Ubuntu – vsftpd log file location

ftpvsftpd

Can someone tell me where is located the log file for vsftpd? I'm trying to learn how to install and configure a ftp server and I can't seem to find the log file. Can anybody tell me how to configure the service to make a log file or where is located?

Best Answer

The log file for Ubuntu by default is /var/log/vsftpd.log. The setting is in /etc/vsftpd.conf

The default could be modified by specifying a different pathname (/etc/vsftp.conf entry):

# You may override where the log file goes if you like. The default is shown
# below.                     
#xferlog_file=/var/log/vsftpd.log

Server side

Check service status
```
sudo service vsftpd status
```
Check its running processes
```
ps ax | grep vsftpd
```
(Command to: list all processes then filter output for vsftpd line)

or you can use a loop to monitor its processes:
```
while sleep 1 ; do clear ; ps ax | grep vsftpd ; done
```
(Command to: wait 1 second, clear shell screen, list all processes then filter output for vsftpd line, loop again as sleep always return succefully)
Check port status related to vsftpd process
```
netstat -lnp | grep vsftpd
```
(Command to: list all listening ports with port number and process id (PID) owning it then filter output for vsftpd line)

Monitor server log (tail with -f to follow log updates and monitor vsftpd)

$ tail -f /var/log/vsftpd.log
Fri Apr 25 18:43:28 2014 [pid 2026] CONNECT: Client "127.0.0.1"
Fri Apr 25 18:45:01 2014 [pid 2025] [sneetsher] OK LOGIN: Client "127.0.0.1"

Client side

(note: I run them from server just to make examples, prefer other host to check firewall settings...)

ftp command with -v verbose option to show all responses from the remote server)

$ ftp -v localhost
Connected to localhost.
220 (vsFTPd 3.0.2)
Name (localhost:sneetsher):      
331 Please specify the password.
Password:
230 Login successful.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
ftp>

FileZilla. It has very detailed log, but it sends couple commands depending on settings which not always what you want.

Status: Resolving address of localhost
Status: Connecting to 127.0.0.1:21...
Status: Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
Response:   220 (vsFTPd 3.0.2)
Command:    USER sneetsher
Response:   331 Please specify the password.
Command:    PASS ********
Response:   230 Login successful.
Command:    SYST
Response:   215 UNIX Type: L8
Command:    FEAT
Response:   211-Features:
Response:    EPRT
Response:    EPSV
Response:    MDTM
Response:    PASV
Response:    REST STREAM
Response:    SIZE
Response:    TVFS
Response:    UTF8
Response:   211 End
Command:    OPTS UTF8 ON
Response:   200 Always in UTF8 mode.
Status: Connected
Status: Retrieving directory listing...
Command:    PWD
Response:   257 "/home/sneetsher"
Command:    TYPE I
Response:   200 Switching to Binary mode.
Command:    PASV
Response:   227 Entering Passive Mode (127,0,0,1,159,231).
Command:    LIST
Response:   150 Here comes the directory listing.
Response:   226 Directory send OK.
Status: Calculating timezone offset of server...
Command:    MDTM 0000_12.04~
Response:   213 20140208184211
Status: Timezone offsets: Server: 0 seconds. Local: 0 seconds. Difference: 0 seconds.
Status: Directory listing successful
...
Status: Sending keep-alive command
Command:    TYPE I
Response:   200 Switching to Binary mode.

Possible testing workflow

Server side: After changing vsftpd.conf, restart service (no need to reboot VBox guest)
```
sudo service vsftpd restart
```

Client side: It's possible to write FTP client scripts (routine tests) using yafc. Example to upload a folder:

#!/bin/bash
yafc <<**
open ftp://username:password@hostname
put -f -r folder
close
**
exit 0

or using ftp:

#!/bin/sh
HOST='ftp.users.qwest.net'
USER='yourid'
        PASSWD='yourpw'
FILE='file.txt'

ftp -n $HOST <<END_SCRIPT
quote USER $USER
quote PASS $PASSWD
put $FILE
quit
END_SCRIPT
exit 0

Server/Client on VirtualBox guests

Client should be in same NAT Network, Internal Network with server.
Or if Server has Bridged Adapter, Client could be set with NAT, NAT Network, Bridged Adapter.

References:

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Ubuntu – Setup FTP (vsftpd is not running)

Ubuntu – a scenario which depict vsftpd

Server side

Client side

Possible testing workflow

Server/Client on VirtualBox guests

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