Creating FTP Users in Virtualmin and Configuring Folder Access

Prerequisites

• Virtualmin Access: Administrative access to the Virtualmin panel.
• FTP Server Configured: Virtualmin typically uses ProFTPD or vsftpd. Ensure it’s installed and running.
• Domain Configured: The domain/website must be set up in Virtualmin.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Log in to Virtualmin

Access the Virtualmin panel with admin credentials and select the desired domain from the dropdown menu in the top-left corner. Check ACCESS section of the desired domain.

2. Create an FTP User

1. Go to the Users Section:
   • In the sidebar, click Edit Users or Edit Mail/FTP Users (depending on your Virtualmin version).
2. Add a New User:
   • Click Add a User.
   • Fill in the details:
     • Username: FTP user’s name (e.g., ftpuser1).
     • Password: Set a strong password.
     • Home Directory: Specify the folder (e.g., /home/domain/public_html/ftpuser1). Virtualmin can create it if it doesn’t exist.
     • Quota: Set a storage limit if needed.
     • Enable FTP Access: Check this option.
   • Leave other settings as default unless specific configurations are needed.
3. Save:
   • Click Create to finalize.

3. Configure Access to Specific Folders

By default, the user is restricted to the Home Directory. To customize access:

1. Edit the User:
   • Go to Edit Users, select the user, and click Edit.
   • Change the Home Directory if needed.
2. Folder Permissions:
   • Use the File Manager in Virtualmin:
   • Navigate to the folder (e.g., /home/domain/public_html/ftpuser1).
   • Right-click and select File Permissions.
   • Set the owner to the FTP user (e.g., ftpuser1) and adjust permissions (e.g., 700 for exclusive access).
3. Restrict Access:
   • Ensure the FTP server uses chroot to lock the user to their home directory.
   • Check in Webmin > Servers > ProFTPD > Files and Directories and enable chroot jail.

4. Test FTP Access

1. Use an FTP client like FileZilla or WinSCP.
2. Configure the connection:
   • Host: Server IP or domain (e.g., yourdomain.com).
   • Username: The created user (e.g., ftpuser1).
   • Password: The set password.
   • Port: 21 (default for FTP).
3. Connect and verify access is limited to the configured folder.

5. Create Multiple Users with Access to Different Folders

Repeat the process for each user, changing:

• The username (e.g., ftpuser2).
• The home directory (e.g., /home/domain/public_html/ftpuser2).
• Folder permissions to ensure exclusive access.

For further assistance, consult Virtualmin documentation or contact support.