Giving users access to your server via SFTP

Users may need to transfer files to and from your server over the Internet. You can enable this facility in a simple and secure way using SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). Setting this up does not require installing any software other than the SSH server, which you are most likely running anyway, to control your server remotely. All users who have access to SSH may also use SFTP client programs (such as Filezilla) to access your server.

In this recipe, we will set up an account for a user who will be able to transfer files to your server but will not have shell access to your system.

Getting ready

If you haven't installed the SSH server on your system yet, follow the Installing software packages recipe in Chapter 1, Setting Up Your System, to install the openssh-server package.

After installation, follow the Allowing access to a service through the firewall recipe from Chapter 3, Securing Your System, to unblock TCP port 22.

How to do it...

In order...