Setting up an FTP Server using ProFTPD

You can configure Corel LINUX as an FTP server. Corel LINUX uses ProFTPD as an FTP daemon. ProFTPD is distributed under the GNU Public License (GPL). The ProFTPD daemon is a popular software application used to create FTP servers. You can configure Corel LINUX to be a secure and powerful FTP server. For information about ProFTPD, visit the Resources site on the Corel LINUX Web site at: http://linux.corel.com.

FTP is a TCP/IP protocol used to transport files across the Internet or intranet. FTP is based on a client/server relationship. For information about FTP, see "File Transfer Protocol." An FTP client connects to an FTP server in order to access files located on the FTP server. An FTP server is a computer with files that can be downloaded. For example, you can connect to computer in a local area network (LAN) and download files. You can also upload files to an FTP server.

To set up the FTP server, you must configure the proftpd.conf file. The location of this file is /etc/proftpd.conf. The proftpd.conf file is made up of values known as directives. For information on the proftpd.conf file, see "Using the ProFTPD configuration file." The type of FTP server you configure is based on the values of the directives. For example, you can configure the FTP server to run continuously, or only when you need it. To configure the FTP server to run continuously, you must set the ServerType directive to standalone. To configure the FTP server to run as you need it, you must set the ServerType directive to inetd. A standalone server continuously waits for connection requests from FTP clients.

You can configure Corel LINUX as an authorized FTP server that requires a valid user name and ID to connect. For example, an authorized user can log on an FTP server the same way they would log on their workstation. You can also configure Corel LINUX as an anonymous FTP server. An anonymous user can connect to the FTP server and use a designated password or their email address as a password. An anonymous user does not have an account on the host computer. Anonymous users are usually restricted in what FTP commands they can use. You can configure security settings in the proftpd.conf file to restrict an anonymous users privileges.

After you have configured Corel LINUX as an FTP server, you can connect to it using an FTP client. You can run an FTP server and an FTP client on the same computer. You can use the local IP address, 127.0.0.1, to connect the FTP client to an FTP server running on the same computer. If you make changes to the proftpd.conf file, you must restart the FTP server. If you make a change to the proftpd.conf file and you do not restart the FTP server, the changes will not take effect. By default, the FTP server starts when you start your computer. You can use the ftpshut command to automatically shut down the FTP server. For example, you might want to block an FTP client from connecting to the FTP server after business hours.

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