Release Notes for WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module

Ipswitch, Inc.

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WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module Release Notes

About this document

This document contains information on how to install and configure WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module.

What is WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module?

WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module is a web application that runs with Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) and lets your WS_FTP Server users access their accounts via a browser (using HTTP).

No installation is required for the end user. The end user will open a web address in a browser and log on to their account using the Web Transfer Client.

You can enable Web Transfer access to any of your WS_FTP Server users. All existing user settings, rules, and notifications apply to the WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module account.

For the end user, the Web Transfer Client offers easy, secure access via a browser, basic upload and download operations, and no client installation or maintenance.

For the administrator, WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module provides secure file transfer via HTTPS, offers quick setup and rollout, and works the same across different operating systems and browsers.

System Requirements

Requirements for WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module

Before installing WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module, you need the following:

• WS_FTP Server or WS_FTP Server with SSH, 6.1.1 or later
• Microsoft .NET 3.0 Framework
• Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0 or 6.0

The pre-installation checklist in the section, "Installing WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module," describes how to configure the requirements.

Requirements for the end user

The end user can use any computer with an operating system that can support the following:

• Broadband connection to the Internet (recommended)
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 or later, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later on Windows, Mac, and Unix, Safari (Apple) browser, Netscape Navigator (or other Web browser that is CSS2 and HTML 4.01 compliant)
• Enabled Javascript support and Cookie support in the Web browser

Installing WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module

WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module should be installed on the same computer as the WS_FTP Server. This section provides a pre-installation checklist and install procedure for installing WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module.

Pre-installation checklist for installing WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module

WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module installs an IIS web application to communicate with the WS_FTP Server database and FTP file system. Before you run the WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module installation, you need to install the prerequisite software and configure the WS_FTP Server computer.

1. Install WS_FTP Server or WS_FTP Server with SSH, v6.1.1 or later

   The version 6.1.1 update enables the WS_FTP Server to work with the WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module. To download this update, go to the WS_FTP Server Software Updates page on our web site.

   For the installation requirements and procedure, see WS_FTP Server Getting Started Guide.

2. Make sure Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 is installed.

   You can download and install .NET Framework 3.0 from the Microsoft Download Center.

3. Make sure Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0 or 6.0 is installed.

   You need the Windows OS disk to install IIS. Go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs, then select Add/Remove Windows Components. Select Internet Information Services (or Application Services on Windows 2003), then follow the on-screen instructions.

4. The Web Transfer Module needs access to the file system on your FTP host or hosts so it can upload and download files. During the Web Transfer Module installation, you will need to specify a Windows user account with permissions to the top folder of each WS_FTP Server host (for each host for which you will enable WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module). We recommend you create a Windows user account for use by the Web Transfer Module.

   Note that this Windows user account is used differently depending on the WS_FTP Server host settings and the user database configured for that host:

   • If the host uses a Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Active Directory user database, configured to use Windows file permissions, the user account permissions take precedence, and this Windows account is not used.
   • If the host has a host-level impersonation account, which is required if the host Top folder uses a UNC path, the host-level impersonation account takes precedence, and this Windows account is not used.
5. If the host uses the WS_FTP Server or ODBC user database, and the host-level impersonation is not specified, this Windows account is used.

Installation Procedure

To install WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module:

1. If you received an installation CD, insert it into a drive. If the Welcome screen does not appear, select Start > Run, and enter the drive path followed by launch.exe.

   Example: D:\launch.exe

   - OR -

   If you downloaded the software from our Web site, double-click the executable (.exe) file to begin the installation.

2. On the Pre-installation Checklist screen, read the checklist items. Make sure you have set up the required configuration. Select "I have completed the Pre-installation checklist," then click Next.
3. On the installation Welcome screen, click Next to continue. The License Agreement dialog appears.
4. Read the license agreement. If you agree with its terms, select "I accept the terms of the license agreement," and click Next.

   Next, the Impersonation Account for Web Transfer Module screen opens.

5. Enter a Windows account that has full access to the top folder of the WS_FTP Server host.

   The Web Transfer Module needs a Windows account to use for access to the FTP file system.

   On the WS_FTP Server computer, you should have created a Windows account that has full access to the top directory of the WS_FTP Server host, as described in the pre-installation steps. Use that account username and password here.

   Domain or Server. Enter the Windows domain name of the WS_FTP Server computer, or the Windows computer name.

   User name. Enter the user name for the Windows account.

   Password. Enter the password for the account.

   This account username and password will also appear in the WS_FTP Server Manager, under Home > Modules > Web Access Settings. If necessary, you can modify this account after completing the installation.

6. Choose the appropriate IIS web site for your application. Choose the default web site, unless you have created a dedicated web site for this server, then click Next.

   The installation program also configures the Web Transfer web application to accept SSL connections on port 443. A self-signed certificate is installed. This allows your users to use HTTPS for secure transfers.

   Next, the Destination Folder dialog opens.

7. Click Next to install to the specified folder.

   If you want to install to a different folder, click Change, then browse to the destination folder, or create a new folder, then click OK. You will be returned to the Destination Folder dialog. Click Next.

8. Click Install. The Install Wizard completes the installation. The Setup Wizard Completed dialog opens.
9. Read the notes related to post-installation steps, then click Finish.

You need to enable web access for users that will use the Web Transfer Client, and provide them the web address to log on, as described in the section, "Configuring WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module."

