Using Guest FTP

Our Guest FTP service makes it easy to transfer a file to or from a colleague outside of the Business School, whether across campus or across the world.

When To Use This Service

Use our Guest FTP service:

• to send a large file to an external colleague when an E-Mail attachment is too large to go through a mail system. Many system strip off attachments larger than 1MB. The campus system allows 2MB, the Business School internal Exchange system allows 10MB. If a file is large - over several MB, then it is much faster and more efficient to transfer it using FTP.
• If the file has important formatting and layout that may become corrupted or modified through e-mail transfer. FTP is a direct, bit by bit copy procedure, unlike email which requires encoding then decoding, which allows for possible corruption.

Give your colleague(s) the FTP guest login address and password.

They will be able to retrieve any files you have placed in the R:\Public\Guestftp folder and to deposit files for you in this location. They will not be able to delete files and they will not have access to any other location on our network - so please delete the files when you are finished with your exchange.

To Provide a File to a Guest

1. Save the file in the R:\Public\Guestftp folder on the network that you wish to provide to your colleague. You may wish to create sub-folder inside of R:\Public\guest.ftp to hold your files.
2. Obtain the current password from the Helpdesk, Lab Assistants, or from the Current Passwords page (Faculty/Staff login required).
3. Tell your colleague that the file they need is available at our FTP location. Give your colleague the following instructions:
   • Give them the link to our Guest FTP Instructions for Colleagues PDF
   • Enter our FTP address in the Internet Explorer Web Browser as ftp://guestftp@allfiles.bus.umich.edu (They must use the Internet Explorer Web Browser. Netscape will not work. They must have the option to "Enable Folder View for FTP Site" checked in their Browser's Tools menu - Internet Options - Advanced tab.)
   • Give them the current password obtained in Step 2.
   • Once connected, they should navigate to R:\Public\GuestFTP.

   Please delete your files from this site when finished.

Your Guest Can Also Upload a File for You

1. Provide your colleague with the address, account, and password information above.
2. Go to the R:\Public\Guestftp folder and move the file(s) to your own location.
3. Delete the files from this site when finished.

If you are off-campus, you will need to FTP to R:\Public\Guestftp to deposit or retrieve a file.

What You Should Know

• Files must be under 200MB.
• R:\Public\Guestftp is a temporary "swap" location - Only use this space to transfer files, not to store them.
• Since this is a shared directory, you are responsible for managing your files and making sure sensitive files are deleted soon after they are retrieved.
• Any file that has not been accessed (read, modified, or created) within 30 days will be automatically deleted.