Cable internet+ftp server?

[zmzhang]

Hi, I have comcast internet. Like all cable isp, they don't allow routers and servers. I want to set up an ftp server to be able to get my files from another place. How easy would it be for the isp to detect this? And what will they do if they do find it?

Thanks

 

[Lord Evermore]

All they'd have to do is try to connect to your IP on the standard ftp port (21). ISPs do sometimes portscan their customers to see if there are servers running and they will cancel your account for it (sometimes after a warning if you do it again).

You can run the server on a non-standard port, and that might avoid them finding it, but technically you're still violating the terms of service. If they do find it, you might convince them that you are using it only for your own file transfers, but that may not wash with them.

An alternative is to just use the space that comes with your cable service. Each user gets 10MB of webspace that you can use to store anything you want (as long as it's legal), or you can use something like Geocities free space if you need more.

 

[zmzhang]

If i use the port that my yahoo messenger also uses, would the data being sent and recieved look like data for the messenger? I understand why cable isps don't want people hosting servers. I would use geocities as a host for my files but the idea of updating my word/excel/pp everytime i update it seems annoying.

 

[zmzhang]

^bump

 

[Lord Evermore]

If you used the same port, you wouldn't be able to start the server. Only one application can be listening on any given port at one time. You can just randomly select a port to use (something above 1024), and the client machine would need to specify the non-standard port in its configuration.

Oh, you can also use the web folders feature in XP, and some applications are automatically able to save directly to a network location. I don't know particularly any that do, but it would mean not needing to upload and save files separately.

 

[zmzhang]

I realize that you can't have more then one program on a port. If I just have the ftp server on the port that Yahoo messenger usually uses, will Comcast think that the data is for yahoo messenger?

 

[Lord Evermore]

No, they don't just check whether a port is open and assume that the port is being listened to by the "usual" application. When they connect they'll be given a response from the FTP server. FTP, HTTP, telnet, all those things can be connected in the same way, by text (for the initial connection). If you telnet to an FTP server on the right port, you get a prompt from the FTP server, because it doesn't know you're not using an FTP client. Technically, you could begin file transfers right then, if you could capture the binary data coming from the server; that's all an FTP client really does.

220 home.covad.net FTP Server ready.

Also, Yahoo Messenger doesn't just "listen" on whatever port it uses. It maintains an open connection to the server. The port can't be simply connected to by anything because the application isn't expecting a connection from anything but the server, so it won't respond, giving no indication of what is running. If they find the port open (by port scanning they see ports which are accepting connections, not ports that are actively connected) they just try to connect and see if it responds. Your FTP server would respond then.

 

[wondersteve]

i too have comcast and have been running a http server and a ftp server for about 8 to 9 months and they have never said a word to me. i serve a few friends w/ the ftp and the http is just there.

as long as you are not getting 1000's of hits a day you should be fine.

good luck

 

[zmzhang]

Originally posted by: wondersteve
i too have comcast and have been running a http server and a ftp server for about 8 to 9 months and they have never said a word to me. i serve a few friends w/ the ftp and the http is just there.

as long as you are not getting 1000's of hits a day you should be fine.

good luck

Do you leave the ftp server online 24/7 or just have it online when you need it? Are you using port 21?

thanks

 

[zmzhang]

bump

 

[sinisterDei]

I'm a personal friend of wondersteve's, and yes, his server is on 24/7. It is using the standard ports as well.

I'm pretty sure what they don't want are PUBLIC ftps being run from your home cable connection. Steve's is passworded, and there are only 10 people or so that actually have passwords to it.

Also, you might just try straight-up mapping a network drive. Its not the most secure thing in the whole wide world, but if you're sitting on a publicly accessible internet IP address, you can map a drive over an internet IP to your machine. Or even use the administrative shares. You would just go to map a drive an use "\\65.88.14.57\c$" substituting your own IP. The c$ is the default administrative share (requires the Administrator account on your PC have a password.) You'll have to put in a username and password, but that's expected.

Now, there are lots of reasons NOT to leave file-and-print sharing bound to a TCP/IP protocol, but I've never been too ascared of it. Just keep yourself windows-updated

 

[wondersteve]

Originally posted by: zmzhang

Originally posted by: wondersteve
i too have comcast and have been running a http server and a ftp server for about 8 to 9 months and they have never said a word to me. i serve a few friends w/ the ftp and the http is just there.

as long as you are not getting 1000's of hits a day you should be fine.

good luck

Do you leave the ftp server online 24/7 or just have it online when you need it? Are you using port 21?

thanks

as sinsiterDei stated my ftp is going 24/7 and on port 21 .... the ftp server program i use limit the amount of people and bandwidth they are allowed. that way i can download and surf w/o feeling the burden of someone else downloading from me. i max out at around 30 kbs upload so i limit my users to only 15 kbs of upload stream ... and that give me room for what i want to do

zmzhang ... pm me or sinisterDei and we will be happy to helping you get things setup

regards

 

[Lord Evermore]

It is very very bad advice to tell someone to go leaving file and printer sharing bound to their Internet IP connection. Even worse to tell them to share their entire system via administrative shares. Windows Update can't protect you if you completely open your system via the proper methods to do that.