How to Install FileZilla FTP Server on Windows Server 2019
Windows built-in FTP does not enable secure FTP. Filezilla FTP Server on Windows Server 2019 provides an alternative to the outdated pre-built FTP offered by Microsoft, with the added benefit of security. FileZilla has a user management interface that is displayed right on the server application’s UI, making it more user-friendly than other alternatives.
Filezilla FTP Server for Windows Server 2019 appears to be a simple installation and fully configurable solution for transferring files quickly and securely. It has support for the Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol, which allows for high-level encryption even on insecure networks.
An FTP server’s principal function is to enable users to upload and download files. A file transfer protocol (FTP) server is a computer with an FTP address that is only dedicated to receiving FTP connections. FTP is a file transfer protocol that allows a server (sender) and a client to exchange files over the internet (receiver), via an FTP protocol.
FTP servers make it easier to transmit files over the internet. They serve as a conduit between the sender and the recipient of a file. You may be required to enter a username and password, depending on the type of FTP server you use and the level of protection required. Some FTP servers allow you to connect anonymously, which means you don’t have to enter a username or password to gain access.
WinSCP has been described as “A popular SFTP client and FTP client for Microsoft Windows,” by developers. It is a popular SFTP and FTP client for Windows applications, using FTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP, WebDAV, or S3 file transfer protocols, allowing users to copy files between a local computer and distant servers.
FileZilla, on the other hand, is described as “a free FTP client and server solution.” It’s a free and powerful program for sharing files over the Internet. It is a broadly accepted FTP client, used by webmasters all over the world.
WinSCP and FileZilla are both classified as “File Transfer” applications.
WinSCP includes the following features:
- Graphical user interface
- Integrated text editor
- All common file operations.
FileZilla, on the other hand, has the following major features:
- Simple to use
- Supports FTP
- Cross-platform integration
FileZilla has a higher approval rating on StackShare, with 17 company stacks and 71 developer stacks mentioning it, compared to WinSCP, which has 10 business stacks and 16 developer stacks. This makes FileZilla a popular alternative over other file transfer applications.
Advantages of Using FileZilla FTP Server (Pros)
FileZilla offers a multitude of benefits over its counterparts:
- Supports FTP, FTP over SSL/TLS (FTPS), and SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), allowing for the secure transfer of sensitive data.
- AS of 2021, FileZilla now runs on Windows, Linux, *BSD, Mac OS X, and more. This makes transferring files between different Operating Systems much easier.
- IPv6 support.
- FileZilla is available in many languages allowing for a much user-friendly experience.
- Drag and drop to download and upload, and downloads for larger files can be paused and resumed instantly.
- A tabbed administrator, allowing for synchronized directory browsing and makes it easier to search files remotely on a server.
These are the most crucial characteristics of FileZilla. Let’s look at how to utilize and install Filezilla FTP Server now.
Requirements Before Installing FileZilla FTP Server
FileZilla’s optimization and backward compatibility allow for it to be run on multiple computers, be it new or old. Having said that, there are a few software requirements that must be met before installing FileZilla.
Windows
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 ( 32 bit )
- Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10, ( 64 bit )
Mac
- Mac OS X 10.9 or newer
Linux
- Built for Debian 9.0 (Stretch). It is highly recommended to manually compile FileZilla if you are running a different flavor of Linux.
Why not deploy FileZilla FTP Server in the Cloud ?
- Check out How to Setup FileZilla FTP Server on AWS
- Check out How to Setup FileZilla FTP Server on Azure
- Check out How to Setup FileZilla FTP Server on Google GCP
Install FileZilla FTP Server on Windows Server 2019
First, we will download FileZilla for windows through the official website here.
- After the download is complete, double-click on the FileZilla_Server.exe to begin installing FileZilla.
2. Read Through the Licensing and Agreement and click I agree.
3. Select whatever features you wish to install and then click the next button.
4. Select your installation location and click next.
5. Select install as service, start with Windows (default), and click next.
6. Select Start if the user logs on, applies to all users (default), the administrators all.
7. After the installation is completed press the close button to close the window.
8. To administrate (setup) your new FTP Server, open the Filezilla Server application and click Connect to the administrator.
Configuring FileZilla on Windows
9. From the main menu, click the edit button and then click users.
10. Select the General tab and click the “Add” button to add the users that will have access to your FTP Server.
11. Type your user name and click ok.
12. Under Account settings, click check on the Password checkbox to enable password security, and then type a password for the FTP user.
Create FileZilla FTP Shared Folder
13. Under the page tab, select the Shared Folders option and click the Add button under the Shared folders box, you need to choose the folder from your computer that folder will be shared via FTP.
Select a folder from your computer that will be used for FTP access and click ok.
14. Now we need to choose user permissions that should be assigned to the users of the shared folder (Read, Write, Delete, etc.) and click ok.
Adding Security to your FTP Server
15. If you want to make your FTP Server more secure, then from the main menu select Edit and select Settings.
16. Select General settings to specify a port different than the default 21 for your FTP connection.
17. Select IP filter under general settings to specify the IP address that will have access to your FTP server. For this tutorial, I am using the internal IP Address 10.0.0.50 to not be allowed to connect.
18. The way to access FTP Server from your local network is through your browser.
Open your Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Firefox and within the address bar, Type your FTP Server’s Hostname (or IP Address) and therefore the FTP port number (if you’ve changed the default (21) port for FTP connections) and press Enter. (my FTP Server IP Address is “10.0.0.50” and port is “55557”, so I want to type. “ftp://10.0.0.50:55557”.
19. Type your username, password, and then select Save password. Then click Log on to enter.
20. FTP Folder successfully connected.