Configuring WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module

WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module does not require installation on a user's computer. Your WS_FTP Server users can access the files in their accounts using any browser, and the address (URL) that you provide them. To complete the configuration of WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module, you need to:

1. From your existing set of WS_FTP Server users, add users to the Web Access list.
   1. Log in to the WS_FTP Server Manager, and select Home > Modules. The Modules page opens.
   2. Select Web Access.

      The Web Access page shows all eligible users, which is all users on all of your WS_FTP Server hosts.

   3. Add any users to whom you want to provide web access.
2. Roll out Web Access to your users by providing them the address (URL) that users will use to log on to the Web Transfer Client.

   The address is: http://<local_machine>/thinclient/login.aspx

   where <local_machine> is the domain name of the computer on which you installed the Web Transfer Client.

   For example, if the local computer domain name is host1.wsftp.com, then the address your users need to log on to the Web Transfer Client is:

   http://host1.wsftp.com/thinclient/login.aspx

   You should test this address before sending it out to users.

   You can also launch the Web Transfer Client from the WS_FTP Server program group (Programs > Ipswitch WS_FTP Server >WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Client.)

   If you add a user to the default host (specified in Server > Server Settings > System Details), the user will log onto the Web Transfer Client using their WS_FTP server user name and password. If you add a user to a host that is not the default host, the user must log onto the Web Transfer Client using the host name, host separator, and username and password; for example: user2@host2.domain.com

Secure Transfer via HTTPS

For secure transfer, the Web Transfer Client is installed with SSL capability, which runs on port 443. The installation creates an SSL certificate which is used when the user connects via HTTPS. You can enable secure transfer by changing the address used to log on to the Web Transfer Client to use HTTPS, for example: https://host1.wsftp.com/thinclient/login.aspx

Uninstalling WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module

1. In the Control Panel, select Add/Remove Programs.
2. Select Ipswitch WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Client, then click Change/Remove and follow the onscreen prompts to uninstall.

Silent Install for WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module

To automate installation of WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module, you can use silent install. This silent install uses the Microsoft Installer and command line options to execute the installation, rather than the record and play mechanism used by the WS_FTP Server. The syntax for the command line is:

msiexec -i [path+executable].msi -q DBSERVERTYPE="PG" DBUSER="IPS_xxxx" DBPASS="xxxx" DBSERVERNAME="Server_X" DBSERVERPORT="5432" IS_NET_API_LOGON_USERNAME="DOMAIN\USER" IS_NET_API_LOGON_PASSWORD="xxxx" IISWEBSITENAME="Default Web Site"

The "-i" option indicates install. To uninstall, use the option "-x." The record (r) and silent (s) options are not used for the WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module silent install.

The install properties are as follows (follow each option with an equals sign and enclose each of the values in quotes):

Property	Description
DBSERVERTYPE	The type of server being installed. PG=PostGreSQL. MS=Microsoft SQL Server.
DBUSER	The name of the user recognized by the database. Note: If a PostgreSQL database was created by the WS_FTP Server installation, the username for the database account is the WS_FTP Server administrator name appended to "IPS_". For example, if you entered "admin" during the WS_FTP Server installation, the PostgreSQL user name will be: IPS_admin
DBPASS	The password for the user recognized by the database.
DBSERVERNAME	The server name (should be entered as SERVER or INSTANCE\SERVER).
DBSERVERPORT	The port number for the server (should be NO PORT if the instance is specified). The default port for PostgreSQL is 5432; the default port for Microsoft SQL Server is 1433.
IS_NET_API_LOGON_USERNAME	This is the domain and username for the impersonation account (The Windows account used to perform file server operations and access the file server directory. Use DOMAIN\USER).
IS_NET_API_LOGON_PASSWORD	This is the password for the impersonation account.
IISWEBSITENAME	This is the name of the web site to be supported (such as Default Web Site).
INSTALLDIR	Use this property to specify a different install path (the default path is \Program Files\Ipswitch\WebClients). Use this command last.

After the installation is completed, you can navigate to the INSTALLDIR to make sure the files are installed there.

Notes on supported browsers

• When using the Firefox browser on an Apple Mac computer, note that the browser does not implement the proper Tab order on the Login page (login.aspx).
• Both WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Module and Internet Information Services (IIS) have limits on the size of file that can be uploaded. When a user tries to upload a file that is larger than the Web Transfer Client's maximum upload size, the Web Transfer Client displays an error message at the top of the main page (Transfer.aspx).

  If the upload exceeds the IIS maximum upload size, the browser displays a page error and does not return to the Web Transfer Client page.

  Though we cannot change the browser behavior, both of these upload values can be set in the web.config file (C:\Program Files\Ipswitch\WebClients\ThinClient\Web.config).

  When you save changes to the Web.config file, all active WS_FTP Server Web Transfer Client sessions will be reset, which means that any user logged on via the Web Transfer Client will be returned to the Logon page, and will have to log on again.

  • Web Transfer Client maximum upload size is set in the <appSettings> section:

    <add key="MaxUploadSize" value="50"/>

    The value is in MB, so the maximum upload size for the Web Transfer Client is 50 MB.

  • IIS maximum upload size is set in the <httpRuntime> section:

    <httpRuntime maxRequestLength="2097151"/>

    The value is in KB, so the maximum upload size is 1 GB.

  The IIS limit can also be set in other locations, namely machine.config, and IIS metabase, though we recommend using the web.config settings.

• Internet Explorer 6 and 7 do not allow underscores in a web address (URL). Make sure the web address for logging into the Web Transfer Module does not have an underscore in any part of the address; for example:

  http://my_domain/thinclient/