ftp? why not

elf · 03-18-2005, 09:28 AM

ahh they just keep comin ( I suppose I could google this one...but I feel like makin yall work )

I'm lookin to set up either an FTP server, or SSH so that a friend can upload stuff to the site without me having to accept the file transfer and setting it up for him.

I know SSH is secure, but I don't know how to set it up (I want to give him access to /var/www/htdocs and all subfolders and files (so he can add/remove/modify).

Do yall recommend SSH or VSFTPD? Which is easier to setup and which is more secure? (if there is a definite answer...I know sometimes there is no definitive answer)

Skie · 03-18-2005, 11:44 AM

There is no definitive answer to anything in Linux. There are many ways to do the same thing. I would probably stick with SSH as everything is already there for you. Your friend just needs an FTP client that can handle sftp file transfers. I believe FileZilla should, as should SmartFTP. Both are free and I recommend both for Windows. For Linux, everything is already there. Most GUI based FTP programs should work too, but I would recommend either gFTP or KBear.

All you'd need to do is create a username for your friend, then within his home directory, create a symlink to the public_html directory. To create the symlink, do the following:

cd /home/friend
ln -s <name of link here> /var/www/htdocs

ex. ln -s htdocs /var/www/htdocs

You can call it just about anything, "junk", "www", "public_html", "you_look_ugly", etc.

Then, when your friend logs in, they just double click the symlink and they should be allowed to upload as long as they have permissions to /var/www/htdocs.

elf · 03-18-2005, 12:03 PM

how do I create a user? just a user on my box or is it a SSH specific user? I'm about as new to SSH as I am to linux.

Skie · 03-18-2005, 12:58 PM

You'll need to run this command as root:

Code:

adduser -m <new username>

If adduser doesn't exist, try using useradd.

elf · 03-18-2005, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Error running useradd command -- accoutn not created!
(cmd: /usr/sbin/useradd -d /home/dan -m -e 2009-07-25 -g users -s /bin/bash -m)

I used adduser and it seemed to be working until there...

edit: I think the adduser command wasn't supposed to have the -m

second edit: I got it so I can ssh into the linux box from my windows box. Now just to see if it works from his...so any ftp client will work?

Skie · 03-18-2005, 01:24 PM

try just "useradd <username>". See if that helps.

elf · 03-18-2005, 01:28 PM

I've been editing but there have been some advances, just see above post

Skie · 03-18-2005, 01:37 PM

Sorry, didn't see your edits.

From the error msg you pasted, it seems as if the -m option was added by default. The only reason I added it myself is because it's not part of the default for my system. The -m option automatically creates the users home directory for you.

And most FTP clients should work as long as they support SFTP.

elf · 03-18-2005, 01:42 PM

I can connect with SSH, but not with filezilla for some reason. It connects and says

Quote:

Status: Connecting to <address> ...
Status: Connected with <address>. Waiting for welcome message...
Response: SSH-1.99-OpenSSH_3.8.1p1

(actual address has been substituted)

Skie · 03-18-2005, 01:49 PM

I'm looking at Filezilla right now. Make sure that under Servertype, you choose "SFTP using SSH2". Also, make sure that the port is 22 and Logon Type is "Normal".

Also, either I missed it or I forgot, but what distro do you have?

elf · 03-18-2005, 01:51 PM

Could it have something to do with my firewalls?

edit: ok ok I got it working now. It was because of the logon type. It was set to anonymous so even though I was putting in user name it wouldn't work

Skie · 03-18-2005, 01:54 PM

It could if you're blocking inbound SSH requests. Try disabling the firewall and testing again.

elf · 03-18-2005, 01:56 PM

Quote:

edit: ok ok I got it working now. It was because of the logon type. It was set to anonymous so even though I was putting in user name it wouldn't work

Skie · 03-18-2005, 02:06 PM

Gah! Stop editing while I'm in the middle of posting!

03-18-2005, 09:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,302 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	ftp? why not ahh they just keep comin ( I suppose I could google this one...but I feel like makin yall work ) I'm lookin to set up either an FTP server, or SSH so that a friend can upload stuff to the site without me having to accept the file transfer and setting it up for him. I know SSH is secure, but I don't know how to set it up (I want to give him access to /var/www/htdocs and all subfolders and files (so he can add/remove/modify). Do yall recommend SSH or VSFTPD? Which is easier to setup and which is more secure? (if there is a definite answer...I know sometimes there is no definitive answer) __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

03-18-2005, 11:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	There is no definitive answer to anything in Linux. There are many ways to do the same thing. I would probably stick with SSH as everything is already there for you. Your friend just needs an FTP client that can handle sftp file transfers. I believe FileZilla should, as should SmartFTP. Both are free and I recommend both for Windows. For Linux, everything is already there. Most GUI based FTP programs should work too, but I would recommend either gFTP or KBear. All you'd need to do is create a username for your friend, then within his home directory, create a symlink to the public_html directory. To create the symlink, do the following: cd /home/friend ln -s <name of link here> /var/www/htdocs ex. ln -s htdocs /var/www/htdocs You can call it just about anything, "junk", "www", "public_html", "you_look_ugly", etc. Then, when your friend logs in, they just double click the symlink and they should be allowed to upload as long as they have permissions to /var/www/htdocs. __________________

03-18-2005, 12:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,302 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	how do I create a user? just a user on my box or is it a SSH specific user? I'm about as new to SSH as I am to linux. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

03-18-2005, 12:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	You'll need to run this command as root: Code: adduser -m <new username> If adduser doesn't exist, try using useradd. __________________

03-18-2005, 01:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	try just "useradd <username>". See if that helps. __________________

03-18-2005, 01:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,302 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	I've been editing but there have been some advances, just see above post __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

03-18-2005, 01:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	Sorry, didn't see your edits. From the error msg you pasted, it seems as if the -m option was added by default. The only reason I added it myself is because it's not part of the default for my system. The -m option automatically creates the users home directory for you. And most FTP clients should work as long as they support SFTP. __________________

03-18-2005, 01:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	I'm looking at Filezilla right now. Make sure that under Servertype, you choose "SFTP using SSH2". Also, make sure that the port is 22 and Logon Type is "Normal". Also, either I missed it or I forgot, but what distro do you have? __________________

03-18-2005, 01:51 PM	#11 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,302 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	Could it have something to do with my firewalls? edit: ok ok I got it working now. It was because of the logon type. It was set to anonymous so even though I was putting in user name it wouldn't work Last edited by elf : 03-18-2005 at 01:56 PM.

03-18-2005, 01:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	It could if you're blocking inbound SSH requests. Try disabling the firewall and testing again. __________________

03-18-2005, 02:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
Skie Manager, Alternative Comp Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 1,821 OS: Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux, CentOS My System	Gah! Stop editing while I'm in the middle of posting! __________________