Important Pure-FTPd command line options

Pure-FTPd is a free, secure, production-quality, and standard-compliant FTP server. It supports a wide array of features and configurations. Below are some of the most important command-line options for running and managing Pure-FTPd:

Starting and Stopping the Server

• -l: Specify the list of authentication methods (e.g., pam, puredb, mysql).

  pure-ftpd -l pam

• -A: Enables automatic creation of user directories.

  pure-ftpd -A

• -d: Enable debugging mode for verbose output, useful for troubleshooting.

  pure-ftpd -d

• -E: Disable anonymous logins.

  pure-ftpd -E

• -e: Redirect logs to the syslog.

  pure-ftpd -e

• -F: Run in the foreground (do not daemonize).

  pure-ftpd -F

• -h: Show the help message with available options.

  pure-ftpd -h

• -k: Enable FTP over SSL/TLS.

  pure-ftpd -k

• -P: Specify the public IP address for the server. Useful for NAT configurations.

  pure-ftpd -P 203.0.113.1

• -p: Define the port or port range for the FTP service.

  pure-ftpd -p 21

• -r: Enable support for IPv6.

  pure-ftpd -r

• -s: Enable the use of a chroot environment for users. This restricts them to their home directories.

  pure-ftpd -s

• -T: Enable a custom banner for the FTP server.

  pure-ftpd -T "Welcome to Pure-FTPd!"

• -x: Disable IP spoofing protection.

  pure-ftpd -x

• -Y: Enable support for FTP over TLS/SSL.

  pure-ftpd -Y

• -y: Disable support for FTP over TLS/SSL.

  pure-ftpd -y

Configuration Files

• /etc/pure-ftpd/pure-ftpd.conf: The primary configuration file for Pure-FTPd where most server settings are defined.

Examples

• Run Pure-FTPd with SSL/TLS Support and in Debug Mode:

  pure-ftpd -k -d

• Run Pure-FTPd in Foreground with Specified Port and Public IP:

  pure-ftpd -F -p 21 -P 203.0.113.1

• Start Pure-FTPd with Chroot Environment and Disable Anonymous Logins:

  pure-ftpd -s -E

Summary

Pure-FTPd offers a variety of command-line options to configure its behavior and features. From enabling SSL/TLS encryption to setting up IPv6 support and controlling the FTP service's behavior, these options allow for fine-tuned management of the FTP server. For production use, it's crucial to configure Pure-FTPd according to your specific needs and security requirements.