FTP

 Template:XBMC faq toc Inline

If you have media-files on a PC, Xbox or Mac and you want to share them to a version of XBMC on another PC, Xbox or Mac you can accomplish that by installing a FTP-Server (there are other solutions like e.g. SMB or XBMSP). In that case the XBMC will act like a FTP-Client and the other PC, Xbox or Mac like a FTP-Server.

1. To accomplish this your XBMC-Client and FTP-Server must be able to reach each other through your network (firewall!)
2. Install the FTP-Server.
   • On a Linux distribution you can install the preferred FTP-Server for that distribution.
   • On a Mac go to system preferences, then sharing, and then click the check box next to file sharing, this will start local file sharing on your machine. Click the 'Options' Button to share files and folders using FTP/SMB/AFP, etc. Choose your folders and you are good to go.
   • On a Windows PC you can use a FTP-Server like e.g. FileZilla Server.
   • On a Xbox you can use the XBMC built-in FTP-Server by enabling it in the Network Settings but other Servers, outside XBMC, are also possible.
3. Than you define one or more userid's on the FTP-Server (not on the Xbox-Server, there you share everything from that Xbox-Server, all with one userid/password).
4. On the XBMC-Client use Add Source, select FTP, fill in the credentials and your XBMC-Client will be able to connect to that FTP-Server and play files more or less like if the files were local.

Keep in mind though, FTP is not made for streaming content, it will act a little different sometimes.