HFS, a free HTTP file service

HFS is a Windows program, which allows you to access files via HTTP. User-friendly interface, no need to configure additional clients (FAR, Total Commander etc.), ease of use — these are the main advantages, which will evaluate the user of the system. Moreover, the program is free.

http://www.rejetto.com/hfs/ - developer's site, where you can download the HFS-program.

Here are the alternative links if the developer's site is not working:

hfs.zip - HFS-program;

hfs2Service1.0-fixed.zip - to run HFS as a service.

Here, I'll write in detail how to use it. Sorry, but some screenshots contain Russian text.

The program runs without installation, in general, it can be copied to any folder, such as Program Files:

Once placed, you can run it and configure. The program operates as a HTTP-server such as Apache, that is, when it is closed, it will not be able to download files.

Therefore it is necessary to organize the running program as a service. You can use a method based on srvany, as described here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/137890/ru. However, this method is not optimal because of the following unpleasant effect: if a user logs on to the server via RDP, and then come out (implements logoff), then HFS will be unloaded from memory, simply put, it will be shut down. To run HFS reliably as a service, a separate application was created – HFS-Service, which you can download here. It is very easy to use and does not require installation. It can be copied into the same folder as the HFS.

Now consider the main stages of work with HFS. Entering the program, it is better to go to the expert mode, as there are more options available in comparison with simple mode:

After that you should specify the port that the program will listen to and by which will the web interface be available:

Any server has an IP-address, and maybe multiple ones (different network cards on the same server, various communication channels, etc.). Therefore, you must tell the program to which IP-address it will be attached:

Since you want to allow users to upload files to a folder on the server, you must create it in the usual way:

Next, drag the folder with the mouse to the left window. A popup window appears, asking, how a folder will be interpreted within the program:

You should choose Real folder.

For convenience, you can give for each user his own folder.

Now you can go to the web interface and look, if the created folder is displayed:

As you can see, it is displayed. But access rights are not set for read and write.

Read access to specific folders configured using the menu Restrict Access. To call it you need to right-click on the folder:

From here you can create an account for the user or allow an anonymous user.

If you have already set up several users, you can choose whom to give access to read, and whom not:

To give someone the ability to upload files, you need to select the Upload menu item:

You can allow the upload for all (Anyone), or give such rights to some users:

Now you can upload files via a web interface:

In general, the management of users and their privileges goes in the following manner:

It should be noted that all settings will be saved for the current user by default. That is, no other user (including System) couldn't see our changes of settings, and the program will be run for each user with their own settings. To make the settings saved for all users you need to select the menu item Save options:

The program saves the settings to the registry, that is, in can be transferred from one computer to another and from user to user:

The default web interface is plain, standard. It can be completely changed by applying any CSS-styles, HTML-formatting and images (inserting company logo, etc.), translated into another language:

If you confused by the port number in the URL, you can configure Apache to proxy.