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Server Applications

CrushFTP

Home Page Release Notes Screen Shots License:
Shareware; $30

Current Version: 4.7 (April 1, 2008)

CrushFTP is a cross-platform, Java-based file server that provides FTP, SFTP (SSH FTP), FTPS (FTP over SSL), HTTP, HTTPS, WebDAV, and WebDAV SSL services. The "Crush" in CrushFTP comes from its ability to compress transfers on the fly seamlessly.

CrushFTP provides an expandable feature set via plugin support. Currently, all CrushFTP plugins are free, and they include:

  • AutoUnzip (decompresses .zip files when a user uploads them)
  • MagicDirectory (make a directory, and a user can login)
  • WebStatistics (OS X widget to monitor your server)
  • CrushSQL (use SQL tables to load your users from)
  • LaunchProcess (launch external actions on uploaded files)
  • HomeDirectory (make a user, and their home folder and permissions are created automatically)
  • CrushLDAP (use ActiveDirectory, or LDAP to load your users from)
  • BlockContent (only allow files with specific extensions)

Version 4.7 adds/changes the following:

  • Slows down responses when a hack attempt is suspected
  • Crushsql plugin now can handle individual files instead of just folders
  • Crushsql plugin now can make folder paths to be used instead of only allowing items to be at the "/" dir
  • Added plugin 'PostBack' to call external URL's with file upload/download event data
  • Added ability to restrict hours of the day a user can login
  • Added ability to apply filename filters to users directory listings. (Hide specifically named files on a per user basis.)
  • Enhanced the CrushUploader to handle multiple batches of files.
  • Added the ability to control what protocols a specific user can use
  • Added error messages when the remote admin fails to authenticate using HTTP(S)
  • Added custom favicon.ico settings on a per domain basis
  • Added warning for large files when the user is using IE
  • Added ability for reports to use wildcards for usernames
  • Fixed bug with SFTP when transferring files over 1GB, or for longer than about an hour
  • Fixed bug with alerts saving the drive, and threshold in megabytes
  • Fixed bug with alerts not calculating free disk space properly on Windows
  • Fixed bug with anonymous username
  • Fixed bug with remote admin from a web browser quitting when saving prefs
  • Fixed bug with XP's WebDAV not working in CrushFTP 4.6
  • Fixed bug with the user database of the user manager getting corrupt
  • Fixed caching bug with the remote admin interface and IE.
  • Fixed bug with magic directory and change password option on WebInterface
  • Fixed osx widget default URL
  • Fixed bug with accountactivity summary report not working
  • Fixed issue with auto login URL not redirecting properly
  • Fixed bug with corrupting users from accidental drags in the user manager.
  • Fixed bug with the whitelist of IPs still being able to be banned
  • Fixed bug with IE caching the remote admin decription file
  • Fixed Byte and bit references labels in GUI and WebStatistics

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Download the Mac OS X (Java) 30-day trial version.

Also See . . .

Can't find what you're looking for? Try a search:

Also, if you have an older Mac, be sure to check out the "Classic" applications page for more options.

Finally, take a look at ALEMIA if you think you know that name of an application, but aren't quite sure.

Built Into Mac OS X

Mac OS X has a huge amount of TCP/IP-based server software built into it that I don't specifically cover here. Your "Sharing" Preference Pane allows you to enable and disable these services with a click of the mouse. The software running behind the scenes to provide many of these services is generally of the open source variety. The standard release of Mac OS X includes, among many others:

  • Apache httpd (web server; enabled via the Sharing Preference Pane).
  • Postfix (mail server; see Mac OS X Hints for more information).
  • tnftpd (FTP server; enabled via the Sharing Preference Pane).
  • OpenSSH (Secure Shell server; enabled via the Sharing Preference Pane via "Remote Login" but additionally configurable via selected applications listed on this page).
  • BIND (Domain Name System server; see Mac OS X Hints for more information).
  • Samba (Windows file sharing; enabled via the Sharing Preference Pane).
  • XFree86 (X Window server; enabled via the "X11" application in your "Utilities" folder, if you elected to install it with Mac OS X).

Of course, Mac OS X Server includes many more, in addition to offering more recent versions of many of the above servers.

Related Links

Graham Orndorff has written a superb collection of articles on setting up email servers and secure email clients on Mac OS X.

Also Consider . . .

These are applications that are newer and of potential interest, but which I haven't yet selected for permanent inclusion. Have a look, and let me know if you think they deserve to be part of the permanent collection!