How to Configure FTP Server in Linux RHEL 6

In this post i will show how to install Very Secure FTP (Vsftpd) and how to configure ftp server in linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (RHEL 6). Vsftpd is a GPL licensed FTP server for UNIX systems, including Linux. It is secure and extremely fast and it is stable.

As an example I will install and configure the vsftpd server and will also transfer files from the clients running on the Windows XP command prompt.

-A linux server with ip address 192.168.1.43 running on RHEL 6 Operating system
-A window client with ip address 192.168.1.52 running on Windows XP Pro
-RHEL 6 server Running portmap/rpcbind and xinetd services
-Firewall and SElinux should be off on server

How to Install FTP Server in Linux ?

1. Install vsftpd, rpcbind and xinetd service using the following command :

# yum install vsftpd rpcbind xinetd -y

2. Check vsftpd, xinetd and rpcbind/portmap exist and installed on the server :

# rpm -qa vsftpd
vsftpd-2.2.2-6.el6.i686

# rpm -qa xinetd
xinetd-2.3.14-29.el6.i686

# rpm -qa rpcbind
rpcbind-0.2.0-8.el6.i686

3. Make all these services auto start at boot :

# chkconfig vsftpd on
# chkconfig xinetd on
# chkconfig rpcbind on

4. Check the xinetd and rpcbind status :

# service xinetd status
xinetd (pid  1326) is running...

# service rpcbind status
rpcbind (pid  1178) is running...

5. Create the a new user named ftpuser and set password :

# useradd ftpuser
# passwd ftpuser
Changing password for user ftpuser.
New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: all authentication tokens updated successfully.

6. Login as ftpuser on other terminal and create a new files named “files”.

# su - ftpuser
[ftpuser@rhel6 ~]$ cat > files
This is file created on RHEL 6 ftp server

7. Start the vsftpd service :

# service vsftpd start
Starting vsftpd for vsftpd:                                [  OK  ]

8. Stop the iptables linux firewall and disabled selinux :

# service ip6tables stop
ip6tables: Flushing firewall rules:                        [  OK  ]
ip6tables: Setting chains to policy ACCEPT: filter         [  OK  ]
ip6tables: Unloading modules:                              [  OK  ]

# service iptables stop
iptables: Flushing firewall rules:                         [  OK  ]
iptables: Setting chains to policy ACCEPT: filter          [  OK  ]
iptables: Unloading modules:                               [  OK  ]
# setenforce 0
setenforce: SELinux is disabled

How to Configure FTP Server in Linux ?

9. It’s good to make backup of your original configuration file.

[root@rhel6 ~]# cp /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf-bak

10. login from user account and download the files :

D:\>ftp 192.168.1.43
Connected to 192.168.1.43.
220 (vsFTPd 2.2.2)
User (192.168.1.43:(none)): ftpuser
331 Please specify the password.
Password:
230 Login successful.
ftp> get files
200 PORT command successful. Consider using PASV.
150 Opening BINARY mode data connection for files (42 bytes).
226 Transfer complete.
ftp: 42 bytes received in 0.00Seconds 42000.00Kbytes/sec.
ftp> quit
221 Goodbye.

11. Check the contain of downloaded files :

D:\>type files
This is file created on RHEL 6 ftp server

12. By default root account is not allowed to login the vsftpd server as it’s exist in /etc/vsftpd/ftpusers.

D:\>ftp 192.168.1.43
Connected to 192.168.1.43.
220 (vsFTPd 2.2.2)
User (192.168.1.43:(none)): root
530 Permission denied.
Login failed.
ftp>

13. Open /etc/vsftpd/ftpusers file. Remove or comment out the line for user “root” and add “ftpuser” instead. Users whose name are set in this file will not allowed to login from ftp.

[root@rhel6 ~]# vi /etc/vsftpd/ftpusers

# Users that are not allowed to login via ftp
#root
ftpuser
bin
daemon
adm
lp
sync
shutdown
halt
mail
news
uucp
operator
games
nobody

14. Open /etc/vsftpd/user_list file. Remove or comment out entry in /etc/vsftpd/user_list files. Remove or comment out the line for user “root” and add “ftpuser” instead. Users whose names are set in this file are also not allowed to login from ftp even they are not prompt for password.

# vi /etc/vsftpd/user_list

# vsftpd userlist
# If userlist_deny=NO, only allow users in this file
# If userlist_deny=YES (default), never allow users in this file, and
# do not even prompt for a password.
# Note that the default vsftpd pam config also checks /etc/vsftpd/ftpusers
# for users that are denied.
#root
ftpuser
bin
daemon
adm
lp
sync
shutdown
halt
mail
news
uucp
operator
games
nobody

15. Root now allowed to access ftp server :

D:\>ftp 192.168.1.43
Connected to 192.168.1.43.
220 (vsFTPd 2.2.2)
User (192.168.1.43:(none)): root
331 Please specify the password.
Password:
230 Login successful.
ftp> quit
221 Goodbye.

16. ftpuser now not allowed to access ftp server :

D:\>ftp 192.168.1.43
Connected to 192.168.1.43.
220 (vsFTPd 2.2.2)
User (192.168.1.43:(none)): ftpuser
530 Permission denied.
Login failed.
ftp>

17. How to set login banner for ftp server :
Open /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf look for “ftpd_banner” :

# vi /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf

Uncomment ftpd_banner and customize the login banner string as below :

# You may fully customise the login banner string:
ftpd_banner=Welcome to eHowStuff.com RHEL6 FTP server
#

18 Restart the ftp service :

# service vsftpd restart
Shutting down vsftpd:                                      [  OK  ]
Starting vsftpd for vsftpd:                                [  OK  ]

19. Try login to ftp server. Check the banner, it will appear before user login as below :

D:\>ftp 192.168.1.43
Connected to 192.168.1.43.
220 Welcome to eHowStuff.com RHEL6 FTP server
User (192.168.1.43:(none)):

If you encounter any issues on how to configure ftp server in linux, you can put a few questions in the comments below.