Can my Ubuntu server have both FTP and SFTP installed

Question

I want to create an FTP user in an Ubuntu server and I also want the same user to access SFTP server in same machine. can I install both FTP and SFTP servers in same box. If yes how. Please let me know

Thanks

Answer 1

Yes, it can. These are two different services. The only limitation is that the different services can't use the same port. The default FTP port is 21, while the SFTP connection goes through the SSH port (connection), that by default is 22.

By default Ubuntu Server comes with openssh-server enabled, and the SFTP service is also enabled by default via the configuration file /etc/ssh/sshd_config. So if you are able to establish a ssh connection, you must be able to use SFTP by the same credentials.

There are many FTP servers that you can install, probably the most popular is vsftpd, that allows to setup a secure encrypted connection (by default FTP is not secure enough). Here are few manuals:

• Ubuntu Documentation: FTP Server
• Digital ocean: How To Set Up vsftpd for a User's Directory on Ubuntu
• TechMint: How to Install and Configure FTP Server in Ubuntu