Step by step installation method of FTP server in linux

In this post, I will guide to you how to install or create the ftp server in Linux operating system.

Generally FTP server is used to upload or download the files from server machine to client machine. FTP works on TCP 20/21 protocol, TCP port 20 is used for uploading and TCP 21 port is used for downloading purpose.

In this article, I will explain step by step method of ftp server creation and configuration.

Step by step method of FTP server installation and configuration:

1. In the initial step , we will install the all required rpm or packages on the Linux server using "YUM" utility.

#yum  install  vsftpd*

If you have source rpm packages then you can install it. In our case we will install the rpm with yum. Using above command all the ftp packages and their dependency are installed.

2. Once the required packages has been installed successfully on the Linux server, we will start the ftp services on the server.

#service  vsftpd  start

Once the service start successfully we will make permanent it so after reboot of server it would be enable always.

#chkconfig vsftpd on

3. Now, to check the location of ftp server file which we upload or create after ftp server installation.

#cd /var/ftp/pub

#ls

And check the file which you have created after ftp server installation. If you find your created file here then you can ensure your ftp server has been installed successfully on Linux server.

4. Now for checking the ftp server using login in it.

# ftp  Server IP address  ( In my case server ip is 192.168.1.240)

Name(192.168.1.240:root):anonymous

Passwd   (press enter)   --- by defult anonymous password is blank

ftp>   (It will show you have successfully enter in ftp server)

ftp> ls

pub ( will see this directory in ftp location)

ftp>cd  pub

pub> mkdir  vibhor

pub> permission denied  (error getting)

5. To give the permission to make a directory in pub ,changes in this file

#vi  /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf

Uncomment all these below lines

anonymous_enable=yes

anon_upload_enable=yes

anon_mkdir_write_enable=yes

save the file

6. Now we will take a restart of the ftp services again. You can follow the step 2 to take a restart of ftp services.

7. In this step we will provide the permission to pub folder so that client user can read/write the file and folder in the default direcoty.

#chmod 777  /var/ftp/pub

In my case I will give the full permission to pub folder. You can set the permission according to your project requirement.

8. If you want to ensure that you are able to created and access the folder or not on ftp server then in this case you need to login again in ftp server.

#ftp  192.168.1.240

Name: anonymous

Passwd (enter)

ftp> Cd  pub

pub>mkdir vibhor

vibhor           (directory created)

pub>ls

vibhor

If you want to check the directory which we created in above text please go to the below location and find it

#cd  /var/ftp/pub

Pub]#ls

Vibhor

So now you will get the file on the ftp pub folder which you created that means the permission which you provide to the user are working properly.

9. You want only one user is able to login by ftp server and access only one particular folder, also not able to delete the file and folder on ftp server, having a ability of uploading and downloading through ftp server. For this thing we have to change in configuration file and chroot_list, ftpuser file.

First create a user which you want to access for ftp user

# useradd  -s /sbin/nologin  ttftpuser       (His shell is nologin so other user not login)

#passwd  ttftpuser

Now create a folder in ttftpuser which you want to give access

#cd  /home/ttftpuser

ttftpuser~]#mkdir  noidaftp

ttftpuser~]#chmod  777  noidaftp

Now go to the file chroot_list, add the user  only which you want to give access.

#vi  /etc/vsftpd/chroot_list

ttftpuser    (make a entry of user which you want to give access)

Now if you want no other user login in ftp server then entry all those user except chroot_list user in ftpuser file.

#vi /etc/vsftpd/ftpuser

Promartuser    (these are users on which ftp server is make )

Vibhor

Now go to configuration file and make changes in  file and change all the parameter which is required on the configuration files.

#vi /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf

anonymous_enable=NO

local_enable=YES

write_enable=YES

local_umask=022

dirmessage_enable=YES

xferlog_enable=YES

connect_from_port_20=YES

syslog_enable=NO

dual_log_enable=YES

vsftpd_log_file=/var/log/vsftpd.log

xferlog_file=/var/log/xferlog

xferlog_std_format=YES

ftpd_banner=*************************Welcome to blah FTP service******************

chroot_list_enable=YES

chroot_list_file=/etc/vsftpd/chroot_list

listen=YES

pam_service_name=vsftpd

userlist_enable=YES

tcp_wrappers=YES

listen_port=54321

cmds_allowed=ABOR,ACCT,ALLO,APPE,CDUP,CWD,EPRT,EPSV,FEAT,HELP,LIST,MDTM,MKD,MODE,NLST,NOOP,OPTS,PASS,PASV,PORT,PWD,QUIT,REIN,REST,RETR,RMD,RNFR,RNTO,SITE,SIZE,SMNT,STAT,STOR,STOU,STRU,SYST,TYPE,USER,XCUP,XCWD,XMKD

Save the file for above changes which is in bold text in file and restart the ftp services which is describe in step 2.

#service vsftpd restart

Now check login on console mode

#ftp  192.168.1.243 54321

Enter username:ttftpuser

Passwd..enter the passwd

ftp> you have successfully enter

ftp>ls

noidaftp      (folder you have seen)

ftp>put  vsftpd.conf        (it will upload file )

ftp>get  vsftpd.org          (it will download file)

If you want to change the user shell please run the below command method as describe below.

#usermod  -s  /sbin/nologin  username

#usermod  -s /bin/bash  username

So using above method we can easily installed and configured the ftp server on Linux operating system.