File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. Setting up an FTP server on your Mac allows you to transfer files between your Mac and other devices easily. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to set up an FTP web server on macOS.
Step 1: Install Homebrew
Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that makes it easy to install various software packages. If you haven’t installed Homebrew yet, open Terminal and run the following command:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
Once the installation is complete, update Homebrew:
brew update
Step 2: Install and Configure Pure-FTPd
Pure-FTPd is a popular FTP server that’s easy to set up and use. To install Pure-FTPd via Homebrew, run the following command:
brew install pure-ftpd
After the installation, create a new configuration directory:
sudo mkdir /usr/local/etc/pure-ftpd
Create a configuration file for Pure-FTPd:
sudo touch /usr/local/etc/pure-ftpd/pure-ftpd.conf
Open the configuration file with a text editor, such as nano:
sudo nano /usr/local/etc/pure-ftpd/pure-ftpd.conf
Add the following lines to the configuration file, customizing the settings as needed:
ChrootEveryone yes BrokenClientsCompatibility no MaxClientsNumber 50 Daemonize yes MaxClientsPerIP 2 VerboseLog no DisplayDotFiles yes AnonymousOnly no NoAnonymous yes SyslogFacility ftp DontResolve yes MaxIdleTime 120 PureDB /usr/local/etc/pure-ftpd/pureftpd.pdb PAMAuthentication no UnixAuthentication no
Save and close the file.
Step 3: Create an FTP User and Set Permissions
Create a new FTP user and set a home directory for the user:
sudo useradd -m -G nogroup -s /sbin/nologin -d /path/to/ftp/home/directory ftpuser
Replace /path/to/ftp/home/directory with the desired path for the FTP user’s home directory.
Set the ownership and permissions for the FTP user’s home directory:
sudo chown -R ftpuser:nogroup /path/to/ftp/home/directory sudo chmod -R 755 /path/to/ftp/home/directory
Step 4: Start the FTP Server
To start the Pure-FTPd server, run the following command:
sudo pure-ftpd /usr/local/etc/pure-ftpd/pure-ftpd.conf
The FTP server should now be running.
Step 5: Configure Firewall (Optional)
If you’re using a firewall, you’ll need to allow incoming connections to the FTP server. This will depend on the specific firewall software you’re using. For example, if you’re using the built-in macOS firewall, open System Preferences, go to Security & Privacy, click on the Firewall tab, and ensure that Pure-FTPd is allowed to accept incoming connections.
Conclusion
In this guide, we’ve shown you how to set up an FTP web server on macOS using Pure-FTPd. You can now transfer files between your Mac and other devices easily using an FTP client. Remember to maintain good security practices by regularly reviewing and updating user access, permissions, and credentials.
In addition, keep your macOS system and installed software up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates to ensure the highest level of security and stability for your FTP server.
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