[svlug] ftpd - which one?

[Rick Moen]

Tin Le said:

> The reason that ftp is still in wide use is because it is fairly
> simple to use for the average users.  FTP clients are also prevalent.
> For general purpose making files available for the public, using
> scp/ssh/etc is too complex for most people and an overkill IMHO.

For _that_ purpose, an anonymous-only ftpd without root access or write 
privileges suffices.  (httpds need a hack like yours, else they omit
information.)

Public uploads can be by CGI/HTTP.  If needed.

> I would start with one of the FTP servers - the latest wuftpd is not
> that bad, proftpd is nice, maybe more features than you need.  If all
> you want is to offer d/l, and have a web server already running, go
> with putting a link to a raw directory where the files are located.

Viewing http://linuxmafia.com/debian/dists/ is _almost_ acceptable.  But
an informed eye can readily see why one nonetheless cannot yet dispense
with ftp://linuxmafia.com/debian/dists/ .  

The tougher problem, which you didn't cover, is NON-anonymous file
transfer.  Doing this with ftp and not creating a security nightmare is
difficult.  That's why I require scp for that, and furnish users with
availability details for various platforms.  

-- 
Cheers,                              "Open your present...."
Rick Moen                            "No, you open your present...."
rick (at) linuxmafia.com             Kaczinski Christmas.
               --  Unabomber Haiku Contest, CyberLaw mailing list