FileZilla Server2: Introduction

Uniform Server 4.1-Mona FileZilla FTPd (Server).

FileZilla Server FTPd revisited

With the release of 4.1-Mona thought I would revisit the Filezilla server plugin. I asked myself a fundamental question why should it be a plugin? After all it’s a server in its own right and not dependent on Uniform Server for its operation hence no real reason to make it a plugin. However converting it to a plugin means it can be tightly integrated into Uniform Server's architecture making it an ideal test server.

Restricting Filezilla Server for portable use only has a downside, it removes its capability of serving pages from any location. Fortunately Filezilla’s architecture is very flexible allowing it to run as a service or a standard program. This matches Uniform Server’s installation modes. Hence restrictions only apply to portable mode.

There is a small price to pay for this flexibility you need to decide on the installation mode and configure accordingly. This entails either editing or copying over files to meet your requirements

The initial installation assumes basic mode (portable) with independent control thus allowing you to run Filezilla Server straight out of the box.

Core element of this plugin is FileZilla Server this has been converted to be fully portable. Allowing it to be run as a service or a standard program. Control and interfacing is achieved through the use of batch files.

If you wish you can copy the core folder filezilla_server_portable) to any location and run FileZilla independently of Uniform Server either as a service or standard program.

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Download and install

Options 1:

• Download file UniServer_FileZillaFTPd_1.0.exe from Sourceforge
• Save it to folder UniServer.
• To extract files, double click on file UniServer_FileZillaFTPd_1.0.exe, no need to change the path.

Options 2:

• Download file UniServer_FileZillaFTPd_1.0.zip from Sourceforge
• Save to any folder
• Extract files, navigate to folder UniServer_FileZillaFTPd_1.0.
• Copy its entire contents to the installed Uniform Server folder UniServer

Note: Plugin's core component is FileZilla Server V-0.9.31 with OpenSSL 0.9.8k libraries

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Extracted files - Overview

The following files and folders are extracted to Uniform Server.

Note: Description column provides a quick overview of their function.

File/Folder	Function	Description
fz_start.bat fz_stop.bat fz_admin.bat	Start FileZilla Server  Stop FileZilla Server Start FileZilla Admin	The three files are located in folder: UniServer Both FileZilla and Uniform Server are portable. Note: A virtual drive is created when Uniform Server is run. FileZilla restriction Before running FileZilla start Uniform Server a warning is issued in the event Uniform Server not running. To keep the servers portable assign folders only from the virtual drive created by Uniform Server. When creating a FileZilla server certificate save it to the virtual drive. See section for details.
fz_start_usb.bat fz_stop_usb.bat fz_admin_usb.bat	Start FileZilla Server Stop FileZilla Server Start FileZilla Admin	The three files are located in folder: UniServer\udrive Copy the entire content of folder unidrive to either the top-level of a USB memory stick or hard drive. Both servers can be run independently of each other. FileZilla restriction USB: To keep the servers portable assign folders only from the USB drive being used. When creating a FileZilla server certificate save it to the USB drive being used. See section for details Hard Drive: To keep the servers portable between hard drive top-levels assign folders only from the hard drive being used. When creating a FileZilla server certificate save it to the hard drive being used. See section remove restrictions for details Note: If the hard drive being used is for a permanent installation the above restrictions can be removed by editing a single file (fz_disk_root_start.bat) this will allow you to assign any folder on any drive. See section remove restrictions for details
basic Folder	Support files	Folder location: UniServer\filezilla_server This folder contains pre-configured files allowing FileZilla to be run and stopped using Server_Start.bat and Stop.bat respectively. Copy these two files to folder UniServer. Note: If you use these files you cannot use UniController to start the servers you must use the batch files. FileZilla uses absolute paths for both assigned folders and path to the server certificate. For portability a perl script automatically changes the virtual drive used in these paths. Installation details see basic.
disk_root Folder	Support files	Folder location: UniServer\filezilla_server This folder contains pre-configured files allowing FileZilla to be run and stopped using usb_server_start.bat and usb_server_stop.bat respectively. Copy these two files to folder UniServer\udrive. Note: If you use these files you cannot use UniController to start the servers you must use the batch files. FileZilla uses absolute paths for both assigned folders and path to the server certificate. For portability a perl script automatically changes the drive used in these paths. Note: If the installation is on an hard-drive and portability is not required restrictions can be removed by editing a single file (fz_disk_root_start.bat) this will allow you to assign any folder on any drive. See section remove restrictions for details Installation details see disk root.
run_as_service Folder	Support files	Folder location: UniServer\filezilla_server After installing Uniform Server as a service a default folder is created c:\UniServer. To run FileZilla server alongside Uniform Server copy the entire folder UniServer\udrive\filezilla_server to folder c:\UniServer. Copy files zilla_install.bat and zilla_uninstall.bat from folder UniServer\udrive\filezilla_server\run_as_service to folder c:\UniServer these allow you to run FileZilla from that folder. If you want to start and stop both servers at the same time edit both Install.bat and Uninstall.bat and add the appropriate commands, for details see the following Combined services. Installation details see Run as a service.

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Summary

The above detail makes it look more complex than it really is. In reality you can use the default installation as is. However if you want to tailor Uniform Server and FileZilla to meet your own requirements the options are there do this.

The Install Options page provides details for the various options and how to make modifications if you wish.

The core element portable FileZilla FTPd is covered on the next page. To offer maximum flexibility the design allows it to be used independently of Uniform Server. FileZilla is periodically updated hence the page includes an update guide.

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