NLBS and MSCS aren't used at all, it would overcomplicate things. We just have a pair of web servers running MS IIS on Windows 2000. Their private IP's are fronted by a load balancing switch (BIGIP F5) and this presents the two server's private IP's as a single VIP (virtual IP). When user goes to ftp.whatever.com they're connected to the server on either a round robin or least used basis (from memory, I'm not a switch expert).
The MS FTP implementation has the FTP home set to a network share, e.g. \\fileserv1\dfsroot\ftphome <file:///\\fileserv1\dfsroot\ftphome> - Microsoft DFS is used as DFSROOT suggests (we connect to "shares" on Unix servers also using Samba). HA on the file server is made possible using MSCS, but as you can see the FTP server aren't aware of it, it's completely transparent. Therefore all I need is that 2 or more FTP servers can use UNC network paths for home directories - simple as that. I've still not had a chance to test this out, but if you can say that this will work (or not) it would save me a lot of time. Regards, Chris From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kevin Gillis Sent: 12 July 2007 20:03 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? Hello Chris, Thanks for the feedback. Yes, we are starting work on offering a SQL/Express support. Regarding this, yes, all data is stored in a single central data store and there is a utility that allows the configuring 2 or more FTP/SSH servers to access the same data store. What user database will you be using? The most critical for me is that both servers "see" the same set of home folders so hopefully this is straightforward. We're in the process of writing up a few scenarios using Windows Network Load Balancer (NLB) and MSCS. Do you know what you'll be using for the load balancing/distribution and for the clustering? bye for now, kg -------------------------------------------------------- Chris Totten Technical Services Manager 028 9448 0000 www.ctechs.co.uk ________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chris Totten Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 09:37 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? Hi Kevin, Apologies for the delay. We use both Oracle and SQL-Server internally so could go for either but we prefer SQL-Server for applications that only requires tables for logging etc, where performance is not a key, simply because it's much easier to set-up and maintain (we have more SQLS DBA's than Oracle). The issues I've had are almost certainly related to the fact that I had an earlier version of WS_FTP installed for evaluation reasons before I tried v6.x. Despite carrying out an uninstall of that version, and contrary to what should happen it complained that I needed to have Postgres installed as a pre-req but didn't offer to install it for me, I had to go and source it myself and install separately (leading to a great deal of frustration). When I uninstalled again and "burnt the installation to the ground" by wiping directories etc the installation of 6.0 went much smoother and as you say I didn't have to worry too much about the fact that Postgres was there in the background. I still would have preferred it to offer me the choice of using either SQLS or Oracle, or better still any ADO.NET, OLEDB or ODBC data source so I could pick my own. I've got WS_FTP6.0 up and running, but not with any HA features as yet. The most critical for me is that both servers "see" the same set of home folders so hopefully this is straightforward. If I can get that sussed and confirm very large files go up and down with no problems I'll almost certainly buy it, it's this main problem I'm attempting to solve (w2k FTP is brain dead when it comes to using UNC paths as homes, it works to a point but falls over with problems when multi-GB files are used (ref http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888515) - upgrading to Windows 2003 isn't an option for us unfortunately at present. Regards, Chris From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kevin Gillis Sent: 12 June 2007 18:50 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? Hello Chris, Yes, to gain HA, we pulled out all the registry and ini file settings and consolidated. the postgresql does ship and install itself as part of the installation. it's about 12MB. initial deployment is postgresql but subsequent releases, based on feedback, will support sql, sql server 2005, etc. is your shop using oracle or sql? bye for now, kg ________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chris Totten Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 13:24 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? I ran the installer for v6.0 but was dismayed to see that it seems to require PostgresSQL to be installed for some whacky reason? Please tell me that either it can use an existing SQL-Server or Oracle database, or skip using a RDBMS altogether? If it's a requirement why the hell doesn't it install it itself? I have *zero* experience with PostgresSQL and don't want to have experience of them, like many others I suspect we're Oracle or Microsoft SQL-Server only (or IBM DB2 or something else that's actually used in the real world). We're a data centre hosting apps for local government, where am I going to bung PostgresSQL, on the web server? Totally dismayed - can anyone else recommend a decent FTP server that works with HA in mind and uses industry standard components? I think my evaluation has come to an end. