So, we showed you how to install and configure VSFTPD on Ubuntu 17.04 and 17.10. Today we’re going to show you how to install and configure ProFTPD. Both of these programs allow users to transfer files between the FTP client and server via FTP protocols.
There are many FTP servers one can use to provide FTP function. VSFTPD and ProFTPD are two of the most popular and probably the easiest to install and configure.
If you’re looking for a FTP server and VSFTPD can’t meet your needs, then give ProFTPD a try. You may find it to be useful. To install and configure ProFTPD on Ubuntu, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Install ProFTPD on Ubuntu
To quickly install ProFTPD on Ubuntu, run the commands below.
sudo apt-get install proftpd
The commands above install ProFTPD from Ubuntu repository. The server home directory is at /etc/proftpd and its main configuration file is at /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf
Step 2: Configuring ProFTPD
Now that you’ve install ProFTPD, look at the configuration file below and make the highlighted changes, then save the file. Run the commands below to open the configuration file.
sudo nano /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf
Then make the highlighted changes below.
# /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf -- This is a basic ProFTPD configuration file. # To really apply changes, reload proftpd after modifications, if # it runs in daemon mode. It is not required in inetd/xinetd mode. # # Includes DSO modules Include /etc/proftpd/modules.conf # Set off to disable IPv6 support which is annoying on IPv4 only boxes. #UseIPv6 on # If set on you can experience a longer connection delay in many cases. IdentLookups off ServerName "myserver.com" # Set to inetd only if you would run proftpd by inetd/xinetd. # Read README.Debian for more information on proper configuration. ServerType standalone DeferWelcome off MultilineRFC2228 on DefaultServer on ShowSymlinks on TimeoutNoTransfer 600 TimeoutStalled 600 TimeoutIdle 1200 DisplayLogin welcome.msg DisplayChdir .message true ListOptions "-l" DenyFilter \*.*/ # Use this to jail all users in their homes DefaultRoot ~ # Users require a valid shell listed in /etc/shells to login. # Use this directive to release that constrain. # RequireValidShell off # Port 21 is the standard FTP port. Port 21 # In some cases you have to specify passive ports range to by-pass # firewall limitations. Ephemeral ports can be used for that, but # feel free to use a more narrow range. # PassivePorts 49152 65534 # If your host was NATted, this option is useful in order to # allow passive tranfers to work. You have to use your public # address and opening the passive ports used on your firewall as well. # MasqueradeAddress 1.2.3.4 # This is useful for masquerading address with dynamic IPs: # refresh any configured MasqueradeAddress directives every 8 hours # DynMasqRefresh 28800 # To prevent DoS attacks, set the maximum number of child processes # to 30. If you need to allow more than 30 concurrent connections # at once, simply increase this value. Note that this ONLY works # in standalone mode, in inetd mode you should use an inetd server # that allows you to limit maximum number of processes per service # (such as xinetd) MaxInstances 30 # Set the user and group that the server normally runs at. User proftpd Group nogroup # Umask 022 is a good standard umask to prevent new files and dirs # (second parm) from being group and world writable. Umask 022 022 # Normally, we want files to be overwriteable. AllowOverwrite on # Uncomment this if you are using NIS or LDAP via NSS to retrieve passwords: # PersistentPasswd off # This is required to use both PAM-based authentication and local passwords # AuthOrder mod_auth_pam.c* mod_auth_unix.c # Be warned: use of this directive impacts CPU average load! # Uncomment this if you like to see progress and transfer rate with ftpwho # in downloads. That is not needed for uploads rates. # # UseSendFile off TransferLog /var/log/proftpd/xferlog SystemLog /var/log/proftpd/proftpd.log # Logging onto /var/log/lastlog is enabled but set to off by default #UseLastlog on # In order to keep log file dates consistent after chroot, use timezone info # from /etc/localtime. If this is not set, and proftpd is configured to # chroot (e.g. DefaultRoot or ), it will use the non-daylight # savings timezone regardless of whether DST is in effect. #SetEnv TZ :/etc/localtime QuotaEngine off Ratios off # Delay engine reduces impact of the so-called Timing Attack described in # http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/11430/discuss # It is on by default. DelayEngine on ControlsEngine off ControlsMaxClients 2 ControlsLog /var/log/proftpd/controls.log ControlsInterval 5 ControlsSocket /var/run/proftpd/proftpd.sock AdminControlsEngine off # # Alternative authentication frameworks # #Include /etc/proftpd/ldap.conf #Include /etc/proftpd/sql.conf # # This is used for FTPS connections # #Include /etc/proftpd/tls.conf # # Useful to keep VirtualHost/VirtualRoot directives separated # #Include /etc/proftpd/virtuals.conf # A basic anonymous configuration, no upload directories. # # User ftp # Group nogroup # # We want clients to be able to login with "anonymous" as well as "ftp" # UserAlias anonymous ftp # # Cosmetic changes, all files belongs to ftp user # DirFakeUser on ftp # DirFakeGroup on ftp # # RequireValidShell off # # # Limit the maximum number of anonymous logins # MaxClients 10 # # # We want 'welcome.msg' displayed at login, and '.message' displayed # # in each newly chdired directory. # DisplayLogin welcome.msg # DisplayChdir .message # # # Limit WRITE everywhere in the anonymous chroot # # # DenyAll # # # # # Uncomment this if you're brave. # # # # # Umask 022 is a good standard umask to prevent new files and dirs # # # (second parm) from being group and world writable. # # Umask 022 022 # # # # DenyAll # # # # # # AllowAll # # # # # # # Include other custom configuration files Include /etc/proftpd/conf.d/
Step : Save your changes and restart.
The most important line in the configuration file is DefaultRoot ~ This forces uses to only browse content in their home directory and no where else. When you’re done with the configuration, run the commands to restart the server and test.
sudo systemctl restart proftpd
Now open your FTP client and connect to the server hostname or IP address.
To deny users access to the FTP server, add their names in the /etc/ftpusers and save.
All users in that file won’t have access to the FTP server.
Enjoy!
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