Configure linux ftp server step by step guide example and implementation

ftp server is used to transfer files between server and clients. All major operating system supports ftp. ftp is the most used protocol over internet to transfer files. Like most Internet operations, FTP works on a client/ server model. FTP client programs can enable users to transfer files to and from a remote system running an FTP server program.

Any Linux system can operate as an FTP server. It has to run only the server software—an FTP daemon with the appropriate configuration. Transfers are made between user accounts on client and server systems. A user on the remote system has to log in to an account on a server and can then transfer files to and from that account's directories only.

A special kind of user account, named ftp, allows any user to log in to it with the username “anonymous.” This account has its own set of directories and files that are considered public, available to anyone on the network who wants to download them.

The numerous FTP sites on the Internet are FTP servers supporting FTP user accounts with anonymous login. Any Linux system can be configured to support anonymous FTP access, turning them into network FTP sites. Such sites can work on an intranet or on the Internet.

Configuring the ftp Server

The vsftpd RPM package is required to configure a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system as an ftp server. If it is not already installed, install it with rpm commands as described in our pervious article. After it is installed, start the service as root with the command service vsftpd start . The system is now an ftp server and can accept connections. To configure the server to automatically start the service at boot time, execute the command chkconfig vsftpd on as root. To stop the server, execute the command service vsftpd stop. To verify that the server is running, use the command service vsftpd status.

Configure vsftpd server

In this example we will configure a vsftpd server and will transfer files from client side.

For this example we are using three systems one linux server one linux clients and one windows xp clients. To complete these per quest of ftp server Follow this link

basic network configurations Example and Implementations ip configurations hosts files portmap xinetd services

• A linux server with ip address 192.168.0.254 and hostname Server
• A linux client with ip address 192.168.0.1 and hostname Client1
• A window client with ip address 192.168.0.2 and hostname Client2
• Updated /etc/hosts file on both linux system
• Running portmap and xinetd services
• Firewall should be off on server

We suggest you to review that article before start configuration of ssh server. Once you have completed the necessary steps follow this guide.

Three rpm are required to configure ssh server. vsftpd, portmap, xinetd check them if not found then install

Now check vsftpd, portmap, xinetd service in system service it should be on

 #setup
 Select  System service from list
 [*]portmap
 [*]xinetd 
 [*]vsftpd 

Now restart xinetd and portmap and vsftpd service


To keep on these services after reboot on then via chkconfig command

After reboot verify their status. It must be in running condition

Create a normal user named vinita 

Login for this user on other terminal and create a test file

On Linux client

ping from ftp server and run ftp command and give username and password

after login you can download files from the specified directories

Most commonly commands used on ftp prompt are

put To upload files on server get To download files from server mput To upload all files mget To download all files ? To see all available command on ftp prompts cd To change remote directory lcd To change local directory.

On window clients

Now go on window clients and create a file. copy con command is used to create files on window. To save use CTRL+Z 

Now ping from ftp server and invoke ftp session from server, login from user account and download as well as uploads files

Enable root account for ftp session and set permission on user

By default on vsftpd server root account is disable. You cannot login from root account. 

Now we will enable root account for ftp session and same time we will disable our normal user vinita to use ftp sessions.

open file /etc/vsftpd/ftpusers . Users whose name are set in this file will not allowed to login from ftp.

By default this file have an entry for root that why root are not allowed to use ftp. remove root from list and add user vinita 

Now remove entry form /etc/vsftpd/user_list files. Users whose names are set in this file are also not allowed to login from ftpeven they are not prompt for password. 


By default this file have an entry for root that way root is denied form login even not asked for password remove root from list and add user vinita

After saving change in these files restart the vsftpd service

Now go on client system and login from root this time root will login 

Now try to login form user vinita she should not prompt form password also 

How to set login banner for ftp server

To set login banner open /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf file and search for this tag

Uncomment this tag and set your banner and save file , and restart the vsftpd service 

Go on client system and check banner it will appear before user login