GuildFTPd Getting Started - Local Directory Setup

Let's start by setting up some local directories that we will use to "share" using GuildFTPd.

You need to decide what folders you want to share and how you want to share them. While you can share your entire C:\ or D:\ drive, we don't recommend it unless you absolutely have to. The ideal way to set up an FTP server is to create a new directory and set it up as your root FTP directory. Then, you can set up other folders to show up as subdirectories.

Huh?

Don't get discouraged. We're going to walk you through the whole process and try to explain everything as we go along.

What's a root directory?
- A root directory is the lowest level that your users can get to and use on your FTP server. It's the starting point.

When you open My Computer or Windows Explorer and open your C: or D: drive to see folders (like Windows or Program Files), that's a root directory. It's the first level of your C: or D: drive. On an FTP server, you have the option of setting what folder is your starting point.

An example of a local directory that you want to use as your FTP server's root or start directory is D: \FTPdir \root.

Let's start by creating a new folder that we'll use as our FTP directory.

STEPS NOTES
Open My Computer or Windows Explorer Use the one you prefer.
Open the drive you want to create your root folder in. Your choice.
Our example will use D:
Click the File menu and select New -> Folder.  
Name it FTPdir.  
You should now see a new directory named FTPdir. In our example, this will be accessible to GuildFTPd as D: \FTPdir

Ok, now you've got your a directory set up that can be used for GuildFTPd. Now, let's set up some subdirectories that we can use to define security later.

We're going to set up the following directories:
D: \FTPdir \root
D: \FTPdir \pub
D: \FTPdir \upload

STEPS NOTES
Open My Computer or Windows Explorer Use the one you prefer.
Open the drive you created FTPdir in. We used D:
Open the FTPdir directory.  
Click the File menu and select New -> Folder.  
Name it root.  
You should now see a new directory named root. In our example, this will be accessible to GuildFTPd as D: \FTPdir \root
Click the File menu and select New -> Folder.  
Name it pub.  
You should now see a new directory named pub. In our example, this will be accessible to GuildFTPd as D: \FTPdir \pub
Click the File menu and select New -> Folder.  
Name it upload.  
You should now see a new directory named upload. In our example, this will be accessible to GuildFTPd as D: \FTPdir \upload

Ok, we've now got some directories set up that we can share using GuildFTPd.

Now, let's set up some users in GuildFTPd.

NEXT