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To set up an SFTP server on Ubuntu, install OpenSSH Server, confirm its SFTP subsystem is enabled, and configure accounts in /etc/ssh/sshd_config or an included snippet. To make an account SFTP-only, use an appropriate Match rule with ForceCommand internal-sftp; add ChrootDirectory only if the user must be confined to a filesystem subtree. Validate the configuration with sudo sshd -t before restarting the SSH service.
How do I set up an SFTP server on Linux?
The commands below are for Ubuntu. Other Linux distributions may use different packages, service names, firewall tools, or configuration defaults. OpenSSH includes the SFTP subsystem, so a separate SFTP-server product is not required.
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- Install the server package. On Ubuntu, run
sudo apt install openssh-server. This installs the SSH daemon and server components;openssh-clientis for client applications. See the Ubuntu OpenSSH server guide. - Choose where to configure sshd. Edit
/etc/ssh/sshd_configor create a configuration snippet under/etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/. Ubuntu’s main file includes snippets near the beginning, and for most directives OpenSSH uses the first value set. Check the existing configuration before adding a directive; placing a second value later may not override the first. - Check the SFTP subsystem. The
Subsystemdirective can runsftp-serveror useinternal-sftp. The latter runs inside sshd and can simplify a chrooted configuration. Avoid adding a duplicate subsystem directive without checking what is already set. - Create a dedicated account and grant only needed access. Follow your local account and group policy; the Ubuntu documentation does not prescribe one universal user-creation command. Give the account access to only the directories and files required for its transfer workflow.
- Validate before restarting. Run
sudo sshd -t. If it reports an error, fix the configuration before proceeding. - Restart and test. On Ubuntu, restart with
sudo systemctl restart ssh.service. From a client, connect with SFTP using the server address and intended account, then verify authentication and the files the account can access. If administering the server remotely, test from a separate session and keep the working administrative session open until the new connection succeeds.
A bad sshd change can prevent the service from starting or lock out an administrator whose only access is SSH. Keep another way to reach the machine, or retain the current working session while validating and testing. Ubuntu’s guidance on configuration, validation, and restart is in its OpenSSH server guide.
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Use a Match rule for the intended account or group and force the SFTP subsystem with ForceCommand internal-sftp. A restricted account does not need shell access for file transfers. The exact matching condition should reflect your account policy, and the rule must be checked against the existing configuration because OpenSSH’s first-value behavior applies to most directives.
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If the user only needs file-transfer access but does not need to be confined to a subtree, forcing SFTP may be sufficient. If the account must not see files outside a designated filesystem area, configure ChrootDirectory in the relevant match rule as well. These are distinct controls: SFTP-only blocks the normal shell session, while a chroot limits the filesystem view.
Meet the chroot ownership requirements
OpenSSH checks the chroot path strictly. Every directory component in the ChrootDirectory path must be owned by root and must not be writable by other users or groups. The surrounding hierarchy must also not be modifiable by processes outside the jail. If the account needs to upload files, make a suitable directory inside the chroot writable by that account rather than making the chroot root itself writable.
With internal-sftp, a transfer-only chroot does not need an interactive shell or its support files. Some operating systems may still require /dev/log inside the chroot when SFTP logging is used. Consult the Ubuntu Noble sshd_config manual for the documented chroot requirements and subsystem behavior.
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Should you use sftp-server or internal-sftp?
| Option | How it works | When it may fit |
|---|---|---|
sftp-server |
The SFTP subsystem invokes the server program. | Use it when the existing configuration or operational setup is built around the separate server program. |
internal-sftp |
The SFTP implementation runs in the sshd process. | It can simplify a chrooted, transfer-only setup because a separate program and shell support files are not needed inside the jail. |
Both implement the SFTP subsystem. The OpenSSH manual describes the in-process implementation and its chroot use; it does not establish one choice as best for every server.
Choose the account scope before configuring it
| Configuration choice | Shell access | Filesystem scope | Operational consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic SFTP account | Depends on the account and sshd policy; SFTP is available through the configured subsystem. | Normal filesystem permissions determine access. | Grant access only to the transfer directories the workflow requires. |
| SFTP-only account | Disabled for the matched account by forcing internal-sftp. |
Normal filesystem permissions still apply unless a chroot is added. | Match the rule narrowly to the intended user or group. |
| SFTP-only account in a chroot | Disabled for the matched account. | Confined to the configured chroot subtree. | Maintain root ownership and non-writable permissions across every chroot path component; account for logging needs if enabled. |
The choice depends on whether the user needs a shell, whether a filesystem boundary is required, whether the chroot permissions can be maintained, and whether logging inside the chroot is needed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Set up key-based authentication
Ubuntu recommends Ed25519 keys, noting their shorter key size and lower computational requirements. Generate a key pair on the connecting client with ssh-keygen -t ed25519. The public key is the file ending in .pub; place it in the target account’s ~/.ssh/authorized_keys. Keep the private key on the client, and consider protecting it with a passphrase. Follow the account’s ownership and permission policy so sshd will accept the authorized key.
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The Ubuntu Noble manual lists StrictModes yes as the default for checking ownership and modes on user files and home directories. Chroot path checks are separate. The same manual lists PermitRootLogin prohibit-password and port 22 as defaults; these values are specific to that manual version and do not guarantee the effective settings on another distribution or a locally changed host.
Use port and access controls as part of a larger policy
Changing the SSH port is not a substitute for strong authentication, least-privilege accounts, software updates, or an appropriate network policy. The documented default port is not a security recommendation. Before exposing a server beyond a trusted network, decide which clients should be able to reach it and apply the host’s firewall and network controls using instructions appropriate to the distribution and environment.
Quick Recap
Configuration checks before you finish
- Confirm the intended subsystem is configured and there is no conflicting earlier directive.
- For SFTP-only access, scope the
Matchrule to the intended users or group and force the SFTP subsystem. - If using a chroot, verify root ownership and non-writable permissions for every path component, then test that the user can write only where intended.
- Run
sudo sshd -tbefore restarting the service. - Test a fresh SFTP connection and its permitted file access before ending a remote administrative session.
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