FTP Server setup issues with Filezilla Server

[Rathgar2]

I would consider myself a moderately skilled computer user. However one of my weaknesses has been understanding networking and FTP servers, and the articles on how to get them setup are very poor on the "what do I do now" or "off the track" kinds of issues. So I am sheepishly seeking some advice.

I now have a need to run a FTP server on my home network. I have a DSL connection that I run through a DSL modem provided by my ISP and from there it goes into a Linksys wireless router and then it is wired right into my Dell XPS.

Enter stage right with a freshly D/L'ed copy of Filezilla Client and FZ Server. Then I shut down my firewall to get it to run and then figure out how to get through the firewall later.

I fire it up and try to connect to the default 127.0.0.1 and it fails to do anything else. I tried to by pass my router and connect directly but failed to get the FZ server to do anything but fail to connect. All of the guides I have read do not offer advice on what to check if such and such step fails and so I am stuck. Can anyone point me in the right direction?