Make Home Web Server in few minutes to share files with HFS

How do you share files with your friends? Most of us rely on instant messengers, P2P software, sending though emails or uploading it to ADrive, Windows Live Mesh, Rapidshare etc. The adventurous one would setup FTP Server. It would be easier if you setup a web server and put all files you want to share. And your friends can download the files from there. 

HFS (HTTP File Server) lets you do so. With few clicks of button. This small (600 KB) application turns your computer in a web server and the files you want to share are available for download on a web page. And trust me setting it up is quite easy. Just double click on the executable; and the application is up and running. As HFS does not requires setup and it is portable as well. You can run this application right from your USB Thumb Drive. Some of the salient features of HFS are:

• Download and upload
• Virtual file system
• Highly customizable
• HTML template
• Bandwidth control
• Easy/Expert mode
• Log
• Full control over connections
• Accounts
• Dynamic DNS updater

Sharing file is even more easier, drop the files in the file virtual file system of the application. Or this application lets you add the context menu in your computer to add the file in the virtual file system of HFS.

Sharing file with HFS

What the other peer see in the browser

Before you share the file with others. You need to set port forward in your router. Also you have to add this application as trusted application in your firewall. Once done you can share the link with your friends. You can also create restricted access by creating user id for external users.   And you can also access the files from your office as well. The application can also be run in Linux using wine.

If your ISP provides dynamic ip for your internet connection, then you can have your custom host name (e.g. myname.com etc.) point to your dynamic ip using No-Ip. I will discuss this in the next post.

My verdict for HFS is that it makes sharing your files easier and faster as you are shortening the distance by eliminating other servers. And pretty hit with my friends as well. The app is highly configurable, free of malware and 100% open source.

Related Link:

• How to set port forward in your router.

Technorati Tags: file sharing software,p2p file sharing software,file sharing,HFS,file sharing music,secure file sharing