Create Host

This page is used to create a new host on the server.

Host name. Enter the name of this host. The host name should be a fully qualified domain name (in the form hostname.domain.top). The host name can be up to 256 characters. Only alphanumeric characters, hyphens and periods are allowed.
Tip: Make sure your host has a valid Internet host name and IP address and make sure the host has an entry on your Domain Name Server (DNS). If you use an Internet Service Provider (ISP) for connection to the Internet, your host must have an entry in the ISP's DNS.
Top folder. Enter, or browse to select, the full physical path to the top folder for this host. This folder will act as the root folder for all users logging on to this host. Users' folder will be under the root or under a /users/ folder under the root. The full path to the top folder can be up to 512 characters, and can contain any characters except the following: \ / : * ? " < > |

Tip: You can use a network share anywhere that you specify a physical folder on the server. To do this, you must enter the UNC path to the shared folder. You must also specify an Impersonation account that allows the WS_FTP Server to access the UNC path. The Impersonation Settings are configured on the same page (Host Details page) as the Top folder.

If using Microsoft IIS, you must also give permissions to the shared folder to the Windows user account under which your web server's WSFTPSVR folder is running. If that user cannot access the shared folder through the Windows explorer, you cannot access the folder via the WS_FTP Server Manager.

Hide special files (selected by default). If selected, files and folders whose names begin with a dollar sign character ($) are hidden from users. For example, a file named $banner.txt or a folder named $Marketing would both be hidden from users.
Use local time. By default, the server displays directory listings in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). To use the server's local time instead, select this option.
Note: Most FTP clients expect the time to be in GMT.
Enable extended FTP commands (selected by default). If selected, the server accepts and responds to extended commands issued by the client. If cleared, the server responds with an 'unknown command' error when issued an extended command. Extended commands include: FEAT, HOST, LANG, MDTM, MLST, OPTS, XAUT, AUTH SSL and AUTH TLS.
Lock uploads. If selected, files that are being uploaded are locked to prevent other users from downloading incomplete files. Once the file is completely uploaded, it is unlocked.
Allow third party transfers. If selected, users can initiate transfers between this host and another host that also allows third-party transfers.

User Settings

Use these settings to configure the database used to authenticate users and the behavior of the server when users log in.

User database. Select the type of user database that is used by this host for user authentication. If the selected user database type can be configured further, Configure is enabled.
- Ipswitch WS_FTP Server. Select this option to use the native WS_FTP Server database.
- Microsoft Windows database. Select this option to use a Microsoft Windows user database. By default, the users on the local computer are used, but you may also click Configure and provide additional information to use users on a domain.
- Microsoft Active Directory database. Select this option to use a Microsoft Active Directory user database. You must click Configure and provide additional information before users can authenticate using this user database.
- Ipswitch IMail Server database. Select this option to use the user database from an Ipswitch IMail Server installed on the same computer as the WS_FTP Server. If Ipswitch IMail Server is not installed, this option is not available.
- ODBC database. Select this option to use any database that you can connect to using ODBC. You must click Configure and provide additional information before users can authenticate using this user database.
Login location. Select the folder that should be displayed to users after successfully logging in.
- Home folder. Users are shown their home folder after successfully logging in.
- Root folder. Users are shown the root folder after successfully logging in.
Home folder. Enter the path of the user's home folder.
Tip: You can use a network share as a host's top folder. To do this, use Windows Explorer to map the share to a drive, then select that drive for the top folder of the host.
Auto-create users' home folders (selected by default). If selected, user folders are automatically created when a new user is added to this host.
Caution: If Auto-create user folders is cleared, users will be connected to the root directory even if Login location is set to Home folder. Administrators must manually create a home folder for the user before they will be able to log in to it. If the users are logged in to the root directory because they have no home folder, and the user is locked to his home folder, the user will not be able to see or do anything once logged on.
List folders in /users folder. If selected, all users can view all folders in the /users folder. If cleared, all folders except the user's home folder are hidden.
Note: System and host administrators can always see all folders in the /users folder.
Grant full home folder permissions when creating user (selected by default). When selected, new users are granted full permissions to their user home folders when they are created.
Max number of connections (1000 by default). Enter the total number of users who can be logged in at any given time. This includes both anonymous and authenticated users.
Allow anonymous access. If selected, anonymous users can access the host. If cleared, users must authenticate with valid credentials before they can gain access to the host.
Max number of anonymous connections (200 by default). Enter the total number of anonymous users who can be logged in at any given time.

Password Settings

Use these settings to configure security policies for passwords.

Number of passwords to track for each user. Enter the number of expired passwords to remember. If users are forced to change their passwords, they will not be allowed to use any of their former passwords that are remembered.
Number of special characters required. Enter the number of non-alphanumeric characters that users are required to have in their passwords.
Number of numeric characters required. Enter the number of numeric characters that users are required to have in their passwords.
Minimum number of characters required (4 by default). Enter the minimum number of characters that users are required to have in their passwords.
Encrypt passwords stored on server (selected by default). Select this option to encrypt all user passwords stored on the server. If you are using an external database for user authentication that is accessed by other applications, you may need to clear this option.
Caution: Encrypt passwords stored on server cannot be changed after a host is created.

Impersonation Settings

Use these settings to specify a Windows user account that the server uses to request access to folders used by this host. This includes local system folders and network folders specified with a UNC name.

This option may also be used to specify an account to use to access a Windows domain or an Active Directory user database.

Domain. Enter the name of the domain on which the user exists.
User name. Enter the user name to use when requesting access to folders used by this host.
Password. Enter the password to use when requesting access to folders used by this host.

Listeners

Select the listeners you want to allow clients to connect to in order to gain access to this host. For the host to be accessible, at least one listener must be selected.