How to Setup FTP on FreeBSD

FreeBSD, the Unix-base operating system, is aimed primarily at system administrators and web server operators, so it should be no surprise that it has a file transfer protocol (FTP) server built in. FTPD is the FTP server preinstalled to the FreeBSD operating system. All you need to do is configure it to finish setting it up. Like most Unix-based operating systems, you have most control over the system in the Terminal command-line. All commands expressed must be entered into the command Terminal.

Instructions

1. Click "System," and then "Gnome-Terminal."

2. Create a system user called "ftp" to enable anonymous access. Type "adduser" and press "Enter." Type in "ftp" and press "Enter." You can leave the rest of the user requirements blank and complete the user addition with default settings.

3. Type "/etc/ftpwelcome" and press "Enter." This file contains your FTP server welcome message. Type in the welcome message you want to display before the login screen. Save the document and return to the Terminal.

4. Type "/etc/ftpmotd" and press "Enter." Configure the message to display after a user has connected via FTP here. Save and return to the Terminal.

5. Type "/etc/inetd.conf" and press "Enter." Scroll down to the following line:

   #ftp stream tcp nowait root /usr/libexec/ftpd ftpd -l

   Remove the has (#) from the beginning of the line. Exit the file and save changes. This enables your FTP server.

6. Type "/etc/rc.conf" and press "Enter." Change the "ftpd_enable" variable to read "YES" rather than "NO." Exit and save.

7. Type "/etc/rc.d/ftpd start" and press "Enter." This enables your FTP server.

Tips & Warnings

• Configure a list of users you want to deny access to in the "/etc/ftpusers" file. The varying permissions of users is controlled in the "/etc/ftpchroot" file.

References

• FreeBSD Documentation: 29.8 File Transfer Protocol (FTP)