Specifications
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Use this chapter to set up and manage FTP service in
Mac OS X Server.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a simple way for computers of any type to transfer les
over the Internet. Someone using a computer that supports FTP or an FTP client
application can connect to your FTP server and upload or download les, depending
on the permissions you set.
Most Internet browsers and a number of freeware and shareware applications can be
used to access your FTP server.
In Mac OS X Server, FTP service is based on the source code for Washington
University’s FTP server, known as “wu-FTPd.” However, the original source code has
been extensively modied to provide a better user experience. Some of the dierences
are described in the following sections.
A Secure FTP Environment
Most FTP servers restrict users to specic folders on the server. Users see content only
in these directories, so the server is kept quite secure. Users cannot access volumes
mounted outside the restricted folders, and symbolic links and aliases cannot reach
outside these boundaries.
In Mac OS X Server, FTP service expands the restricted environment to permit access to
symbolic links while still providing a secure FTP environment. You can permit FTP users
to have access to the FTP root folder, their home folder, or to any other folder on the
server that you set up as an FTP share point.
A user’s access to the FTP root folder, FTP share points, and his or her home folder
is determined by the user environment you specify (as described in the following
section) and by access privileges.
Note: FTP service enforces ACL permissions.
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Working with FTP Service