Intro + a secure alternative to Windows Networking

[Paul David]

Hi everyone! I've had my Receptor for about a week and I'm loving it. I intend to use it live with my Akai EWI4000S wind-synth. I've yet to work out a decent VST patch for breath control so I'm using the EWI's internal synth with guitar multis until I get it sorted.

Anyway, here's a quick tip from a new user. Personally, I've always hated Windows Networking - it's over-complicated, insecure, and adds a ton of services that aren't needed on a small network. I disable everything except TCP/IP and install a free FTP server on each PC. Windows Explorer can browse the server just like a local filesystem and it's much simpler for the end user to configure.

The Receptor includes an even better alternative in SFTP which is included in SSH. Using an SFTP client like WinSCP you can browse the filesystem and transfer new VSTs and patches just like Windows Networking, but a lot more secure. To configure it, follow the instructions here to get a root password. Then, logged in as root, add a new user:

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[root@Receptor root]# adduser <username>
[root@Receptor root]# passwd <username>

The SSH server is already configured and SFTP works through that. You may need to restart the SSHD daemon; I just restarted the whole box. Don't enable root access through SSH like it says on that FAQ page; your new user login has all the permissions you need to add stuff without screwing up your Receptor. If you really need root access use 'su' or 'sudo'. But as the FAQ disclaimer says, do all of this at your own risk.

Paul

PS Thanks Ben @ Muse for fixing my Receptor registration screwup!