PS3:Transferring Files with FTP

Files can be transferred to and from your PS3 using File Transfer Protocol (FTP) programs. If you have webMAN enabled, an FTP server will always be running in the background, otherwise you can just open Multiman and it will be running as long as you are in the app. The recommended FTP program is WinSCP followed by FileZilla.

Note that FTP has a higher failure rate when transferring many small files like those found in 'JB folder' game disc rips, which may cause the PS3 to drop-connection or freeze. It is recommended to transfer either ISO or PKGs instead, and to use a wired connection on the PS3 instead of wireless.

A common misconception is that FTP requires an internet connection, when in reality it only requires a network connection between host and client.

Connecting a PS3 directly to PC over ethernet (Optional)

If you want to use the fastest possible network connection on the PS3 but aren't able to connect it directly to a router with ethernet, connecting it to a PC will also work for fast FTP transfers.

Local

Please note that this method won't allow the PS3 to have access to the internet. If you want to share a computer's internet connection with the PS3, follow the instructions for the Shared Internet method.

1. Connect the ethernet port on the PS3 with the ethernet port on your PC.
2. On the PS3, navigate to 'Network Settings' > 'Internet Connection Settings' and select 'Custom' > 'Wired Connection' > 'Auto-Detect'.
3. Select 'Manual' IP Address Settings and enter the following:
   • 10.0.0.1 for the IP Address,
   • 255.255.255.0 for Subnet Mask,
   • 10.0.0.0 for Default Router,
   • values for the Primary and Secondary DNS do not matter and can be left for example as 1.1.1.1 and 0.0.0.0.
4. Select 'Automatic' MTU > 'Do Not Use' Proxy Server > 'Enable' UPnP.
5. Press cross to save the settings and circle to exit the setup screen

Windows

1. On your PC, press start (also known as the Windows key) and enter 'View Network Connections'.
2. Right-click on the Ethernet unidentified network and select 'Properties'.
3. Locate and click 'Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4)', select 'Properties'.
4. Select 'Use the following IP address' and enter the following:
   • 10.0.0.2 for 'IP address',
   • 255.255.255.0 for 'Subnet mask',
   • leave the Default gateway empty, and if prompted, enter 1.1.1.1 for Preferred DNS server.
5. Press the 'OK' button and close ethernet properties.

Your PS3 and PC have now formed a local network, and should now be able to communicate over FTP.

Troubleshooting

• On your PC, press start, and enter 'cmd', in the Command Prompt window, enter ipconfig. Verify that the 'Ethernet adapter' displays 10.0.0.2 for the 'IPv4 Address' field.
  • If it does not, you have likely not entered or not saved the IP address settings correctly.
• On your PS3 go to 'Settings' > 'Network Settings' > 'Settings and Connection Status List'. Verify that the 'IP Address' displays 10.0.0.1.
  • If it does not, you have likely not saved the IP address settings.

Shared internet

1. Connect the ethernet port on the PS3 with the ethernet port on your PC.
2. On the PS3, navigate to 'Network Settings' > 'Internet Connection Settings' and select 'Custom' > 'Wired Connection' > 'Auto-Detect'.
3. You can select an automatic IP address. It will be set up on the PC shortly.
4. The values of the DNS do not matter, but if you are using certain private servers then add the desired DNS server.
5. Select 'Automatic' MTU > 'Do Not Use' Proxy Server > 'Enable' UPnP.
6. Press cross to save the settings and circle to exit the setup screen.

Windows

1. On your PC, press start (also known as the Windows key) and enter 'View Network Connections'.
2. Right-click on the adapter supplying the computer's current internet connection (like the Wi-Fi adapter or a second ethernet port) and click 'Properties'
3. Click the sharing tab and tick the checkbox that says Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection and select the ethernet adapter that the PS3 is connected to.
4. Press the 'OK' button and close ethernet properties.

Your PS3 and PC have now formed a local network, and should now be able to communicate over FTP while having the PS3 being able to access the internet.

Troubleshooting

• On your PC, press start, and enter 'cmd', in the Command Prompt window, enter ipconfig. Verify that the 'Ethernet adapter' displays an auto-config IP address in the range of 169.254.xxx.xxx in the 'IPv4 Address' field.
  • If it does not, you have likely not entered or not saved the IP address settings correctly.
• On your PS3 go to 'Settings' > 'Network Settings' > 'Settings and Connection Status List'. Verify that the 'IP Address' displays an IP Address with the format of 169.254.xxx.xxx.
  • If it does not, you have likely not saved the IP address settings.

Starting an FTP Session

1. Make sure you have either an Ethernet or WiFi connection between your PS3 and PC.
2. On your PS3, browse to "Network Settings" and test Internet connection. Make note of your PS3's IP address. Alternatively, you can set a static IP for your PS3 and use that.
3. Open an FTP program such as WinSCP or Filezilla and connect using your PS3's IP.
4. You should see a directory listing of the different partitions on the drive and USB devices.
   • /dev_hdd0/ is your hard drive's main directory
   • /dev_usb00#/ is a USB device
   • /dev_blind/ or /dev_rebug/ is your flash - Do not modify files here unless you know what you're doing
5. You can upload or download files by right clicking them and choosing the relevant option.

Alternatively, you can open a Windows Explorer window and type in ftp://your.ps3s.ip.here as the file path.