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 Setup Help


Help, configuration and tips.

General Settings
These settings control the general behavior of the FTP server and allow you to personalize the server to your needs. The options also affect the running of your FTP server and allow you to enable options such as the NT Service and change controls such as the listening port.

  • Accept Connections on Port - By default this value is set to 21 (the standard FTP port). However, this value can be changed to any valid TCP/IP port value.
  • Listen Only on IP- This option allows you to bind the listening port to a single IP address. If a host name is provided then it will be converted to an IP address which will then be used for binding.
  • Idle Connection Time-Out - This controls the automatic disconnection time-out period, in seconds, of idle users. By default this value is 300 (5 minutes).
  • Use PASV Port Range - This option allows you to limit the range of ports used for data connections by the server. This is mainly useful for avoiding port conflicts and reducing port ranges to be configured for firewalls and routers.
  • Router IP (If Any) - If your server is behind a router then you should enter the router's IP in this field. By default, PASV mode data connections will use the computer's IP. However, if the computer is behind a router, then that IP will usually be an internal network IP and not a valid Internet IP. By setting this option, the FTP server will ensure that the router's IP is issued to the FTP client and therefore allow PASV mode transfers.
  • Run as an NT Service (Load Automatically) - If you are running Windows NT, 2000 or XP, then you will have the option of allowing Ability FTP Server to run as a service. If you enable this option, Ability FTP Server will automatically load before the login screen during boot up. This ensures that regardless of which user is logged into the machine (if any), the FTP server will always be safely running. Please note that when running as a service you will not be presented with the usual administration interface. However, administration is still possible via the Remote Admin facility, accessible with any web browser from any location. The service can be stopped at any time by manually rerunning Ability FTP Server and selecting the 'End Service' button.
  • Show Tray Icon in NT Service Mode - If this is enabled then a 'grayed out' tray icon will appear when the NT Service is running otherwise there is no other indication that the NT Service is running.
  • Hide in Tray On Load - This causes the FTP server to automatically hide in the system tray when loading. To restore the main dialog, double click on the icon in the system tray.
  • Activate on Load - This causes the FTP server to automatically activate when it is loaded. Please note that if there is a problem during activation, then this will fail and the server will remain in the deactivated state.
  • Place Deleted Files into the Recycle Bin - This option will cause any deleted files to be placed into the recycle bin. This allows you to ensure deleted files are protected and can be retrieved after deletion (provided the recycle bin has the available space).