[Linux-Tutorial] How to setup FTP Server

[Filex Dragneel]

In this tutorial i'll show you how to setup/create/make your own FTP server.

1st let's start with , what's FTP and what is it about..

 

FTP or File Transfer Protocol is a standard network protocol used for the transfer of computer files between a client and server on a computer network.

FTP is built on a client-server model architecture using separate control and data connections between the client and the server. FTP users may authenticate themselves with a clear-text sign-in protocol, normally in the form of a username and password, but can connect anonymously if the server is configured to allow it. For secure transmission that protects the username and password, and encrypts the content, FTP is often secured with SSL/TLS (FTPS) or replaced with SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP).

 

1. Open Terminal by pressing CTRL+ALT+T
   The Terminal looks like this :
   
   
    
2. Make sure your system is up to date.
   Type in the terminal the following commands:

   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get upgrade

   
   
    

3. Install Pure-FTPd
   Pure-FTPd is a free (BSD license) FTP Server with a strong focus on software security.
   Run the following command to install it:
    

   sudo apt-get install pure-ftpd

   
   
    

4. Configure Pure-FTPd
   
   Aftter you have installed the FTP server , you'll find all of Pure-FTPd's configuration files in the directoy below. The diffrence between Pure-FTPd and the other FTP servers , is that there's not a single configuration file to configure Pure-FTPd. Diffrent settings have their own file.
   
   So, in the below location is where you’ll find the files for individual stetting.
    

   /etc/pure-ftpd/conf

   To configure Pure-FTPd and allow basic security, run the these commands. These commands set individual settings for the server.
    

   sudo bash
   echo "yes" > /etc/pure-ftpd/conf/Daemonize
   echo "yes" > /etc/pure-ftpd/conf/NoAnonymous
   echo "yes" > /etc/pure-ftpd/conf/ChrootEveryone
   echo "yes" > /etc/pure-ftpd/conf/IPV4Only
   echo "yes" > /etc/pure-ftpd/conf/ProhibitDotFilesWrite
   exit

   
   
    

   Quote

   Daemonize = Runs Pure-FTPd as daemon
   NoAnonymous = disable Anonymous logins
   ChrootEveryone = Keep everyone in their home directory
   IPV4Only = Only allow IPv4 to connect
   ProhibitDotFilesWrite = Don’t not edit dot files

   
   Now , you need to restart the server , so these changes takes an effect , run the following command:

   sudo systemctl restart pure-ftpd

   
   
   
   Here are some other settings that you can add:
    

   Spoiler

   echo     "yes"    >          BrokenClientsCompatibility
   echo     "50"        >            MaxClientsNumber
   echo     "5"            >               MaxClientsPerIP
   echo    "no"        >            VerboseLog
   echo    "yes"        >            DisplayDotFiles
   echo    "yes"       >         NoChmod
   echo    "no"        >         AnonymousOnly
   echo    "no"        >              PAMAuthentication
   echo    "no"       >               UnixAuthentication
   echo    "/etc/pure-ftpd/pureftpd.pdb" > PureDB
   echo    "yes"        >       DontResolve
   echo    "15"          >      MaxIdleTime
   echo    "2000 8"   >      LimitRecursion
   echo    "yes"          >     AntiWarez
   echo    "no"           >     AnonymousCanCreateDirs
   echo    "4"           >     MaxLoad
   echo    "no"         >     AllowUserFXP
   echo    "no"        >     AllowAnonymousFXP
   echo    "no"          >     AutoRename
   echo    "yes"        >     AnonymousCantUpload
   echo    "yes"         >     NoChmod
   echo    "80"         >     MaxDiskUsage
   echo    "yes"         >     CustomerProof
   echo    "0"           >        TLS

   
    

5. Create FTP users

   
   Now let's create some users & passwords for your FTP server.
   I'll name my ftp user "fixik_admin" and I will give this user access to my Counter-Strike 1.6 Server files

   pure-pw useradd fixik_admin -u ftpuser -d /home/Desktop/My\ Files/Counter-Strike\ 1.6/Servers/hlds/27015 -m

   Now.. while executing this long command , i got an error saying  passwd file: no such file or directory...
   
   
   
   To fix this , run the following commands :
   
    

   sudo touch /etc/pure-ftpd/pureftpd.passwd
   sudo pure-pw mkdb -F /etc/pure-ftpd/pureftpd.pdb

   After that , try to run the command for creating user again...
   
   IMPORTANT: due to some errors , use the following command below instead of the one that is up:
    

   sudo pure-pw useradd fixik_admin -u 2 -g 2 -d /home/Desktop/My\ Files/Counter-Strike\ 1.6/Servers/hlds/27015 -m

   
   IMPORTANT: Everytime when you create a new user changed the numbers of "-u 2 -g 2" to something else.
   
   Syntax: sudo pure-pw useradd USERNAME -u ID -g ID -d FTP_Directory_FULL_PATH -m
   
   After you type this , you'll be asked what password you want to give to the user. Screenshot:
   
   
   
   Now finnaly to finish this.. , run the following command:
    

   sudo pure-pw mkdb

   
    

6. Test your FTP Server
   
   Simply , open your FTP client like , WinSCP , FileZilla or any other ftp client..
    i'll use my Browser and use the link ftp://MY_IP_Address