[Novices] public ftp access

[Bruce Smith]

> * how do I allow her account to ftp in?  I don't know her domain or IP 
> or anything, and I doubt she does.

I suppose the simplest way is to create an account for her on your box.

Security is a concern since FTP sends passwords unencrypted, and there
is the issue of getting the password to her (unencrypted email?)
If you do that, it's best to lock the user in her home directory, and to
NOT allow shell access.

How you do that depends on the FTP server you're running.  You didn't
mention that.

> * instead of leading her through the clumsy Windows command line of ftp, 
> or downloading a third-party program, is there a way I can give her a 
> simple url for her browser, like ftp://kelly.kzoo.edu?  What is the 
> default account info a browser uses when making a connection like this? 
>   Do I just set up an "anonymous" account?  What do I use for password?

You can do regular accounts like:

  ftp://userid@host.domain.com/

where it'll popup a box asking for the password.

Or you can do this:

  ftp://userid:password@host.domain.com/

> Of course I wouldn't say out loud that, if I set this up, others on the 
> klug list would be welcome to some of the Christmas music too.

I'll assume you're not violating any copyright laws or any other 
illegal file sharing, otherwise this conversation is over.

 - BS