SSH and FTP for Remote Administration

Overview

• Topic: SSH (Secure Shell) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
• Purpose: Enable remote administration of Linux servers without physical access.

SSH (Secure Shell)

Definition

• SSH allows remote command line access to a server through a terminal emulator.

Requirements

• Installation: SSH server must be installed on the Linux server.
  • Command: sudo apt-get install ssh
• Firewall Configuration: Ensure that port 22 (default for SSH) is open.
  • Command to check UFW status: sudo ufw status

Usage

1. Terminal Emulator: Use a terminal emulator (e.g., PuTTY, iPhone apps) for connection.
2. Connection Process:
   • Enter the server's IP address (e.g., 10.1.10.12).
   • Log in with username and password.
3. Commands: Execute any command as if directly in front of the server.
   • Example Commands: top, apt-get, cd, mkdir, ls

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

Definition

• FTP is used for uploading and downloading files to/from the server.

Requirements

• Installation: Install VSFTPD (Very Secure FTP Daemon).
  • Command: sudo apt-get install vsftpd
• Configuration: Edit the configuration file to enable uploads and local user access.
  • Configuration file: /etc/vsftpd.conf
  • Key settings to uncomment:
    • local_enable=YES (allows local users to log in)
    • write_enable=YES (allows users to upload files)
• Restart Service: After making changes, restart the FTP service.
  • Command: sudo service vsftpd restart

FTP Client Connection

• Use any FTP client (e.g., FileZilla, Qt FTP) to access the server.
• Connection Steps:
  1. Enter the server IP address and user credentials.
  2. Navigate directories to upload/download files.

Security Considerations

• Create user accounts for specific access to restrict directories (e.g., set an employee's home directory to /var/www for web server access).
• Ensure appropriate firewall rules are in place to open necessary ports (e.g., port 22 for SSH, port 21 for FTP).

Summary

• SSH: Install using sudo apt-get install ssh, ensure port 22 is open, and use a terminal emulator.
• FTP: Install using sudo apt-get install vsftpd, configure access in /etc/vsftpd.conf, and use any FTP client to connect.

Conclusion

• Understanding SSH and FTP is crucial for effective remote server administration.
• SSH is for command line access, while FTP is for file management.