Essential Tips for Setting Up a Secure FTP Server
Employ some do-it-yourself technology strategy with these tactics from EasyTech.
Many small businesses that need to send data to different locations quickly, easily and securely count on File Transfer Protocol (FTP) servers.
At first, it may be hard to understand how secure FTP (SFTP) servers work. But try to be patient — they’re ideal for intrepid, do-it-yourself types who want to save money and time by setting up their own systems.
Here are some tips on making your SFTP server installation work like a charm:
Use Secure Shell
Secure Shell, also known as SSH, is a program that allows you to log into another computer remotely and securely so you can move files around. By using SSH, you can turn your Windows computer into an SFTP server more easily (UNIX-based systems like Linux and OSX come with SSH pre-installed).
To download the client, go to SSHWindows, an open-source project that provides a handy installer of OpenSSH, a free tool for SSH connectivity.
Read the Manual
We know it’s more fun to play around with a new program or toy than to read the instruction manual, but sometimes, this little bit of upfront work saves a ton of scrambling later.
In this case, SSHWindows comes with an installation doc called “readme.txt” (usually found in C:/program files/openssh/docs) that will outline the necessary steps for setting up the “passwd” file. (“Password” is spelled without the "or" — that will allow you to set up user accounts.)
Passwd creation is fairly easy, and you can tap into two programs included with SSHWindows called “mkgroup” and “mkpasswd”, found in the C:/program files/openssh/bin directory.
Download an FTP Client
In order to connect to your SFTP server, you’ll need an FTP client that can work with the new protocols. Many business users and home-technology gurus prefer FileZilla, another open-source project geared toward boosting security and networking power. FileZilla features both a client and a server, and offers support services through its online forums. Another free option is WinSCP, a client for SFTP that can be downloaded quickly.
Test the Server
You should make sure the server is running well before depending on it. To run a test, create a new connection in your client and choose SFTP as the server type, with “22” as the port.
For the server name, specify “localhost” or “127.0.0.1”, and provide the user account and password you added to the passwd file. Connect to the server, and if all is running as it should, you should see a directory listing. If that’s not happening, make sure your firewall lets you run traffic over port 22, since that could be the roadblock.
Get Started!
Setting up an SFTP server can be a rewarding and affordable task, particularly for those who are comfortable tweaking their technology stack on their own.