Introduction

ProFTPD is a highly configurable and secure FTP server that supports various authentication methods and features, including TLS/SSL encryption. This guide will walk you through the installation and configuration of ProFTPD with TLS/SSL on Ubuntu 22.04, which can be efficiently hosted on a Windows VPS UK for secure file transfers.

Prerequisites

• An Ubuntu 22.04 server with root access
• Basic knowledge of Linux commands

Step 1: Update Your System

Begin by updating your package index and upgrading existing packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install ProFTPD

Install ProFTPD along with the TLS module using the following command:

sudo apt install proftpd proftpd-mod-crypto -y

During installation, you may be prompted to choose the server type. Select standalone.

Step 3: Configure ProFTPD

Edit the ProFTPD configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf

Make the following changes or ensure they are present in the file:

ServerName "ProFTPD"
ServerType standalone
DefaultServer on

  TLSEngine on
  TLSLog /var/log/proftpd/tls.log
  TLSProtocol TLSv1.2
  TLSCipherSuite HIGH:!aNULL:!MD5
  TLSOptions NoSessionReuse
  TLSVerifyClient off
  TLSRSACertificateFile /etc/ssl/certs/proftpd.pem
  TLSRSACertificateKeyFile /etc/ssl/private/proftpd.key

Save and close the file.

Step 4: Create SSL Certificates

Create a directory to store your SSL certificates:

sudo mkdir /etc/ssl/private

Generate a self-signed certificate (you will need to provide some information during the process):

sudo openssl req -new -x509 -days 365 -nodes -out /etc/ssl/certs/proftpd.pem -keyout /etc/ssl/private/proftpd.key

Step 5: Configure Firewall

If you have a firewall enabled, ensure that it allows FTP traffic:

sudo ufw allow 21/tcp
sudo ufw allow 40000:50000/tcp

Reload the firewall rules:

sudo ufw reload

Step 6: Restart ProFTPD

Restart the ProFTPD service to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart proftpd

Enable ProFTPD to start on boot:

sudo systemctl enable proftpd

Step 7: Test the FTP Server

Use an FTP client to connect to your server. Make sure to select the option for using TLS/SSL. The server address will be your server's IP address, and you will need to enter the username and password you have set up on your system.

Step 8: Conclusion

You have successfully installed and configured ProFTPD with TLS/SSL on Ubuntu 22.04, providing a secure FTP solution for your file transfers. This setup can greatly benefit from being hosted on a Windows VPS. For additional options, explore various VPS UK Windows solutions, including Windows Virtual Private Server Hosting and Windows VPS Hosting UK for optimal performance.