Installing and setting up vsftpd in linux as a server #ftp #sftp #ftps

on

04-03-2026
You want a proper FTP server on Kali Linux. The most stable and widely used one is vsftpd (Very Secure FTP Daemon). I’ll give you the clean, correct setup used in real environments.

1. Install FTP Server

Update packages first.

sudo apt update

Install vsftpd

sudo apt install vsftpd -y

Check if it installed:

vsftpd -v

2. Start and Enable FTP Service

Start service:

sudo systemctl start vsftpd

Enable at boot:

sudo systemctl enable vsftpd

Check status:

sudo systemctl status vsftpd

If running correctly you will see active (running).

3. Backup Config (always do this)

sudo cp /etc/vsftpd.conf /etc/vsftpd.conf.backup

4. Edit FTP Configuration

Open config file:

sudo nano /etc/vsftpd.conf

Find and set these values.

Allow local users

local_enable=YES

Allow uploads

write_enable=YES

Chroot users to their home directory (security)

chroot_local_user=YES

Allow write inside chroot

Add this line at bottom:

allow_writeable_chroot=YES

Enable passive mode (important for internet access)

Add:

pasv_enable=YES
pasv_min_port=40000
pasv_max_port=40100

Save and exit.

CTRL + X
Y
Enter

5. Restart FTP Server

sudo systemctl restart vsftpd

6. Create FTP User

Never use root for FTP.

Create user:

sudo adduser ftpuser

Example

Username: ftpuser
Password: ********

This user’s FTP folder will be:

/home/ftpuser

7. Allow FTP through Firewall (if enabled)

Check firewall:

sudo ufw status

If active allow FTP:

sudo ufw allow 21/tcp
sudo ufw allow 40000:40100/tcp

8. Find Server IP

ip a

Example:

192.168.1.50

9. Connect to FTP

From another Linux machine

ftp 192.168.1.50

Login:

username: ftpuser
password: ****

Commands inside FTP:

ls
put file.txt
get file.txt
bye

From Windows

Open File Explorer

ftp://192.168.1.50

Enter username and password.

10. Test Upload

Upload file:

put test.txt

Check on server:

/home/ftpuser

What Most Beginners Do Wrong

They:

• forget passive ports
• use root account
• don’t enable write access
• don’t open firewall ports

Then FTP “works but doesn't transfer files”.

If You Want a Hacker / Networking Lab Setup

You should also learn:

  1. Anonymous FTP
  2. FTP brute forcing
  3. FTP misconfigurations
  4. FTP bounce attack
  5. FTPS vs SFTP difference
  6. Packet capture of FTP authentication

These are things real pentesters actually study.

If you want, I can also show you:

"How hackers exploit badly configured FTP servers (real attack techniques)".

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