How to Build UP Own IIS FTP Server with Windows 7
To understand Server from the very root level, there is no alternative to set up a server by own in own PC. This is a scope to master the techniques of building a Server, looking into its structure and functionality coming in close contact with it.
It is especially essential for the bloggers, web designers, inquisitive Internet users and readers. Hence if you find yourself among the stated categories, this tutorial is for you. Let’s go ahead with our set-up expedition of IIS FTP Server with Windows 7.
You can check out our previous guide on building up other servers if you haven’t done yet.
♦ How to Build My First Web Server by Apache With Own Windows PC
♦ Build Your First IIS Web Server With Own Windows PC
What is FTP Server? What is IIS FTP Server?
FTP, standing for File Transfer Protocol is one of the oldest data transfer channels that started its journey long before the webpage transmission age through HTTP [Hypertext Transfer Protocol] started. FTP is used only to store and share files not allowing to display them as is done in web site or web page. It is the fastest medium to share files between FTP Server and FTP Client (any users around the world). Downloading from and Uploading to FTP Server is easy, faster and time-saving which is why it is a common trend to use FTP Client for data transfer especially in case of downloading high volume files and uploading web resources to site directory.
However we suggest you to read out our handy guide on FTP Server before you actually start FTP Server set up arrangement—
♦ Using FTP Server: File Transfer channel you might not be conscious of
Nowadays most Web Server hosting companies provide FTP Service. In that case, they don’t run two servers but actually run two Server-Software in the same Server. As a result, their hosting clients have FTP Server access for their web sites. In other word, almost every website has FTP Server. However anybody can build up FTP Server independently in their own PC for commercial or business purpose or personal use on fulfilling the requirements . In the field of building FTP Server, there are so many software and other options to choose from. The considerations that may come into account in this case are as follows—
- Definite Operating System: Windows or so.
- Server Software for that OS: FileZilla Server, Xlight FTP Server, Core FTP Server, Complete FTP, vsftpd, proFTPD etc.
- Necessary sufficient Hardware as per required storage volume and other factors.
However, we’re going to set FTP Server with Windows 7 (System type 32-bit) Operating System. Widows has built-in feature for Server installment which is called IIS (Internet Information Service). From version Windows 7, FTP has been integrated with IIS. So we can install IIS FTP Server by performing necessary configuration from Control Panel.
However, whatever software we use or how large or small the server is, the basic set up theory and functionality are the same.
Installation of IIS FTP Server with WINDOWS 7
Follow the following steps—
- Go to Start Menu
- Click Control Panel
- In the Control Panel, in Icon Mode, Click Programs and Features. In Category Mode, Click Programs then Programs and Features.
- In Programs and Features window, Click Turn Windows Features on or off with Shield icon left.
- Windows Features window will open. It may take a while to load. List of Windows Features will show up.
- From the list find Internet Information Service. Click the + sign left to expand it.
- From the expanded list, Click the + sign left to FTP server to expand it.
- From the expanded list, Check the box left to FTP service.
- Also expand Web Management Tools by clicking + sign with it.
- Check the box with IIS Management Console
- Click OK and wait for the FTP Service to be installed. This might take a few minutes.
FTP Service being installed, let’s enter the C-Panel (Connection Panel here) to configure our FTP site. This is Internet Information Service (IIS) Manager. This is the same Connection Panel both for IIS Web Server and FTP Server. However, we’re going to set up FTP Server which is almost the same process as Web Server’s.
To enter Internet Information Service (IIS) Manager. just follow the following path—
Start Menu→ Control Panel→ Administrative Tools→ Internet Information Service (IIS) Manager (screenshot below)
Note: As this tool is to be entered repeatedly, best practice is to create up a desktop shortcut by right clicking the tool name.
Configuration of IIS FTP Server
It is time to configure our FTP site. We see in Connection Panel, there are three Parts— On left Connection Panel, On right Action Panel and in the middle View Panel. (see screenshot above).
First Right Click Sites on left panel under PC name and click Add FTP Site. Alternatively, on Action panel right click Add FTP Site
Add FTP Site dialogue box appears which is asking Site Information.
- In the FTP site name field, give a name such as FTP TEST.
- In the Physical path field, specify the Folder where you want to store your files. This is actually your FTP site. In our case, F:\FTP TEST ROOT. Now click Next.
- Now another dialogue box asking Binding and SSL Settings appears.
- Under Binding, in IP Address field, two options are available– All Unassigned and Your Computer IP Address (here 192.168.0.100). All Unassigned means your FTP site will respond to the IP Addresses that had not been used to build up any other site under same server. Reasonably, this is not applicable as per our purpose. So, use your own IP Address that automatically appears here.
- Port Number 21 will remain the same as Port 21 is the standard default port number for FTP transmission. On other condition Port 22 may be used.
- Enable Virtual Host Names: Leave it unchecked as it is applicable only if you want to set multiple FTP sites on a single IP Address.
- Check the field Start FTP site automatically.
- Under SSL. check Radio Button for No SSL as other options are applicable if you have SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate which is the standard security technology used to build encrypted link between Server and Browser. Click Next. Another dialogue box asking Authentication and Authorization Information appears.
- Authentication and Authorization Information refers that you’re going to specify, to whom and to what extent you’re going to give permission to access your FTP site. Under authentication, there are two options-Anonymous and Basic. If you select Anonymous, it means anybody can access without Logging in (without using Username and Password). For our tutorial purpose, we’re selecting Basic. Basic being selected, a bunch of options (All users, Anonymous users, Specified roles or users group, Specified users) appear under Authorization-allow access to field. In the case of our tutorial, we select Specified users and in blank field under it, specify a user ‘ELHAM‘ who is another user of my PC. This means that user ELHAM can access my FTP site by using his Windows Username and Password.
- Under Permission, check both Read and Write.
- Click Finish. Your FTP site is ready to go. Your site name under Sites on Left Panel is shown listed.
If necessity arises, you can change these settings any time form Connection Panel.
QUESTION: How can I store files in my IIS FTP Server?
ANSWER: Just reach your FTP site folder that you specified during configuration. In this example, the location is F:\FTP TEST ROOT. Store here as many files and folders as you like. For our example, we stored one folder named ‘EXERCISE FOR LIFE’ and one file named ‘Article writing tip‘.
QUESTION: How can users access my FTP site and download files?
ANSWER: In our example, we’ve specified only one user. It is another Windows User ELHAM on my PC. To test the server works, enter your PC via ELHAM’s account or via one you’ve specified. Open a Browser, say, Mozilla, open a new tab and in address bar write ftp://YOUR IP ADDRESS. In this example, it is ftp://192.168.0.100. This is your FTP site’s URL. Now hit ENTER. A log in window will appear asking Username and Password. Provide Username and Password of ELHAM’s Windows account. Click OK. If all other things are OK, you’ll see all the files and folders of your FTP site displayed on Browser’s screen as shown screenshot below.
Now to download file, click the file name. The ‘save file’ prompt window will open. Again if you click the folder name, list of files included in the folder will open. From there, you can download any.
In the same way, you can try to access this FTP Server from another device such as your smart phone which is using the same Internet connection or Network such as same wifi. You will certainly get the same result.
Hey friend, that’s all of my tutorial on IIS FTP Server which has shown the complete process of building IIS FTP Server for Windows user. The same thing can be done many other ways. I heartily expect to show all other ways gradually in the next updates. Hope you enjoyed this efforts. If so, don’t forget to leave your valuable comment in the comment section.
