Configuring the File Transfer Protocol server

You can configure your File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server to work with graphical FTP clients, Web browsers, and Web tools.

The TCP/IP Connectivity Utilities licensed program comes with TCP/IP FTP servers configured. When you start TCP/IP, the FTP server starts simultaneously. Before you configure an FTP server on the Internet, you need to review these safeguards to protect your data:

• Use a firewall between your system and the Internet.
• Use a nonproduction system for your FTP server.
• Do not attach the FTP server to the rest of your company's Local Area Networks (LANs) or Wide Area Network (WANs).
• Use FTP exit programs to secure access to the FTP server.
• Test FTP exit programs once a month to ensure that they do not contain security loopholes.
• Do not allow anonymous FTP users to have read and write access to the same directory. This permits the anonymous user to be untraceable on the Internet.
• Log all access to your FTP server and review the logs daily or weekly for possible attacks.
• Verify that the correct exit programs are registered for the FTP server once a month.
• Review the Secure FTP topic for information about securing your FTP server.