Userland ProFTPD

ProFTPD is a server that can offer FTP access to friends and family without revealing your slot's username and password. Instead, custom usernames and passwords can be set for each friend or family member.

In this section, we'll be installing and setting up Userland ProFTPD into your slot. We'll also be teaching you how to manage and uninstall ProFTPD.

Acquire Absolute path for FTP Root Folder

You will need to find your absolute path to the folder you wish to use for other users. Navigate to the folder with cd ~/path/to/folder then run the command pwd -P Keep this path to one side as this is required for the FTP Root Folder Input during installation

Installation

• Connect to your service via SSH.
• Execute the following commands to download the script and make it executable.

wget https://scripts.ultra.cc/main/ProFTPD/proftpd-install.sh
chmod +x proftpd-install.sh

• Run the script by running the following

./proftpd-install.sh

• Then, you'll see the following output. Enter what is needed.

ultradocs@lw816:~$ ./proftpd-install.sh
Disclaimer: This installer is unofficial, and Ultra.cc staff will not support any issues with it
Type confirm if you wish to continue: confirm
FTP Root Folder: /home12/ultradocs/files
Installing ProFTPD...
Configuring Authentication...
Username: ultradocs
Password: ********
ftpasswd: using alternate file: /home12/ultradocs/.config/proftpd/proftpd.passwd
ftpasswd: creating passwd entry for user usbdocs
ftpasswd: entry created
Do you want to create another user? (y/n) n
Installing Service...
Configuring TLS...
Generating RSA private key, 1024 bit long modulus (2 primes)
...............+++++
.................+++++
e is 65537 (0x010001)
Signature ok
subject=C = NL, ST = NH, L = Amsterdam, O = Ultra, CN = chaos.usbx.me
Getting Private key
Starting ProFTPD...
Downloading Scripts...
Cleaning Up...
Done!
Access your ProFTPD installation at <ftp://chaos.usbx.me:32563>
Run ./proftpd-uninstall.sh to uninstall | Run ./proftpd-users.sh to manage users

Manage Users

• To manage users, run the following command

./proftpd-users.sh

• You should see the following output below. Follow the instructions shown.

ultradocs@lw816:~$ ./proftpd-users.sh
What do you want to do?
1) Create a user
2) Delete a user
3) Change a user's password
4) Exit
Select an option:

Set Permissions

• By default, ProFTPD will allow all created users access to the FTP root directory and all subdirectories.
• By setting up permissions, you can limit their access to only specific directories that you defined as their home.
• In ProFTPD, ~ is the FTP user's home directory. This can be different from your actual home directory.
• The following additional configuration will allow all FTP users full access to their FTP home directory.
• You can edit this by running your fave text editor nano .config/proftpd/proftpd.conf

<Directory ~>
    <Limit ALL>
        AllowAll
    </Limit>
</Directory>

• You may need to use your full home path for permissions to apply to do so navigate to the directory you wish to share with cd ~/path/to/folder then run the command pwd -P this will display a path similar to /home12/ultradocs/files
• You can change the limited commands by replacing ALL with specific commands or groups of commands as listed on ProFTPD's Limit documentation.
• You can also add subdirectories by copying the entire block and changing /home12/ultradocs/files> to /home12/ultradocs/files/directory> where the directory is the subdirectory you want to modify permissions.
• Shown here is a permissions example

# Permissions example
<Limit ALL>
    # Limit everything
    DenyAll
</Limit>

<Directory /home12/ultradocs/files>
    # Allow everyone inside this folder
    <Limit ALL>
        AllowAll
    </Limit>
</Directory>

<Directory /home12/ultradocs/files/test1>
    # Allow "test1" inside this folder and all other users will be denied
    <Limit ALL>
        Order Allow,Deny
        AllowUser test1
        Deny ALL
    </Limit>
</Directory>

• Restart ProFTPD for the configuration changes to take effect.

systemctl --user restart proftpd

Connection Example

Protocol: FTP - File Transfer Protocol
Host: server.usbx.me
Port: Provided by Install Script
Encryption: Require explicit FTP over TLS
User: As set by /proftpd-users.sh
Pass: /proftpd-users.sh

Update Expired Certificates

• First run the following commands, one line at a time, to stop Userland ProFTPD and backup your original certificates

systemctl --user stop proftpd.service

mkdir ~/.config/proftpd/old-cert-backup

mv ~/.config/proftpd/{server.crt,server.key} ~/.config/proftpd/old-cert-backup/

• Then run the following commands, one line at a time, to generate your new certificates

openssl genrsa -out ~/.config/proftpd/server.key 1024

openssl req -new -key ~/.config/proftpd/server.key -out ~/.config/proftpd/server.csr -subj "/C=NL/ST=NH/L=Amsterdam/O=Ultra/CN=$(hostname).usbx.me"

openssl x509 -req -days 365 -in ~/.config/proftpd/server.csr -signkey ~/.config/proftpd/server.key -out ~/.config/proftpd/server.crt

• Finally, restart your Userland ProFTPD with the following command.

systemctl --user start proftpd.service

If you require further assistance, you can open a support ticket here!

Feedback and suggestions regarding this article are welcome on our Discord server

• Userland ProFTPD
• Acquire Absolute path for FTP Root Folder
• Installation
• Manage Users
• Set Permissions
• Connection Example
• Update Expired Certificates