FTP server/client help

I’m not sure im posting this i nthe right area.

but, to start out i should say that i know very little about linux. I installed Suse 12.2 along side windows today. I need to create a FTP server/client on the linux side. i’ve done some research but im not really finding a how to. since i’m more used to how windows works, id like for it to be fairly user friendly. i’ve tryed filezilla, but since i need a windows OS for the server side, its not really viable for my needs. im find with a build in distro that came with suse, i just dont know how to find it :confused:

any suggestions on any how to’s?

thanks for the help

I guess I would start reading here: SDB:FTP server - openSUSE Wiki & The Perfect Server - OpenSUSE 12.2 x86_64 (nginx, Dovecot, ISPConfig 3) | HowtoForge - Linux Howtos and Tutorials

Thank You,

On Wed, 30 Jan 2013 03:06:02 +0000, Sweettea wrote:

> but, to start out i should say that i know very little about linux. I
> installed Suse 12.2 along side windows today. I need to create a FTP
> server/client on the linux side

What is your specific goal? FTP is a way to move files - if we
understand your goal, we can help you identify if that’s the best way to
accomplish the goal, and if it is, how to set it up.

Jim


Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator
Forum Use Terms & Conditions at http://tinyurl.com/openSUSE-T-C

thank you both for your replies. @jim. This is my capstone project for my final semester in college. I was given the task to build an FTP server that will allow easy file transfer between teachers that teach the same classes, durring different semesters. This will also be used for students to retrive files that teachers set in shared folders. so there will be multiple logins for each.

I also need to create a samba server so that the FTP server can be accessed via the windows PC’s we have in the IT lab.

thanks

For Samba Have a look here: https://forums.opensuse.org/blogs/jdmcdaniel3/samba-swat-samba-web-administration-tool-setup-opensuse-76/ ** &** https://forums.opensuse.org/blogs/jdmcdaniel3/swat-samba-web-administration-tool-setup-creation-script-1-03-105/, & openSUSE SuSE Linux HOWTOs and Tutorials by Swerdna

Thank You,

ok thanks for the samba how to links. :slight_smile:

i’ll look at the FTP links and go from there

thanks for the help :slight_smile:

On 2013-01-30 13:16, Sweettea wrote:
>
> thank you both for your replies. @jim. This is my capstone project for
> my final semester in college. I was given the task to build an FTP
> server that will allow easy file transfer between teachers that teach
> the same classes, durring different semesters. This will also be used
> for students to retrive files that teachers set in shared folders. so
> there will be multiple logins for each.

Well, that’s a bit more complicated than a simple ftp server. There is a
module in YaST to install and setup an FTP server, I recommend you use
it (probably you have to install it first). If I recall correctly, there
is a choice of two different servers, I don’t know which will be best
for your needs. Better try both, one after the other. Or set up two
virtualized machines and test one type on each.

Once YaST does the initial setup, you need to delve into the plain text
configuration files and setup to your needs, for which you will have to
read the documentation.

I suggest you look into encrypted ftp login, and virtual users.

> I also need to create a samba server so that the FTP server can be
> accessed via the windows PC’s we have in the IT lab.

Well, that will be another complication with permissions.


Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 12.1 x86_64 “Asparagus” at Telcontar)

On Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:16:01 +0000, Sweettea wrote:

> This is my capstone project for my final semester in college. I was
> given the task to build an FTP server that will allow easy file transfer
> between teachers that teach the same classes, durring different
> semesters. This will also be used for students to retrive files that
> teachers set in shared folders. so there will be multiple logins for
> each.
>
> I also need to create a samba server so that the FTP server can be
> accessed via the windows PC’s we have in the IT lab.

Thanks, that helps. Given that this is a school project/assignment, what
I’ll do is point you at the various FTP servers and you can read up on
them and see how to configure them.

vsftpd and pureftpd are the two that I see most often on openSUSE. Both
are included in the standard packages, and both can use PAM (pluggable
authentication modules) so you can use an external identity source if you
want, or you can use the “standard” /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow
authentication.

I would suggest reading up on securing FTP servers as well, especially
you’ll want to look at whether you want to enable anonymous access, and
consider the implications of allowing anonymous uploads.

Jim


Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator
Forum Use Terms & Conditions at http://tinyurl.com/openSUSE-T-C

Hello,

Here is some basic info to get you started…

FTP:
Although some understand or instinctively assume correctly that you can configure “regular” local System User Acounts as FTP Users, you may want to re-consider whether you want to grant the ability for Users to potentially SSH or remote desktop into your machine. Ordinarily, you will want to grant FTP users only FTP access, and by default today’s properly configured FTP should grant access only to a specified directory tree and deny access above that tree and to other parts of your system.

When you setup an FTP Server, you will need to specify one of two types…
“Active” uses only two ports - one for “Control” and the other for “Data” and can be configured to pass through simple firewalls.
“PASV” is the more robust which uses a port for “Control” and another port randomly selected within a range of possible ports for “Data” is more difficult to pass through firewalls.

You should know that regular FTP is insecure, the standard type of encryption is Base64 which is totally ineffective nowadays. Beware using FTP outside your LAN (firewall), your credential pairs will be stolen! FTPS or SFTP is properly secured and should be used across a public network.

If you are in a network that uses network security (ie User logs in with a Network User account, not a local machine account), you may want to configure integration with that network security to provide “single sign on” but again beware of using regular FTP where your credentials would be stolen.

Depending on the requirements of your assignment, especially in a Windows network I would not use Windows Sharing" in combination with FTP, in fact that kind of requirement would generally suggest lack of knowledge that each is best used for different situations and use different protocols, ie "windows Sharing uses CIFS aka SMB network protocol whereas FTP is an Internet protocol. But, i the objective is to provide simple, automatic FTP access without opening an application every time for access (although many apps including web browsers today typically support) I would highly recommend mapping a drive using the FTP protocol.

HTH,
TSU

thank you both for replying.

@Jim. i have done some research and have deiced to go with pureftpd becuase it seems to be a bit more user friendly then vsftpd (could be wrong), but im not finding many “how-to’s”

@Tsu2, the FTP server will have a static IP and will only be used for the IT teachers and students. so im not sure how secure that will or will not be. as far as mapping the drive, sorry, not sure what you mean by that. I’ll research it and see what i need to do. the Samba server that I also have to build, will be used to access the FTP files via the windows PC’s that the students use in the IT lab.

i really appreciate the help with this. i keep running into road blocks and need to start making headway. so your suggestions have really helped. thanks

On Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:26:01 +0000, Sweettea wrote:

> @Jim. i have done some research and have deiced to go with pureftpd
> becuase it seems to be a bit more user friendly then vsftpd (could be
> wrong), but im not finding many “how-to’s”

That’s the one I think I’ve got installed as well on a couple of boxes.
vsftpd is “very secure” (hence “vs”), but for my tastes a little too
secure in the default configuration. (Though now I don’t remember what
specifically it was - I think it had to do with configuring the options
to allow uploads to named accounts).

Glad we have been able to point you in the right direction. :slight_smile:

Jim


Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Administrator
Forum Use Terms & Conditions at http://tinyurl.com/openSUSE-T-C