How to Set Up FTP Server with vsftpd

Introduction

vsftpd (Very Secure FTP Daemon) is a secure and fast FTP server. This guide covers installation and configuration.

Step 1: Install vsftpd

Install vsftpd from the default repository.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install vsftpd

Step 2: Backup Configuration

Create a backup of the default configuration file.

sudo cp /etc/vsftpd.conf /etc/vsftpd.conf.backup

Step 3: Configure vsftpd

Edit the configuration file to enable local users and disable anonymous access.

sudo nano /etc/vsftpd.conf
# Set:
local_enable=YES
write_enable=YES
chroot_local_user=YES
anonymous_enable=NO

Step 4: Create FTP User

Create a dedicated FTP user with restricted access.

sudo adduser ftpuser
sudo mkdir -p /home/ftpuser/ftp/upload
sudo chown nobody:nogroup /home/ftpuser/ftp
sudo chmod a-w /home/ftpuser/ftp
sudo chown ftpuser:ftpuser /home/ftpuser/ftp/upload

Step 5: Restart vsftpd

Restart the vsftpd service to apply changes.

sudo systemctl restart vsftpd

Step 6: Configure Firewall

Allow FTP traffic through the firewall.

sudo ufw allow 20/tcp
sudo ufw allow 21/tcp
sudo ufw allow 990/tcp
sudo ufw allow 40000:50000/tcp

Conclusion

Your FTP server is now configured and ready to use. Consider using SFTP or FTPS for enhanced security.