FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, services are for users who wish to upload data to the server. Usually, this data is web files for websites, such as images (i.e. .jpg or .gif files) or HTML, Perl or PHP files. This section will help users create, and manage FTP options, including adding FTP users, anonymous FTP access, and welcome messages. The main screen of the FTP services section is the “Add” interface, and should look something like what is displayed in Figure 9-1.
Figure 9-1
Create FTP Account(s)
To create an FTP account, simply click on the Create FTP Account link and complete the form, displayed in Figure 9-2 below. Complete the form displayed, including the following information in the form.
• Username – This is the username, between 3 and 8 characters, which the user will connect with. The username should be in all lower case, and must be unique to the virtual server.
• Domain Name – This should be the domain name that the FTP account is for.
• Real Name – This section should include the user’s real name for tracking purposes.
• Password – As in any web service, the password MUST be between 6 and 8 characters, and SHOULD contain letters and numbers. For security reasons, do not use passwords like love, password, or 123456 for security reasons. • Confirm Password – This MUST match the password from above.
• POP3 Mail Enabled – This option sets the FTP account as a POP3 or POP email account. This can be seen in the Manage Email Accounts section. • FTP Home Directory – This option sets the FTP home directory for the user.
This user will only be able to see the directories and files below the Home Directory. Meaning, if the user puts “/” in the Home Directory input box, then that FTP user will have root access to the virtual server. If the user puts “/www/htdocs” then the FTP user will have access only to /www/htdocs, and nothing above it. For FTP access for virtual host domains, it is recommended to use /www/htdocs/vhdir where vhdir is the directory name for the virtual host domain name.
Figure 9-2
The success message, displayed below in Figure 9-3, should show that the user was successfully added.
Figure 9-3
Setup Anonymous FTP
Anonymous FTP accounts will be created by the user if he wishes to allow his customers to ftp to his server without the use of a username or password.
NOTE: This option is a security risk as it does not limit the amount or type of data uploaded to the server.
To enable Anonymous FTP, enter the path to the directory for which you wish to allow anonymous ftp access. Figure 9-4 below shows an example of the form.
• Anonymous FTP Directory – This option sets the FTP home directory for anonymous access. The user will only be able to see the directories and files below the Anonymous FTP Directory. Meaning the Anonymous FTP user will have root access to the virtual server. If the user puts “/www/htdocs” then the FTP user will have access only to /www/htdocs, and nothing above it.
Figure 9-4
The success message, displayed below in Figure 9-5, should show that the Anonymous ftp directory was successfully added.
Figure 9-5
Disable Anonymous FTP
To disable an Anonymous FTP account, the user will need to input the path of the current Anonymous FTP Directory. Click the button labeled “Disable”. This will disable anonymous access to the specified directory.
Manage (FTP Services)
The Manage FTP Accounts section enables you to modify the password, delete, or view disk usage details for existing ftp accounts. The screen below in Figure 9-6 shows the default screen that is displayed under Manage.
Figure 9-6
Manage FTP Accounts
To modify the password for an existing FTP account, the user will select the ftp username from the drop down box. The user must already exist. Then, select the button labeled “Modify User”. The user will then modify the form fields based on the desired changes to the ftp account. Figure 9-7 below shows the form fields that are displayed.
Figure 9-7
Once a username file is selected, the user will see the Real Name and Home Directory fields populated. Figure 9-8 below shows examples of the fields.
• Password – Insert a new password to change the password for the selected FTP account. As in any web service, the password MUST be between 6 and 8 characters, and SHOULD contain letters and numbers. Do not set this to anything simple such as love, password, or 123456 for security reasons. • Real Name – Modify the user’s real name for tracking purposes.
• Home Directory – Modify the current FTP home directory for the user. This user will only be able to see the directories and files below the Home
Directory. Meaning, if the user puts “/” in the Home Directory input box, then that FTP user will have root access to the virtual server.
• Allowed Services – There are three options for this field. The Both pop and ftp option will enable the user to use this account for both FTP access and email. The Pop Email option will delete the account for FTP access and allow it to be used only for Email. The FTP access option allows the account to be used for FTP access only.
Figure 9-8
Delete User
This feature removes the selected username from the drop down menu. At that time, the user will no longer have access to FTP to the account. Please note that if this was also an Email Account (or POP email account), then this service has also been deleted.
Usage Detail
This feature shows the disk usage for the directory that the FTP user has access to. Figure 9-9 below shows an example of the directories that are listed in a specific user’s account. This interface shows the results in the kilobyte size, and the full path to the directory that contains the disk usage.
Figure 9-9
Edit FTP Login Message
This option will enable the user to display a customized message whenever someone utilizes FTP access to their server. The message will be displayed in the user’s FTP client. Figure 9-10 below shows an example of what a user can input into this screen.
• FTP Directory – Name of the directory the user wants to have a customized login message.
• Message – The message the user wishes to display when someone utilizes FTP access to the specified directory.
Figure 9-10
To remove the customized message, the user will need to select the previously entered FTP directory and leave the Message field blank. Then, click the Update button.