File Server is a simple http file server that can run on local computer systems. The program is a command line tool without graphical user interface. A user wanting to share files need to manually edit the FileServer.conf file with a text editor to add the right root directory and port for the file server.

The IP and port of the file server can then be shared with users who are allowed to access the file server. All that these users need to do is to point their web browser to the IP and port.

The software program will automatically display a html directory listing of all files and folders that are stored in that root directory. Files can be instantly launched by left-clicking them. Another option is to right-click the files to use actions that are presented in the context menu. This include actions to download the selected file.

Every get request is shown in the command line window. File Server is a tiny software program that uses less than 100 Kilobytes on the computer’s hard drive. It supports download resumes but lacks many features of similar products like password protection, IP filter or multiple file handling.

Users who simply want to share a folder on their local computer system with friends or colleagues without having to install and configure advanced software might want to take a closer look at the server software.

File Server is available from Softpedia. It requires the Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable.

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That’s not all however but it should give an example how easy it is to make files available online with HTTP File Server which was already reviewed about two years ago for the first time here at Ghacks. A lot has changed in the last two years.

The folders and files that get picked by the user are available immediately online. It’s probably a good idea to test the server locally and remotely before giving the remote IP to someone else. It might on the other hand not be necessary to hand out the remote IP if files should only be accessible by yourself.

The file server comes with a basic music player that can stream and play music directly without downloading the music first. Everything else is downloaded before it can be accessed.

Many possibilities to secure and restrict access can be configured in HTTP File Server. The system administrator can create user accounts and define files or folders that are restricted to those users. Additional possibilities include speed limits or restrictions by IP.

The file server supports real and virtual folders and can be configured to allow file uploads as well.

The main advantage of HTTP File Server is the ease of use and the portability of the application. The main site contains the latest release version of the server software, the forums provide access to the latest beta releases which provide additional functionality and bugfixes.

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Private mode means that only trusted users that have been added by you can access the file server. You will have to change the settings from easy mode to expert to be able to create accounts for those users. Once that is done you access the user management by clicking on Menu -> Other Options -> User Accounts. Once you have created at least one user account you right click on files or folders that you have added to your file server and select restrict access and choose the username(s) that you have just created.

Another possibility would be to protect the folders and files directly without using user accounts. You have to assign a username and password to the file or folder and every user that tries to access it will be asked for this data.

HTTP File Server is highly configurable: You can set connection limits, speed limits and ban IPs from accessing your server.

This tool is great if you need to exchange files fast and have no time to setup something else. Alternatives would be to use an ftp client like FileZilla or a local Apache server with htaccess. Another option that I personally do not like that much is use file hosts to share files. I never liked the idea to send my sensible files to a third party. It does not really matter if it is encrypted or password protected or not, call me paranoid, hehe.

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