A Beginner's Guide to Setting up vsftpd Server on CentOS 7

Setting up an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server is an essential skill for anyone managing a server, especially on CentOS 7. The vsftpd (Very Secure FTP Daemon) server is a popular choice due to its simplicity and security features. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up vsftpd on CentOS 7, providing step-by-step instructions and commands to ensure a smooth setup.

Step 1: Update your system

Before diving into the vsftpd installation, it's crucial to make sure your CentOS 7 system is up to date. Open a terminal and enter the following commands:

sudo yum -y update
sudo reboot

The first command updates the package information, and the second command reboots the system to apply any necessary changes.

Step 2: Install vsftpd

Now that your system is up to date, it's time to install the vsftpd package. Run the following command:

sudo yum -y install vsftpd

This command will download and install the vsftpd package on your CentOS 7 system.

Step 3: Start and Enable vsftpd Service

After the installation is complete, start the vsftpd service and enable it to start on boot:

sudo systemctl start vsftpd
sudo systemctl enable vsftpd

These commands initiate the vsftpd service and configure it to start automatically when the system boots up.

Step 4: Configure Firewall

To allow FTP traffic through the firewall, you need to open the FTP port (21). Execute the following commands:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=ftp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

These commands add the FTP service to the firewall configuration and reload the firewall to apply the changes.

Step 5: Create an FTP User

It's good practice to create a dedicated user for FTP access. Replace "ftpuser" with your desired username:

sudo useradd -m ftpuser
sudo passwd ftpuser

The first command creates a new user, and the second command sets a password for that user.

Step 6: Configure vsftpd

Edit the vsftpd configuration file using a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf

Find and modify the following lines:

anonymous_enable=NO
local_enable=YES
write_enable=YES
chroot_local_user=YES

Save the file and exit the text editor.

Step 7: Restart vsftpd

Restart the vsftpd service to apply the configuration changes:

sudo systemctl restart vsftpd

Step 8: Test the FTP Server

Use an FTP client to connect to your server using the FTP user credentials you created. You can use FileZilla, WinSCP, or any other FTP client of your choice.

Enter the server's IP address, FTP username, and password when prompted. You should successfully connect to your vsftpd server.