray it will automatically update your IP. So all you gotta do is enter ftp://torrentinvites.no-ip.org (in my case) in your browser or your favorite FTP client to access it. If the address doesn’t work check at the end of the Serv-U tutorial the recommendations I gave to static IP owners.

Author: Me.

Please click Thanks or Rep if it was in any way useful to you, or just if you liked it

Note: I'm from Argentina, so please excuse me if my english is not that good.

that's one organized tutorial , i ran outta thanks sadly

how fast would be the transfer ? and does it depend n the distance ?

As far as I know it does depend on the distance because the distance will limit your upload speed, so it is affected but fortunately it caps your available upload speed (of course you can limit this per user or per group)

Wouldn't mind if you say thanks tomorrow

just bumping

EDIT: sorry, didn't knew i couldn't do it

Good tutorial dude but you can't bump it, only intros and g/a's can be bumped.

Nice tut Ferchu. Thanks for the time and effort. Very useful

Well Done mate! Your time and efforts are very much appreciated!

Thank you so much, this is an excellent tutorial! Since my brother has horrible firewall programs, I can use this instead of running into his room and turning it off his firewalls and running back and forth, Thanks!