How to set up a FTP Server for multiple users with their separate directories

ftp

I have to set up a FTP server so that different people can log in to the server using a username and a password.

Also, each user

  • Should have their own directories
  • Other user's directories should be inaccessible to them
  • Users should have the capability to
    upload, download and delete content
    in their directory using something like FileZilla

Also, the Admin should be able to download/remove any file from any of the user's directories.

How do I make this possible? I have zero idea about FTP and such, so please take that into consideration as well as you solve my problem. Thanks in advance 🙂

Update: Also idea on obtaining a free ftp address? Is it possible to use dyndns.com to track the dynamic IP on this computer with port-forwarding to create a ftp address?

Update 2: Do I need to set up an Apache server on the local machine that I install FileZilla as well? If so how do I go about it?

Best Answer

I have been using FileZilla server version with out issue for the last couple of years, i have also used bullet proof ftp as well. Filezilla seems to do the job equally as well so have stuck with that.

If it was me i would down load the software from sourceforge and install on the box which is going to act as your FTP server. I would then test it on your local area network before figuring out all the IP mapping and firewall options.

If you are used to windows software it is fairly straight forward to get started with and creating user accounts and setting permissions is straight forward as well. If you create an ftp directory somewhere on your hard drive and then sub-folders within that for each user when creating the accounts you can just give the user access to that folder. It also means your super user account can have full control form the level above to add / remove files as needed.

You might also want to think about security as well as FTP is targeted quiet often, i typically silently banner IP addresses after a number of failed attempts, make sure i update the welcome message to remove software versions etc, and lock the admin interface down to an internal IP address range.

Filezilla homepage

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