OSTU: HFS - HTTP Server for Windows (by Tony Fortunato & Peter Ciuffreda)

© 2009 www.thetechfirm.com

HFS ~ HTTP File Server 2.2f Trainingwith

Windows QuickStart

Tony Fortunato, Sr Network SpecialistPeter Ciuffreda, Network Technician

The Technology Firm


What is HFS?

HFS is;

• Go get it at http://www.rejetto.com/hfs/

• Portable, HTTP file server- no installation required

• Share files between users on the same network by using HFS server


Why use HFS?

HFS can be used for the following tasks;• Download files • Restrict access by implementing user names and passwords• Server may be accessed by VPN, remote desktop viewers, IP or port forwarding.• Shows a report log of all activity that occurs on the server.• Has two modes:

o Easy Mode: for users who just want to share fileso Expert Mode: shows details about connections, speeds, and data in and

out of the server.


The HFS Layout

1. Pull-down HFS Menu

2. Change Port number

3. Change mode; Easy or Expert Mode

4. Open file system in browser window

5. Set file system address

6. Download Speed graph/timeline

7. Top Speed reached and speed Limit

8. Virtual File System window• Add files/folders• Add users/passwords• Restrict access

9. Log window:• Shows times and actions • Save logs to file• Reset log

10. Current Connection window:• Shows user and which file they are

downloading, status, speed, time left, and percentage

11. Additional Info:• Shows number of connections, out/in

speeds, total out/in, and number of Virtual File System (VFS) items


Setting up HFS on the host PC

• Once you have selected a PC on your network to use as the host for the server, download HFS onto it.

• Since HFS is a portable application it can be run from any folder on your PC.

• When you start HFS for the first time you will need to setup your http address and port number.

• The address will be the IP of the host PC, and the port number can be any port number.

• To test the server before implementing it on a network, set the address to your loopback IP.

• Click Open in Browser button to test your server.


Setting up Folders

• Next we want to setup folders for users.• You can either add files and folders

from the pull down menu, or by clicking and dragging them from your PC into HFS.

• When you add a folder HFS will prompt you with a window asking if you want to add the folder as a Real folder, or a Virtual folder.

• Now when you log into the HFS server you will be able to navigate through the different folders and download the files, or open the web links.


Setting up HFS Users

• Set up user accounts by right-clicking on the house icon in the Virtual File System pane.

• You don’t need to set up users or passwords, but for security reasons its always a good idea.

• You can set up as many users as you need.

• Now whenever you access your server you will be prompted with the authentication prompt.


• On the PC that stores your HFS server, you can monitor what actions have taken place on the server through the log, and even monitor live sessions.

• In this example, the Log shows that the user peter is downloading the file wireshark-setup-1.0.7.exe.

• Through the speed graph we can see that this user has a download speed limit of 230 KB/s, and how long the download has been taking place for.

• The Current Connections section (bottom pane) shows us the details about this users download. We can tell from this:

• User/address: [email protected]:1517

• Filename: wireshark-setup-1.0.7.exe

• Status: 9,430,000/ 30,344,800 sent

• Speed: 226.5 KB/s

• Time left: 0:01:34

• Percentage complete: 31%

Monitoring Live Sessions


HFS Menu: Limits > Speed Limit

• One of the most important sections under the HFS Menu is the Limits, and most importantly setting speed limits.

• A speed limit can be set to limit all users to a maximum download speed.

• This limitation can prevents users from overloading the network.

• The download speed graph shows any speed limit set in the top-right corner.

• You can tell if your speed limit is working by a flat top on the download graph pink bar.


HFS Menu: Limits > Speed Limit

• The image to the right displays the speed limit that was set in HFS.

• The speed or speed limit is displayed in four different spots if operating HFS in Expert Mode:

1. The download graph has the Top Speed and Limit written in the top-right corner. This case the Limit is 230 KB/s.

2. Also on the download graph there is a visual representation of the download speed. As we can see the graph (pink=out) has a flat top meaning that the max speed is staying constant.

3. Also in Expert Mode the section on the bottom shows info on current downloads. The speed of the current download is 230 KB/s, which is the set limit.

4. The bottom bar of HFS also shows info on current and total outs and ins. The current out is going at 230 KB/s.

5. The Firefox downloader is showing a speed of 258 KB/s. The download is counting all Bytes, not just the filesize, so it will be a slightly higher number.


Banning

• HFS allows you to BAN or block IP addresses or usernames from accessing the server

Resulting message on client


Tony Fortunato, Sr Network SpecialistPeter Ciuffreda, Network Technician

The Technology Firm

Thank you

HFS ~ HTTP File Server 2.2f Trainingwith

Windows QuickStart


For additional educational videos on Open Source Network Tools, please click on the following …

http://www.lovemytool.com/blog/ostu.html

LoveMyTool.com – Community for Network Tools