Web file server

[Hoube78]

Hi,
I'm looking to setup a web file server so no more than 10 friends can access some files.

I need them to be able to access from web browser, most have IE but some have others.

I need them to be able to upload and download the files and it needs to be password protected.

Some people have already pushed me towards a windows home server system but I'm here to see if you can convince me otherwise

I've got resonable IT experiance (not much with ubuntu thou).

I have a spare computer if needed or my desktop.

I need my friends access to be easy e.g. I want to send them a web address they go to log in with username and password and they can see the folders with files in.

Any help or advice welcome I'm off for the next few days so I am free to have a play with Ubuntu.

Thanks,

J

[Cheesemill]

I run AjaXplorer on my Ubuntu Server to access files through a web interface.

[hasan.akgoz]

setup an ftp server like proftpd.

[Lars Noodén]

If you have openssh-server already install then you already have SFTP and don't need to add anything for file transfer. As a bonus, SFTP is secure, unlike FTP:

• http://www.openlogic.com/wazi/bid/18...Files-Securely
• http://blog.jdpfu.com/2011/07/10/why...stop-using-ftp

If you are looking to share access to some folders, you will have to set the appropriate group permissions.

sudo addgroup webmasters

sudo chgrp -R webmasters /var/www

sudo find /var/www -type d -exec chmod g=rwxs "{}" \;
sudo find /var/www -type f -exec chmod g=rws "{}" \;

sudo gpasswd --add hoube78 webmasters
sudo gpasswd --add colleague1 webmasters
sudo gpasswd --add colleague2 webmasters
# etc.

Once the permissions are set, then you can leave them.

[Hoube78]

Hi All,

I'm not to comfrotable with ftp or sftp.... will my friends need to be able to access through a web browser? They wont install anything to their computers so it needs to be web browser base.

[Lars Noodén]

The file managers Dolphin and Nautilus both have a SFTP built in. So they don't need to learn anything new to be able to upload files to the server. Just press ctrl-L and then enter the URI of the web page: sftp://user@xx.yy.zz.aa/some/path

Otherwise Ajaxexplorer might be an option, but you will need to set up HTTPS first.

[Hoube78]

I run AjaXplorer on my Ubuntu Server to access files through a web interface.

I like the look of this, how easy is it to install on ubuntu etc?

Will my friends be able to access using smart phones likie windows 7 and iphone?

[kgatan]

Ajaxplorer is easy to install, its just a web page you unpack in your www folder.
Some tweaking with file permissions may be needed.
There can also be some configuration needed depending on how large files you want to be able to upload.

There is an official app available for iphone/ipad for ajaxplorer but i believe its not free.
Don't know about Windows phones or Android.

[HermanAB]

Dropbox is probably the easiest.

[LHammonds]

There is also an option called OwnCloud.