Setting up vsftpd server on Ubuntu 20.04

Setting up a vsftpd (Very Secure File Transfer Protocol Daemon) server on Ubuntu 20.04 is a straightforward process that allows you to establish a secure and efficient way to transfer files between your local and remote systems. Vsftpd is known for its security features, making it a popular choice for many Linux users. In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing and configuring vsftpd on Ubuntu 20.04.

Step 1: Install vsftpd

The first step is to install the vsftpd package on your Ubuntu 20.04 system. Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install vsftpd

Step 2: Start vsftpd Service

Once the installation is complete, start the vsftpd service with the following command:

sudo systemctl start vsftpd

To ensure that vsftpd starts automatically at boot, enable the service:

sudo systemctl enable vsftpd

Step 3: Configure vsftpd

Next, we need to configure vsftpd to suit our needs. Open the vsftpd configuration file in a text editor. In this example, we'll use nano:

sudo nano /etc/vsftpd.conf

Configuring Basic Settings:

Adjust the following settings in the vsftpd configuration file according to your preferences:

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

Save the changes and exit the text editor.

Step 4: Restart vsftpd Service

To apply the changes, restart the vsftpd service:

sudo systemctl restart vsftpd

Step 5: Configure Firewall

If you have a firewall enabled, allow traffic on port 21 for FTP. Run the following commands:

sudo ufw allow 21/tcp
sudo ufw reload

Step 6: Test the vsftpd Server

To test if your vsftpd server is functioning properly, use an FTP client such as FileZilla or the command-line FTP client. Connect to your server using the server's IP address or hostname, your FTP username, and password.

ftp your_server_ip_or_hostname

More Examples:

Creating FTP Users:

You can create additional FTP users using the adduser command:

sudo adduser ftpuser

Limiting User Access:

To restrict users to their home directories, modify the vsftpd configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/vsftpd.conf

Add the following lines:

user_sub_token=$USER
local_root=/home/ftpusers/$USER

Setting up a vsftpd server on Ubuntu 20.04 provides a secure and efficient file transfer solution. By following these steps, you've configured a basic vsftpd server, customized its settings, and tested its functionality. Feel free to explore more advanced configurations based on your specific requirements.