Process to activate FTP site on Windows XP

XP includes a built-in FTP service component that lets FTP clients connect to the machine and read or write files; however, this service doesn't install by default.

To install the FTP service, perform the following steps:

1. Go to Control Panel and click on Add/Remove Programs
2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
3. Click on Internet Information Services (IIS), then click Details.
4. Select the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Service check box, and OK.
5. During the installation, you may need to put in your Windows XP CD. If you do this, during the installation, and it pops up a blue Windows Configuration menu, close it, to allow the first Installation process to complete.
6. Click OK.

Use the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Internet Information Services program to configure the FTP service:

a)      Go to Start | Programs | Administrative Tools | then click Internet Information Services.

b)      Expand the computer name

c)      Expand FTP Sites

d)      A Default FTP Site will have been added. Right-click Default FTP Site

e)      Select Properties from the displayed context menu

f)        Click “Home Directory” and note the path. This is the place that files must be stored, to be available for FTPing.

g)      Click “Security Accounts”, and untick “Allow Anonymous Connections”

h)      Click Apply and OK.

Other notes:

Turning off Anonymous Connections mean that to login requires the Login name and Password of the computer.

If this security is not required, or it is a concern to have the Login name and Password in clear text, then leaving Anonymous Connections on means that remote users can login with “Anonymous” and use the email address for a password.

If users need to upload, then the following setting will need to be changed:

a)      Go to Start | Programs | Administrative Tools | then click Internet Information Services.

b)      Expand the computer name

c)      Expand FTP Sites

d)      A Default FTP Site will have been added. Right-click Default FTP Site

e)      Select Properties from the displayed context menu

f)      Click “Home Directory”

g) Tick in the “Write” box.

h) Click OK

In Many cases, it will be necessary to allow FTP through the WindowsXP firewall. To do this, carry out the following:

1. Open Control Panel, and double click to open Windows Firewall
2. Click Advanced
3. In the top box “Network Connection Settings”, with the Network Connection where FTP connections will come into your computer selected, Click Settings.
4. This box shows the services running on your network that external users can access. Tick the FTP Server box.
5. OK twice and close Control Panel.