HFS is a HTTP File Server. It differs fundamentally from FTP or traditional web servers in that you can simply drag and drop files into a virtual file system. HFS allows you to:

  • Download and upload files
  • Create a loadable virtual file system
  • Customize via configuration file or HTML templates
  • Control bandwidth, create user accounts and log access
  • Share via DDNS


HFS can be run under FireDaemon Pro as a Windows service. This is useful if you want to have the HFS serve files automatically after your machine has booted, prior to login or to run HFS at a much lower priority or on a specific CPU or core. This HOWTO explains how to set it up.


HFS Setup Under FireDaemon Pro

Download and install HFS. It is supplied as a single EXE without an installer. Copy the EXE to the directory of your choice, e.g. C:\Program Files\HFS.


Download and install FireDaemon Pro into the directory of your choice, typically C:\Program Files\FireDaemon.


Next start the FireDaemon Pro GUI from the desktop shortcut. Click on the "Create a new service definition" button in the toolbar (or type Ctrl+N) and enter the information into the fields as you see below. Adjust the paths to suit your installation. Note the parameters.



  • Executable: The path to your hfs.exe file. For the purposes of this HOWTO, the path is C:\Program Files\HFS\hfs.exe.
  • Working Directory: The directory containing your hfs.exe file. For the purposes of this HOWTO, the path is C:\Program Files\HFS.


The Parameters list can optionally be left blank. The -i option is used to tell HFS where to save/load its INI (configuration) file to/from. HFS command line options can be found here.


If you wish to change the priority or the CPU binding of HFS, click on the Settings tab. Here you might change the priority to Below Normal to preserve CPU cycles or bind HFS onto one processor or core in order to free the other.



Now click OK and HFS will start up!


Post-Installation Steps

From the HFS GUI, we recommend you also do the following to ensure your HFS configuration is preserved after reboot:

  • Click on You are in Easy mode to get to Advanced mode
  • Menu -> Save VFS. Save it to your installation directory. Your virtual file system is now preserved.
  • Menu -> Save Options -> To File. This will save your HFS config to hfs.ini (make sure you have specified -i in the FireDaemon parameters list so HFS can find your ini file).
  • Menu -> Save Options -> Check Auto-save options on exit
  • Menu -> Tray Icons -> Minimize to tray
  • Menu -> Start/Exit -> Start minimised
  • Menu -> Start/Exit -> Reload on startup VFS previously open