Mystery WinXP Component...

[CZroe]

I have never seen this option when installing Windows before:

I was installing WinXP Pro on a formatted hard drive; choosing custom components to install and I saw "Internet Information Services"
Under IIS, I saw an option for "File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Service"
I added the component, and some other required options were automatically checked.
Now, I want to know how to use this FTP server. There are no new shorcuts or groups in the Start>Programs list.
On the root of C:, I did find a directory created by IIS called "Inetpub". This has many Visual Basic Script (VBS) files which appear to perform FTP functions. Anyone know how to use these or are they supposed to be launched from another application?

 

[NicColt]

you most likely have XP server.


How can you not know you have server ?

 

[Palek]

Actually, I am sure CZroe made no mistake about his OS, WindowsXP Pro does come with some limited server functions. You most likely can control the FTP-server from the command prompt of WinXP, using those scripts that you found. Here are the results I found on the MS WinXP page after a search for "ftp server".
Search Results

The iisftp.vbs (no.6) linkie should be of particular interest to you!

 

[NzAnE2K]

IIS is used to host a FTP site directly from your computer. i am also currently trying to use it too.
NicColt, there is not WinXP server, its WInXP Pro.

 

[CZroe]

I figured it out.

Apparently, when I added the FTP Services component, the ftp was already running and configured to allow anonymous logins. All I have to do is place my files in C:\Inetpub\ftproot\ and they are availible. I don't want to change any configuration options, but I can do so by going to:
Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Internet Information Services

It's great that XP Pro comes with FTP hosting capabilities. Now I don't have to install some bloated application or unregistered shareware.
I don't know why I always assumed that IIS didn't include FTP capabilities. I never played around with it because I didn't need to host a website or email server.

Quick question:
How much does running an FTP servier with IIS affect my system resources? Should I be using my primary computer to host a small FTP (like 2 downloads per day)?