HOWTO : Create a FTP server with user access (proftpd)

[BlueIce]

Bluelce, indeed you shouldn't have all the repositories enabled. You could post you /etc/apt/source.list here if you wish otherwise you will find all needed informations about source.list here : http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=92672.

Alright I got it working, prob not how I wanted it to run but here is what I did.

Commented in
deb http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe
deb-src http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe
(Not sure if I am supposed to comment out other ones)

Then Installed proftpd, instructions on on first page of this thread.
I then wanted a GUI (I'm very new to linux)

gproftpd is at: http://mange.dynalias.org/linux.html

Not sure if I did the right thing but I downloaded the source.

Needed to compile it and somehow got to this page: http://www.psychocats.net/linux/installingsoftware.php
All beginners should read this, it made it really easy REALLY

End up running
sudo apt-get install build-essential

I think I then needed Development files for the GTK
So Installed libgtk2.0-dev (Development files for the GTK+ library) from Synaptic Package Manager. I hope that was the right thing to do.

I think it then compiled OK as I was able to run the GUI.

Problems:
1. Installed gproftpd in Home directory (How do I stop that from happing in the future and how can I fix that now(Copy n paste)?
2. How do I run something as root. Can I add it to the menu.
3. Should I wright commands in the forums with a $ in front of them?
Thanks

[frodon]

1. Generally only the config files are installed in the home directory because it defines specific setting for your user and only your user.
2. To run gproftpd as root, use this command in a terminal :

sudo gproftpd

3. Up to you

But even if you're new to linux you don't inevitably need a GUI, especially if you use often your server. Also if you just want a GUI to see the traffic on your ftp server the "ftptop" command is enough.

However i planed to write a short guide in the next 3 weeks for Gproftpd if it's needed.
So if you finally use Gproftpd and enjoy using it don't forget to tell me.

[steve_250]

Ok, finally found where to change the ftp port number in the router.
I changed it to 1980, it IS supposed to be TCP, oui?
Added the masquereding and passive lines in your page one example.
However, now I get "Connection refused" even when doing it through the same machine using Firefox. Using gftp I see:

230 welcome !!!
SYST

215 UNIX Type: L8
TYPE I

200 Type set to I
PWD

257 "/" is current directory.
Loading directory listing / from server (LC_TIME=en_US.UTF-8)
PORT 192,168,2,33,18,53

500 Illegal PORT command
Invalid response '5' received from server.
Disconnecting from site such.and.such


Oh yeah, Frodon, in the nmap usage example, the I (eye) feature is no longer supported.

[jbinc1]

frodon,

I've been doing some testing on gftpd. I had problems installing from source. First, you have to make sure you have a c compiler installed. Next, it seems the the source is broken. I've tried everything I could think of to get it to work. So, I did some searching and was able to find a debian package and installed it. I was able to install but there are some errors in the config out of the box (ie. it looks for a directories that don't exist). I made some changes to the config file, but I continue to get a SecurityLog errror. I did a check on the syntax and everything was good. I had to add the directories it was looking for to stop the error

The interface seems nice, but there is a definite lack of documentation on the sight or in the help file to support the program. I don't know if it would be a help or a hinderence to someone trying to set up their first ftp server.

[steve_250]

Update:
On same machine, switched gftp to passive and it logs on but gets stuck at "Receiving file names".
Tried ascii and also removing the -L option, still stuck.

[frodon]

I don't think the problem come from the the ListOptions so you should keep the -l option.
I think you should look in your router configuration first, you have to configure your router to link the port 1980 to your PC and also to enable it with the good protocol.

Don't forget to have a look in the proftpd forum, there's a lot of useful informations in, maybe you could find here a user who use the same router as you : http://forums.proftpd.org/phpBB2/

[steve_250]

The link above doesn't work, I'll start at their main page.

I do have the router set to port 1980, changed it back to 21 and got the same error.

I looked at the ftp.log and found the router is passing the request through but the file list isn't coming through.

138.88.144.129 UNKNOWN nobody [10/Jan/2006:10:48:12 -0500] "USER steve" 331 -
138.88.144.129 UNKNOWN userftp [10/Jan/2006:15:48:12 +0000] "PASS (hidden)" 230 -
138.88.144.129 UNKNOWN userftp [10/Jan/2006:15:48:12 +0000] "SYST" 215 -
138.88.144.129 UNKNOWN userftp [10/Jan/2006:15:48:12 +0000] "TYPE I" 200 -
138.88.144.129 UNKNOWN userftp [10/Jan/2006:15:48:12 +0000] "PWD" 257 -
138.88.144.129 UNKNOWN userftp [10/Jan/2006:15:48:12 +0000] "PASV" 227 -
138.88.144.129 UNKNOWN userftp [10/Jan/2006:15:50:13 +0000] "PASV" 227 -

I have the permissions set as you said to set them.

[steve_250]

No progress...
Everything set to port 1980 (router, conf & gftp)
From the router log when attempting to gftp in from same machine:

Tues, 01/10/2006 09:48:17 - UDP packet dropped - Source:221.1.204.254, 45006, WAN - Destination:138.88.144.129, 1027, LAN - 'Suspicious UDP Data'
Tues, 01/10/2006 09:50:23 - TCP connection dropped - Source:138.88.28.18, 2770, WAN - Destination:138.88.144.129, 445, LAN - 'SMB'

From the debug log:
Jan 10 07:36:22 localhost kernel: [4718395.530000] ppdev0: registered pardevice
Jan 10 07:36:22 localhost kernel: [4718395.571000] ppdev0: unregistered pardevice
Jan 10 07:36:22 localhost kernel: [4718395.571000] ppdev1: claim the port first
Jan 10 07:36:22 localhost kernel: [4718395.571000] ppdev2: claim the port first

[BlueIce]

I've been doing some testing on gftpd. I had problems installing from source. First, you have to make sure you have a c compiler installed. Next, it seems the the source is broken. I've tried everything I could think of to get it to work.

I think you might need the Development files for GTK
I Installed libgtk2.0-dev (Development files for the GTK+ library) from Synaptic Package Manager and I was able to install from source.

[BlueIce]

1. Generally only the config files are installed in the home directory because it defines specific setting for your user and only your user.
2. To run gproftpd as root, use this command in a terminal :

sudo gproftpd

3. Up to you

But even if you're new to linux you don't inevitably need a GUI, especially if you use often your server. Also if you just want a GUI to see the traffic on your ftp server the "ftptop" command is enough.

However i planed to write a short guide in the next 3 weeks for Gproftpd if it's needed.
So if you finally use Gproftpd and enjoy using it don't forget to tell me.

1. I am pritty sure it is all installed it in the home directory as the etc and src directors are in there. I used the command $./Autoinstall it listed on the site. What is the correct way to install it, and do I have to uninstall the old one? Dose linux have a registry or am I correct in saying it just uses config files.

2. so that what sudo does

3. Umm thanks