Newbe: how to make HFS even móre userfriendly

[mrwul]

Hello to you,

Up front: I am a newbe and have no knowledge at all about sharing files thru the Internet in a way that HFS does. Am sorry.

At regular intervals I'd like to send large files to a friend. This is commonly bringing along a lot of hazzle and often ends up in
my burning them in CD and send the stuff my regular mail, or exchange them during visits.
Always wished there wud be a simple program that would allow him to download files from my pc directly.

I came across HFS in a PC-Magazine here in Holland promoting it as a very simple program. There was this short explanation and
it made me really happy, until ... the last line where it said that there was/is a small drawback/problem of the software:
behind a firewall the other party will not  automatically be allowed.

I went through the first part of the FAQ and thought by myself: "Forget it, this is not going to work..."  
 :cry:

My friend, he is working from behind a router and has absolutely no idea about router-stuff: he needs someone else
to configure XP and router after a fresh install...

I am working from behind a firewall.

We both have no knowledge at all about ports, IP-addresses,  switching off a server (what server?), domain names, etc.etc.

That having said: would it not be possible to have this all sorted out by HFS automatically?

My friend and me install the software, the software sorts out all the above.
I would then only need to e-mail him the url and a portnumber.
He shd paste them in the relevant boxes within HFS and
click on "OK"button and download should start.

It's just an idea...

Thank you.
brgds
--

[Mr. Anon]

Thanks for your suggestion.
However, it is not possible for HFS to automatically forward ports at the moment without using uPNP (Universal Plug and Play) which allows HFS to contact the router/firewall to open the appropriate ports. Even though this sounds promising, not many people liked this technology since hackers could take advantage of this technology to open ports inside your network. (uPNP venurabilities) It also takes quite a lot of time to implement uPNP into HFS so it would slow down the development gradually. And to be on the safe side, it is best to manually forwarding ports under your firewall/router.

If you'd like, you could post your current configruation/network setup here and we will try to help you as best as possible. (Incl information such as OS or router used.) (Also incl software firewall name if you use a software firewall.) Additional information given would help us help you further.

Happy Holidays!

[rejetto]

I am working from behind a firewall.

most people use a firewall ignoring how to configure it

We both have no knowledge at all about ports, IP-addresses, switching off a server (what server?), domain names, etc

HFS is a server, that's what the final S stands for.
to switch it off just use the big button on the top-left.

That having said: would it not be possible to have this all sorted out by HFS automatically?

i try to make HFS as much automagic as i can, but sometimes it is hard, sometimes it is impossible.
e.g. i don't know how to autoconfigure the windows firewall.
and there's no way to autoconfigure ANY firewall.

My friend and me install the software, the software sorts out all the above.

only one need to install HFS. the other can use any web-browser.

I would then only need to e-mail him the url and a portnumber.

you just need the URL. the url includes the port-number.

He shd paste them in the relevant boxes within HFS and click on "OK"button and download should start.

this is already true for most people.