IP Forwarding and FTP server

[LuDaCriS66]

I have a Linksys BEFSR41 4-port router connecting 2 computer's and an aDSL connection. On occasion, I want to setup an FTP server to let my friends download and upload. I downloaded Guild FTP version 0.998.2 to handle the server duties. I know that I'm supposed to use IP forwarding to set this up and I'm reading my manual to do it. I am not using this as a 24/7 FTP server.. this is just for a couple of hours at a time.

But I have some questions I needed answered:

I should always use port 21 for an FTP server right?
Do I just give my friends my actual IP address and configure the local IP in the router to which computer with the FTP server and it should connect?
It says I must disable DHCP and the router has to be assigned a new static LAN IP addy.. I assume the router will assign itself a new IP?
Since my FTP will only be up for a couple of hours at a time, will it be easy to set my router back to its original state (such as enabling DCHP again) or will there be any sort of hassle??

I also have ZoneAlarm (not pro) running... how do I set it up so that it will allow people access to the FTP? OR should I just shut it down when i have the FTP up?

Thanks


PS: Oh.. it seems that my router's firmware version is 1.42.6 --- the IP Forwarding tab is now the "Port Range Forwarding" tab. Is it the same thing because the screen for confuring the ports is totally different..

it asks for "Ext. Port" which gives room to input a range ( x port to y port )... then a box for "Protocol TCP" and "Protocol UDP".. then the IP Address.. then an "Enable" check box.

what am I supposed to input if I were to use port 21 to setup the FTP server?

 

[LuDaCriS66]

bump

 

[Bglad]

I should always use port 21 for an FTP server right?
This is the default for FTP so yes, unless you manually change it in the FTP software.

Do I just give my friends my actual IP address and configure the local IP in the router to which computer with the FTP server and it should connect?
Yes.

It says I must disable DHCP and the router has to be assigned a new static LAN IP addy.. I assume the router will assign itself a new IP?
You must disable DHCP because if the ip for the FTP machine changes, incoming requests will not find the server. You don't have to disable DHCP completely. You just have to setup a static ip on the machine that is running FTP. This is done on the FTP machine, no change needed in the router. Set the ip in network properties to 192.168.1.2. Check the manual. You have to set the subnet (probably 255.255.255.0), the gateway (probably 192.168.1.1) and the DNS servers (look in the info page of the router). The rest of the machines can remain on DHCP.

Since my FTP will only be up for a couple of hours at a time, will it be easy to set my router back to its original state (such as enabling DCHP again) or will there be any sort of hassle??
You just enable/disable the port forwarding for port 21 depending on whether you are running the FTP or not.

I also have ZoneAlarm (not pro) running... how do I set it up so that it will allow people access to the FTP? OR should I just shut it down when i have the FTP up?
This can be done several ways. IF the same user/s will always be accessing, you could add their ip address to the trusted ip list. When port forwarding is not on in the router, they should still not be able to get in.

Or you could set it to open up port 21.

You will need to test the FTP with ZA off, then turn it on and test to make sure it is working and not blocking.

IP Forwarding tab is now the "Port Range Forwarding" tab
Works the same way, just an added feature. Just enter port 21 in both boxes.

[edit]
You can't open individual ports in ZoneAlarm free version, you need Pro for that. First, just try checking the allow server box for the FTP program in ZA. If that doesn't work, you will have to add the ip address of the user to the trusted zone.