how to foward FTP addy to a .com domain?! help.

[dills84]

hey guys. i recently set up a FTP server on my comp at home. i got a .com domain address from namecheap.com and now im trying to link the namecheap.com address to a webpage in my FTP server. problem is when i put in my ftp://ipaddress/index.html it calls it an invalid http format. and doesnt redirect to the right page. and namecheap.com doesnt have any settings saying FTP. so im confused! anybody know what to do? thanks.

[enhanced08]

An FTP site is to upload/download files. If you want to display the html file as a webpage you need to setup a webserver, or simply upload it to your webhost.

If I understand you correctly thats what you need to do anyway.

[dills84]

hmmm.. i thought my FTP was a web server? i can access the HTML files if i type in the address? I.E. "Ftp://MyIpAdress/Public/index.html" it pops up as a webpage. BUT if i use a redirection service and Aim it at the page nothing pops up? im confused.

I'm also running this FTP off a NAS hard drive thats independant from my computer. it has a built in FTP server and hooks directly to my router. so im not sure if i could use it as a HTTP webhost.

what do ya think? Thanks

[doctorgonzo]

No, an FTP server is not a web server. Different ports, different settings. If you want to set up a website, you will need a web server like IIS or Apache.

[faulkner132]

To get to your FTP site: ftp://your_username:your_password@ipaddress

[dills84]

Originally Posted by faulkner132 To get to your FTP site: ftp://your_username:your_password@ipaddress

its set to anonomous.

[faulkner132]

Originally Posted by dills84 its set to anonomous.

Then use: ftp://anonymous@ipaddress

[Statica]

Personally, I dont understand this: if your ISP allows you to run servers from your home connection, why wouldn't you install a web server to serve out data instead of running an FTP server to serve out websites? There is a huge difference in using just about any server to serve out anything. An FTP server is not meant to run websites its meant to transfer files between a server and a client. A webserver is meant to allow parsing of webpages with appropriate browse locations. Not to mention the ports and the addresses.
When you run ftp://yourIP/index.html it is actually ftp://anonymous@youripaddress:21/index.html .. a port 21 call. When you use a redirection service, they are actually looking for a webserver on the appropriate port (usually 80). Sure you could now sit to change your FTP server to look for connections on port 80 but now you explicitly have to give your location as ftp://yourIP:80/index.html .. you MUST specify your port number. Not to mention the can of worms you are openning with running an FTP server on anonymous that might have its own set of vulnerabilities etc etc. Might I suggest using the right tool for the right job?

[enhanced08]

I have FTP access to my website and domain so that I can easily update the website. On my home server I have another FTP server that I have setup for the transfer of files between my friends and family. I link to this server on my personal home page but don't use it to serve the pages of the site. In this way you can have both working with the same files, the web server to send the files to a browser and FTP to send the actualy html files to the server from your home machine when you update the site.

[dills84]

well the thing is. this is all running off an external NAS enclosure. with a built in firmware FTP. its convienient because i can access the settings and what not from anywhere via the internet. I cannot run a HTTP webserver directly off the drive. i'd have to run it through my computer and then to the drive. Using JUST the drive cuts out my computer and leaves my home network secure because the NAS is in the DMZ on my router. where as all the computers are behind the router.

What your saying is. run a web server using IIS through windows. and put my computer in the DMZ and risk having all my ports open? seems kindof dangerous. im hoping theres a better alternative.

Thanks.

[enhanced08]

Use your current webserver, just upload everything to it. If you have some files on the FTP server that you want people to download (.zip, .iso, etc) then link to them on the webapge.

[faulkner132]

Does your router offer Port Forwarding? If so, just use that to route the relevant incoming port traffic to the appropriate computer instead of using a DMZ.