As a passing observation, Oracle and SQL Server are not the only databases out there that could be in shops where there is little or no postgresql knowledge in-house. There are some (actually, quite a few) shops running Teradata as their database and some of them object to having even SQL Server as a requirement for tools/apps to work.
I've done a couple of gigs at places that were looking for FTP Servers and have suggested WS-FTP but, were I to recommend 6.0, they would probably wind up looking elsewhere. Respectfully, Ralph D. Wilson II Senior Programmer Analyst Information Technology Department 9311 San Pedro Suite 600 San Antonio TX 78216 (800) 527-0066 x7368 (210) 321-7368 (direct) [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Chris Totten" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 06/13/2007 09:32 AM Please respond to [email protected] To <[email protected]> cc Subject RE: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? In terms of database access I think you should assume that someone will either have SQL-Server/Oracle already installed (and wish to use it) or that they won?t and won?t be bothered with installing a standalone database instance. Even if they didn?t have SQLS or Oracle installed I would imagine they would prefer to install an instance of either and point WS_FTP server at their newly installed instance rather than trust an installer (no matter how competent it may be) to do the installation as part of the install. Remember that first and foremost someone like myself wants an FTP server and would prefer an uncomplicated installation over something that tried to do doo much. I?m having some problems with v6.0?s management web site, I can understand why you?ve switched from MMC/EXE to a HTML front end but it does make the product unusable if there is no fallback management client. For reasons I can?t cover here I can?t just use the default web site for the management front end so I created a new blank site for it. However when I used that site it doesn?t seem to work, the site uses host headers so even when I changed the URL for the WS_FTP server manager from http://127.0.0.1/WSFTPSVR/default.asp to http://ftpadmin.ctechs.co.uk/wsftpsvr/default.asp all I get is a blank page... I?ll keep trying ? but again I stress that having a web front end should be optional and not a requirement, a good ?old fashioned? EXE always works, but having the webby version only introduces a risk that the product won?t work unless it?s on a dedicated server (which this isn?t). To respond to the detailed response from Pete, we have tried a lot of this and know all about the pitfalls of using UNC paths (domain accounts etc etc), but didn?t try Virtual Directories. When the Top Dir didn?t allow UNC paths I stopped there. I may have to go back (depending on experiences with 6.0) and try out your suggestions, but I do like the sound of 6.0 on paper, with the caveats explained above (insistence on a web management interface and proprietary database format). Regards, Chris From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kevin Gillis Sent: 12 June 2007 20:25 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? hi peter, great feedback! you definitely found a nice way implement a HA solution! so would sql server express work or would you require full sql/oracle? note that the lightweight postgresql is included with the installation of WS_FTP Server 6 with SSH and at the end of the Server 6 install, you are fully up and running with your ftp/s and your ssh server, hosts, groups, users, notifications, rules, etc. but we COMPLETELY the need and requirement to leverage your existing db infrastructure. bye for now, kg From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Pete Simpson Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 14:32 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? Chris, Use WS_FTP Server 5.04 with all patches. Use a UNC path (NOT A DRIVE LETTER!) as part of a Virtual Directory mapped to a third host (your "fileserver"). Ensure you setup WS_FTP server process to run as a DOMAIN account (not local system as is the default) and it will maintain permissions on the UNC while "not logged on" interactively to the system, WS_FTP server can use standard SQL server (or Oracle) for storing user account credentials if you want -- just create a table per the documentation, define an System ODBC connection, and drop in the DLL. All very well documented by WS_FTP and simple to deploy. However, the configuration data of WS_FTP server is NOT in the database (just username, password, etc.) so you'll need a mechanism to ensure your changes to Virtual Directories etc are duplicated on both machines (IE, setting synchronization will be a Manual Process). For HA, you CAN cluster WS_FTP Server 5.04. We have done it three times. No problems. Setup a standard Windows Active/Passive cluster with your shared disk, quorum resource, and a virtual IP. Install WS_FTP server on one machine with the destination directory being the shared disk resource (NOT THE QUORUM DISK). Failover to other node. RUN THE INSTALLATION FOR WS_FTP AGAIN AND SELECT THE EXACT SAME OPTIONS, again with binaries being on the shared disk resource. Define a new "generic service" type of clustered resource. The program to run is the WS_FTP Server executable from the shared disk. Run it as a "service account" (valid domain account, NOT LOCAL SYSTEM). make sure you set that on both nodes. And the BIG KEY is to use Registry Replication (part of the generic service definition) to REPLICATE the IPSwitch registry key path between nodes. This ensures if you make changes to Virtual Directories, etc. on the active node and then fail-over to the second node that your changes still exist. Make sure when you define your FTP site inside the server manager you use the Clustered VIRTUAL IP address -- it'll default to the local hosts IP on each node. You just have to remember NOT to use that one since it's NOT the clustered address. It'll take you a bit of time to setup, but it ABSOLUTELY works and WORKS GREAT. Of course, it's not officially "supported" by IpSwitch... but they were VERY interested when we told them how we did it. I suspect they integrated some of what we told them (the above setup) into the officially "clusterable" version 6. (IPSwitch product manager contacted me a couple of times while they were laying out specs for v6 about 9 months ago). I do agree tho that the requirement (is it REALLY a requirement??) to use Postgres SQL for v6 is a deal killer. I absolutely, positively, will NOT go to v6 if that's the case. We absolutely, positively will NOT introduce a new database platform just to go to WSFTP 6. We've been a customer for years, but if that's truly a requirement (that I can't use SQL or Oracle) we will find an alternative product to WSFTP Server. Good Luck. Pete From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chris Totten Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 10:50 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? Hi there, We have a pair of servers each one of which will be running WS_FTP server (to replace the buggy Microsoft Windows 2000 FTP server that?s already there). The FTP site FQDN will be a VIP that could be directed to either of the two web servers. We need to set it up in such a way that both machines work with the same set of files, so their top directory should ideally be a UNC path. The problem is I can?t seem to get WS_FTP server to recognise a UNC path ? it complains with the following error message: ?Only local fixed drives can be used for a Host?s Top Directory!? (the exclamation is a nice touch, like only a fool would want to be doing this) Is there a way to do this, to get two or more servers to ?see? the same set of files? TIA, Chris Chris Totten Technical Services Manager 028 9448 0000 www.ctechs.co.uk This email and all attachments it may contain is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Consilium Technologies. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, printing, forwarding or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. Please contact the sender if you have received this email in error. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE Chris Totten Technical Services Manager 028 9448 0000 www.ctechs.co.uk
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