A File Sender

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2. Installation

2.1 Requirements

• A PC running Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 or any PC that can run Visual Basic 32-bit programs.
• An Internet Connection.
• About 4MB of disk space.
• For dynamic IP addresses, a web page updateable via FTP.

2.2 Software Installation

• Unzip the distribution file.
• Exit all other running applications.
• Run the included SETUP application.
• If any "file in use" error occurs, choose to ignore it.
• Read this document thoroughly please.
• Check that you did the previous step.
• Included in the distribution are the documentation files and one or more support files. Please do NOT delete or move these.
• This program cannot run on write protected media such as CD-ROM

2.3 Basic Login Concepts

SockeToome is a file transfer program. It transfers files directly between two SockeToome users, with no central server required.

For anyone to be able to send you a file, he/she must first be given access to your computer via SockeToome, so that no unauthorised person can flood your computer with files. This is accomplished by the traditional User Name and Password mechanism.

So, before anyone can send you anything, you must allocate him/her a unique User Name and Password. You need to communicate these to him/her. Likewise, for you to send anything to another person, he/she must allocate a User Name and Password to you, so that you can access his/her computer. He/she needs to tell you what these are.

This idea is fundamental to SockeToome - you decide on who has sending rights to your computer, and you need to know the sending codes allocated to you in order to send files to another person's computer.

Without a central server in the middle, how do you find each other on the net?

Well, if you have a static IP address, this is easy. Having a static IP address means that your computer always has the same IP address ( a number in the form 123.123.123.123 ). Just tell whoever is going to send you files that you have a static IP address, and what that address is.

Things get a bit more complex if you have a dynamic IP address - one that changes every time you login to your network or access the internet. How is the other user going to know what your IP address is?

This is accomplished by a technique called IP posting. Many Internet Service Providers allocate their users a certain amount of "free" web space that you can use for your web pages. Other companies offer web space for free, or you can use any web hosting service you pay for. The IP Posting concept utilises this web space to create a small web page ( named whatever you wish ) within your web space, that contains your current IP address and any other necessary information.

When the program runs, it connects via the FTP protocol ( the most common protocol for uploading web pages ) to your web host, and uploads a small self-generated html web page that contains your current IP address. When you quit the program, it again connects via FTP and uploads a page showing that you are no longer online.

If other SockeToome users are going to send files to you, and you have a dynamic IP address, you need to decide on what this little web page will be called, and to determine its URL as described in the rest of this documentation. You then tell the other user(s) the URL of this page, and they can now find you on the net!

2.4 Description of Operation

SockeToome is a program for sending files. It also receives files, but is not a downloader in that the "person at the other end" is the one who decides what to send to you, rather than you deciding what to receive from him.

When the program starts, it opens up an incoming channel that "listens" for any incoming connections. If an incoming connection is received, the program validates the remote user's login and password, and receives the incoming file ( assuming that the login is valid! ). While this incoming channel is busy, another is opened to "listen" for any other incoming connections.

At the same time the "Send" queue - files that you wish to send to others - is started, and the program sends login information and file data to your chosen remote user's SockeToome application. If this user does not accept the request ( maybe too busy, or offline ), the transmission is pended for 30 minutes, after which time it is initiated again.

The program allows you to set up users who may send files to you. You may also send files to other users and the program allows senders to conveniently queue files.

In order to facilitate operation for users with dynamic IP addresses ( ones that change every time you connect to the internet ), SockeToome acts as an IP Poster program. What this means is that it uses the FTP protocol to upload a small web ( html ) page containing your current IP address and other information. This page may be accessed by people wishing to send files to you, so that they can find you on the net. When you close the program, this page is updated to signify that you are offline.

SockeToome automatically attempts to detect whether you are connected to the net, and starts processing automatically. As much as possible is done automatically, to try to make things easy to operate.

2.5 Quick Start if you have a static IP address

• Run the program.
• Open the Preferences window.
• Select the "Static IP" option under General Options and save the preferences.
• You now need to set up details about associates with whom you will trade files.
• Decide on a User Name and Password for your associate to use when he sends a file to you. ( Assuming you will just be transferring to one other person at this stage ).
• Contact him, telling him his User Name and Password, and ask for:
  • The User Name he has assigned you if you are going to send to him
  • The Password he has assigned to you
  • His IP address if he has a static IP address OR
  • The "http://" URL of his SockeToome web page
  • The port he will run on ( normally 4444 )
• Open the SockeToome User window, enter the details, and press "Add/Update"
• Restart SockeToome
• Assuming you are connected to the internet, your friend can now send you files
• You can send files to your associate by opening the File Load window, selecting files there, or dropping them on the window. When done choosing files, press "Load"
• File transmissions will now take place.
• Incoming files are placed in the Downloads Directory in your SockeToome Directory.

2.6 Quick Start if you have a dynamic IP address

• Find out information about how to set up your web page. You need access to a web page and the ability to update it via FTP. This is typically the "free web hosting" provided by your ISP, but many free services are available. You need to know your login and password for FTP updates, and the folder/directory where to store your web page. For example, on my ISP:

  My FTP user name is my normal user name ( ziggy )
  My FTP password is my normal login password ( ****** )
  When I connect via FTP I need to place my web pages in a subdirectory called "Web"
  I have chosen the name "sock.html" for the page SockeToome will use, so the FTP URL for updating the page is:
  ftp://www.icon.co.za/Web/sock.html
  This page is accessible via the URL:
  http://www.icon.co.za/~ziggy/sock.html

  To explain - SockeToome works as an IP poster. When you run the program, it connects via FTP to your web host, and uploads a small page that contains your current IP address and other information. If an associate wishes to send you a file, all he has to have is the "http://" version of the URL for this small page to find you.

  So you need to have this information at hand to enter into the SockeToome preferences.

• Run the program.
• Open the Preferences window.
• Select the "Dynamic IP" option under General Options.
• Enter the FTP URL, FTP Login ( user name ), and FTP Password, and save the preferences
• You now need to set up details about associates with whom you will trade files.
• Decide on a User Name and Password for your associate for when he sends a file to you.
• Contact him, telling him his User Name and Password, and ask for:

  • The User Name he has assigned you if you are going to send to him
  • The Password he has assigned to you
  • His IP address if he has a static IP address OR
  • The "http://" URL of his SockeToome web page
  • The port he will run on ( normally 4444 )

• Open the SockeToome User window, enter the details, and press "Add/Update"
• Restart SockeToome
• Assuming you are connected to the internet, your associate can now send you files
• You can send files to your associate by opening the File Load window, selecting files there, or dropping them on the window. When done choosing files, press "Load"
• File transmissions will now take place.
• Incoming files are placed in the Downloads Directory in your SockeToome Directory.

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Last updated by DocGen on Monday, November 27, 2000 at 9:35:24 am

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