A good TFTP server should be part of every admin’s toolkit. We’ve rounded up some of the best free TFTP server applications we could find and compared them all below. But first some basics:
What is TFTP?
TFTP, or Trivial File Transfer Protocol, is a very basic file transfer protocol. It is very simple, doesn’t have any security authentication, and usually used for transferring small files. It uses UDP, which doesn’t have error checking like TCP does. And, it’s best suited for transferring smaller files over a LAN, rather than an larger network like the Internet.
For a network administrator, TFTP is an essential way of backing up router and switch configuration files. It could also be used to providing PXE boot files to thin-clients or network-based workstation installation systems.
There’s a wide range of TFTP servers available, all with different features. Some are very basic, others include security and other have more advanced features. Take a look at the picks we’ve rounded up below – you’re sure to find one that meets your needs!
SolarWinds Free TFTP Server
SolarWinds offers a range of free tools that complement their Orion suite of network management products, which we’ve also reviewed in the past. Their Free TFTP server has been very popular with admins thanks to its flexibility and ease-of-use.
The server can run as a Windows service and includes the ability to transfer large 4 GB files. It also runs as a multi-threaded program, allowing uploads from multiple network devices simultaneously.
On the security side of things, you can authorize specific IP addresses or ranges of IP addresses for transfers – helping to place some control around what is otherwise an unsecured service.
WhatsUp Gold Free TFTP Server
WhatsUp Gold makes a wide range of great network management software. (We reviewed WhatsUp Gold Premium here.) Their Free TFTP Server is just as good as any of their paid products.
Their TFTP server supports large file transfers up to 4 GB, and runs as a Windows service for anytime access. It also has some great security features – including the ability to restrict client permissions to the server and restrict TFTP server availability by subnet.
It also allows the server to be bound to either a single IP address, or all available addresses on the server – giving you an extra level of control over what ports you’re exposing.
TFTPD32 from Philippe Jounin
TFTPD32 has become the go-to TFTP server for many admins ever since Cisco stopped providing TFTP software years ago.
TFTPD32 is free open source, and includes a number of useful extra additional server features like Syslog, SNTP, DHCP, and DNS. And don’t let the name fool you – there’s a 64-bit version available for newer O/Ses too.
The TFTP server component is multithreaded to support multiple uploads at once, and has some security features, as well as interface filtering.
Windows Built-in TFTP Server
Have a Windows Server that isn’t used for anything else? Why not install the Windows TFTP Server add-on feature? It’s already included on your Windows Server media, although you’ll need to manually add it to your system.
By default it doesn’t run as a service, so for that you’ll probably need to use the Windows Resource Kit and the “install as service” tool. Don’t worry, it won’t be hard for a smart network admin like you – it just takes a few extra steps to get the software running. You’ll find several helpful tutorials on the web – this page might be a good place to start.
On the other hand, the purpose-build TFTP tools we tested are easier to install and use – and have better interfaces. The Windows service is command-line based. It also doesn’t have some of the security features of other servers, like the ability to restrict uploads to specific subnets or interfaces.
In Summary
All of these tools should provide the basic functionality that most admins need in a TFTP server – they just go about it in different ways. Install your TFTP server today, and rest easy knowing that you have a way to back-up critical config files.
