I use smallftpd when I need it. Zero setup procedure. It still probably requires firewall tuning, but that's just the nature of the protocol, I think.

I don't know if it does "cool things" since I don't know what "cool things" you might conceivably want to do.

windows has a builtin ftp server? to my knowledge from version 7 or so, only as an option, not the default

mrau wrote:

windows has a builtin ftp server? to my knowledge from version 7 or so, only as an option, not the default

You do have to install additional components from the control panel, but yes, it's there.

but starting with version 7, maybe vista, so not an option for old pcs i think?

Jorpho wrote:

I don't know if it does "cool things" since I don't know what "cool things" you might conceivably want to do.

Probably my Mac mentality, sorry)

jheronimus wrote:

Probably my Mac mentality, sorry)

i understand gay, bi and transes coming out of the closet, but mac users? hush hush! :>

There is only one ftp server you'll ever need for your retro-rigs and that's mTCP -> http://www.brutman.com/mTCP/ - this is what I run on my old systems and then use a modern client on the modern side to transfer my files (I use FlashFXP).
I don't see the point to setup a server on the modern side and use an old client on the retro side - ofcourse that depends on what your retro side is... a XT or a p4 ? because if your retro rig can run something like win9x then why setup FTP at all? Just share a folder over workgroup and copy files over from explorer on your modern pc...

edit
So basically for me it's either mTCP server + modern client or windows shares ... no need to over-complicate things 😉

I have a file server built on Ubuntu Server Edition that works fine with all Linux OSes and Windows OS from XP forward. I have not tried my Win98 box with it because flash drives work fine. For my DOS PC I just use floppies or rewriteable CDs. Not felt the need for FTP in my environment. 😀

keropi wrote:

There is only one ftp server you'll ever need for your retro-rigs and that's mTCP ...

E-xa-ctly. This the only thing you really need. Either the client or the server, this way you can very-very easily do anything you want.
Unless your ISP router has an FTP server and a USB port. Then just marry the ISP and its router 🤣

I used to use AbilityFTP and CrushFTP [though that may have been on an old Mac to transfer files to Windows os some such].

Can't recall a lot about Ability except I think I actually bought a licence so it must have seemed pretty good.

I purchased FTP Serv-U back when it was shareware with free lifetime upgrades (basically all features). Think that costs a couple thousand these days with all the options since its commercial now. One of the better shareware purchases I made.

http://www.serv-u.com/

You get a fee 30 day trial if you just want to use it once in a while (delete and reinstall). Has every feature you could ever want.

mrau wrote:

jheronimus wrote:

Probably my Mac mentality, sorry)

i understand gay, bi and transes coming out of the closet, but mac users? hush hush! :>

I sexually identify as an apache attack helicopter.

But to stay on topic, I use a p4-xeon system loaded with windows server 2008. The last edition to support things like appleshare. which works great for when I plug in my old macs.

vsftpd

Was going to mention it, except it's running on my Linux NAS. 😁

I have a Windows 2000 Server running in a VMWare Player session running in the background on my main desktop at all times. It fully supports AFP and Win7/10 can still connect to it's NT shares as if they were all the same version. I use a vhd to hold all the files pertaining to older systems (vhd backed up to another real drive, of course). The vhd is mounted on the 2000 system and shared off to both old Apple machines and my Windows machines. The thing makes a perfect bridge. FTP is turned on as well for quick operations when I don't have sharing setup yet. Keeping all of the old machine files in a single place makes it tidy and I only have to worry about backing up a single file vs various individual places.

We should really start an FTP club, if some members would put up some servers, where we could exchange stuff. Like a trip down nostalgia lane. We could have wishlists and whatnot. It would be fun, forge a community like the old days.

Abandonware, retro newsletters and magazine scans ... that kind of thing.

Abandonware? No!

Patches and playable demos. Very much yes! 😎

You don't need a feature rich FTP, because you'll only use it to upload/download files. I'll try to get a (very) simple FTP.

Some time ago when I needed to set up a FTP server quickly, I used 3COM FTP server (now unsupported) of Filezilla FTP server (when 3COM failed).

I don't recommend any of those to make a public FTP server, but will work nicely to tranfer files at home. vsftpd, IIS and other FTP servers are better if you intend to connect your FTP to internet (in this case, I'll recommend to use a standalone computer to handle FTP / Web / ownCloud / any other public service), but are overkill for this task.

Unknown_K wrote:

I purchased FTP Serv-U back when it was shareware with free lifetime upgrades (basically all features). Think that costs a couple thousand these days with all the options since its commercial now. One of the better shareware purchases I made.

http://www.serv-u.com/

You get a fee 30 day trial if you just want to use it once in a while (delete and reinstall). Has every feature you could ever want.

Good grief, why so much money? How many bells and whistles can you add to FTP?