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kevin Gillis Sent: 12 June 2007 17:56 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? Hello Chris, It might be worth checking out the new WS_FTP Server 6 which was designed to have more HA aware capabilities. You can now setup 2 or more FTP (or SSH) servers and have they utilize the same database for accessing host, group, user, notification information. Here's some REALLY high level information on it. HIGH-AVAILABILITY ARCHITECTURE * NEW & Industry-leading: Utilize the high availability architecture to distribute workload and balance among multiple servers for improved performance * NEW & Industry-leading: Clustering architecture enables grouping of multiple servers together to obtain server redundancy and ensure high availability * Ability to configure the top level directory to point to a local or shared network drive that can be easily covered with your company's disaster recovery plans hope this helps, kg ________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chris Totten Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 12:36 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? Thanks Damon - I'm trying the mapped drive approach first but as always when I've tried to do this it's problematic under windows to have a drive that's mapped all of the time, even when no one is logged on. I'm trying to use a scheduled job that runs on start-up but I think I'm running into problems with the user I'm trying to execute the job as (a domain user with access to the share in question). It would all be a lot easier (hint hint Ipswich) if the Top Directory could understand UNC paths and have a "Connect As..." button. The share is fault tolerant, it's a DFS root on a pair of clustered servers so everything should be safe, it's just getting WS_FTP to recognise the central location. I'm slightly surprised that I have to go through this pain, this reminds me of NT4.0 days, surely someone else must be doing WS_FTP with HA in mind? If not what are they using, perhaps I should be evaluating that product? Frustrated (as much with Windows it has to be said), Chris From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stella, Damon Sent: 12 June 2007 17:30 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [WS_FTP Forum] Top directory on UNC path - is this possible? Hi, I am not sure if this is the best way to achieve this, but it sounds like you need to use a third server for the files to be housed on and your two ftp_pro servers need access to that single file system. So you would Map a drive on each server with ftp_pro to that mapped drive (instead of unc name) and install it there. Now if you want all of it mirrored for fail-over including the files this may not work for you, and I am assuming that when you create an ftp_pro server it lets you do it on a mapped drive for the files to share out. You could also try using a NFS program such as samba if regular file sharing isn't working. Another trick I use when a program doesn't like mapped drives or unc names is to use the OLD dos command "subst" to subst to an unc name. I.E. subst \\server\share <file:///\\server\share> f: from cmd prompt. I don't have the server part of ftp pro so I can't test. Damon R Stella Operations Analyst COCC 1-877-678-0444, extension 453 ________________________________ 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 <http://www.ctechs.co.uk/> Consilium Logo<http://www.consiliumontap.com/images/ctechslogo.jpg> 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. -- *** This message originates from COCC, Inc. Under no circumstances should non-public customer information (NPCI) be transmitted via unsecured email. For your protection and that of your customer, member or end product consumer do not include account numbers, social security numbers, passwords or any other NPCI in email messages sent to COCC, Inc. If the reader of this message, regardless of the address or routing, is not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this transmittal in error and any review; use, distribution, dissemination or copying is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please delete this e-mail and all files transmitted with it from your system and immediately notify COCC, Inc. by sending reply e-mail to the sender of this message. Thank you. *** ________________________________ Chris Totten Technical Services Manager 028 9448 0000 www.ctechs.co.uk <http://www.ctechs.co.uk/> Consilium Logo<http://www.consiliumontap.com/images/ctechslogo.jpg> ________________________________ Chris Totten Technical Services Manager 028 9448 0000 www.ctechs.co.uk <http://www.ctechs.co.uk/> Consilium Logo<http://www.consiliumontap.com/images/ctechslogo.jpg> ________________________________ Chris Totten Technical Services Manager 028 9448 0000 www.ctechs.co.uk <http://www.ctechs.co.uk/> Consilium Logo<http://www.consiliumontap.com/images/ctechslogo.jpg>
