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.