Setting up Pure-FTPd server on CentOS 8

Setting up an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server is a crucial step in creating a seamless and secure file-sharing environment. Pure-FTPd is a lightweight and efficient FTP server that is widely used for its simplicity and security features. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of setting up Pure-FTPd on a CentOS 8 server, ensuring a reliable and secure file transfer solution for your system.

Installing Pure-FTPd on CentOS 8:

The first step is to install Pure-FTPd on your CentOS 8 server. Open a terminal and execute the following commands:

sudo dnf install epel-release
sudo dnf install pure-ftpd

The epel-release package is required to enable the EPEL repository, which contains Pure-FTPd. Once the installation is complete, we can move on to configuring Pure-FTPd.

Configuring Pure-FTPd:

1. Open the Pure-FTPd configuration file using a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/pure-ftpd/pure-ftpd.conf

2. Adjust the configuration according to your needs. You may want to modify settings like authentication, passive mode, and other security options. Save and close the file.

Creating a New User:

To allow users to connect to your FTP server, you need to create user accounts. Replace 'username' with the desired username:

sudo pure-pw useradd username -u ftpuser -g ftpgroup -d /path/to/home/directory
sudo pure-pw mkdb

This creates a new FTP user with the specified username, home directory, and assigns them to the 'ftpuser' and 'ftpgroup.'

Setting Up Virtual Users:

Pure-FTPd supports virtual users, allowing you to manage FTP accounts without creating system users. Here's an example of adding a virtual user:

sudo pure-pw useradd virtualuser -f /etc/pure-ftpd/passwd/pureftpd.passwd -m -u ftpuser -g ftpgroup -d /path/to/virtual/directory
sudo pure-pw mkdb

Enabling and Starting Pure-FTPd:

Enable and start the Pure-FTPd service:

sudo systemctl enable pure-ftpd
sudo systemctl start pure-ftpd

Allowing FTP Traffic Through the Firewall:

If you have a firewall enabled, make sure to allow FTP traffic:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=21/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Now, your Pure-FTPd server should be up and running, ready to facilitate secure file transfers.

Testing the FTP Server:

Use an FTP client to connect to your server. Enter the server's IP address, username, and password when prompted. You should now have access to the FTP server.