The Tool Desk
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What an FTP client actually does
The word “FTP client” describes the local application, not the server and not the protocol by itself. The client presents your local files on one side of its window and the remote server’s files on the other. You can then transfer, rename, move, delete, download, or—in clients that support it—edit remote files.
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cPanel’s FTP documentation describes a third-party client as a separate program that connects to an FTP server using a protocol, server name, username, password, and usually port 21. The same basic idea applies to a game server, although the host may provide SFTP instead of FTP and may use a non-standard port.
The client does not run your game server. It only manages the files that the server process reads. A changed configuration may require a restart before the running process notices it, and an uploaded plugin or mod may require a particular folder and a matching game version.
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FTP, FTPS, and SFTP: choose the right protocol
These names are easy to confuse. They describe different protocols and security models, so selecting the wrong one can produce a failed login even when the host, username, and password are correct.
| Protocol | Normal port | Encryption | Connection behavior | When it fits a game server |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTP | 21 for commands; active mode commonly uses 20 for data | None; credentials and file contents travel in clear text | Uses a command connection plus a separate data connection | Only when the host offers no encrypted alternative and the network is trusted |
| FTPS (explicit TLS) | Usually 21 | TLS encrypts the session after the client requests protection | Retains FTP’s separate data-connection design | Use when the provider specifically supplies FTPS and its certificate/settings |
| FTPS (implicit TLS) | Usually 990 | TLS is required from the beginning | FTP with encrypted command and data channels | Use only when the host documents implicit FTPS |
| SFTP | Normally 22; some game hosts use another SSH port, such as 2022 | Encrypted by SSH, including authentication and file data | One encrypted connection; no FTP data-port negotiation | Preferred whenever the host gives you SSH/SFTP access |
SFTP is not “FTP over SSH.” cPanel’s July 8, 2026 documentation identifies it as a separate protocol that provides FTP-like file access through an SSH connection. FileZilla’s protocol guidance likewise distinguishes SFTP’s single encrypted connection from FTP’s unencrypted command and data channels.
Use SFTP when SSH access is supplied. If a host supports only FTP but offers TLS, use FTPS. Avoid plain FTP on public Wi-Fi, shared networks, or any route where someone could capture traffic.
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Open your game-hosting control panel and locate the file-transfer or SFTP section. Copy the values exactly rather than guessing from the public game address. A game connection address and a file-transfer address can be different, and the file-transfer port may not be the familiar port used by players.
- Host or IP address: the hostname or numerical address supplied for file access.
- Port: normally 22 for SFTP, 21 for FTP or explicit FTPS, 990 for implicit FTPS, or a provider-specific value such as 2022.
- Username: use the SFTP/SSH account shown by the panel. An FTP-only account cannot authenticate to SFTP; cPanel explicitly documents that limitation.
- Password or private key: some hosts use a password, some require an SSH key, and some allow either. Download or copy a private key only through the provider’s documented process.
- Protocol and security mode: select SFTP, FTPS, or FTP exactly as the host states.
- Remote directory, if supplied: many panels open you directly in the server’s working directory, while others place you one level above it.
Keep credentials out of screenshots, chat messages, and public bug reports. If the panel offers a way to create a separate file-transfer user, give it only the permissions needed for the task.
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How to connect with an SFTP client
FileZilla is cross-platform; WinSCP is commonly used on Windows; Cyberduck is available for desktop systems. All three can work with SFTP when the host enables SSH access. The labels differ slightly, but the values are the same.
1. Install and open the client
Install the client from its official distribution channel, then open its site manager or connection dialog. Avoid entering credentials into an FTP profile when your host gave you SFTP details; the protocol selector must read SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol.
2. Create a saved connection
- Choose SFTP as the protocol.
- Enter the host or IP from the hosting dashboard.
- Enter the supplied SSH/SFTP port. Use 22 only when the provider says 22; a panel-specific port such as 2022 is valid when documented.
- Enter the SFTP username.
- Select password authentication and enter the password, or select key-based authentication and browse to the private-key file.
- Save the profile only if the computer is private and protected by an operating-system login.
3. Verify the host key
On the first connection, the client normally displays an SSH host key or fingerprint. Confirm it against the value supplied by the host or administrator before accepting it. This check helps prevent you from encrypting a session with an impostor server. If a previously trusted server suddenly presents a different key, stop and ask the provider to explain the change instead of blindly accepting it.
4. Confirm that the remote directory is correct
After login, the window usually shows a local pane and a remote pane. Look for the directory that contains the game’s configuration or startup files. In a common container-style layout, the working directory may be /home/container/, with entries such as server.properties, plugins/, mods/, world/, logs/, and backups/. Your provider or game may use a different path; do not create a second copy of a folder simply because the first one is unfamiliar.
5. Transfer a file or folder
Drag an item from the local pane to the intended remote folder, or use the client’s upload command. For a download, select the remote item and choose the local destination. Watch the transfer queue until it reports success. A visible filename in the remote pane does not prove that a transfer finished; interrupted uploads can leave incomplete files.
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6. Apply and test the change
Many settings are read only at startup. Stop or restart the server through the hosting panel when the game requires it, then inspect the server log for parse errors, missing dependencies, or permission failures. Join the game and test the exact feature you changed before making additional edits.
Where common game-server files belong
Exact paths vary by game, image, panel, and startup command. Treat the following as a navigation guide, not a universal layout.
| Item | Typical purpose | Safe handling |
|---|---|---|
Configuration files, such as server.properties |
Ports, world settings, difficulty, access rules, and other startup options | Download a copy first; preserve the filename and syntax; restart only after saving a valid file |
plugins/ |
Server-side extensions for games that support plugin platforms | Match the plugin to the server software and game version; upload only the required file |
mods/ |
Mod files and, in some setups, mod configuration | Check client/server compatibility and the loader’s expected directory |
world/ or a game-specific world directory |
Saved map, player, and world state | Stop the server before replacing it; keep an offline backup |
logs/ |
Startup, runtime, and crash information | Download relevant logs for diagnosis; do not delete the only copy before reviewing it |
backups/ |
Archives created by the panel or by your own process | Verify that an archive opens and contains the expected files; store an additional copy elsewhere |
Connecting when the host provides only FTP or FTPS
Choose the protocol named by the provider. An SFTP profile will not work against an FTP endpoint, and an FTP profile cannot use an SSH-only endpoint.
Plain FTP
Set the protocol to FTP and use the supplied port, commonly 21. Plain FTP sends the username, password, commands, and file data without encryption. Use it only for a controlled, trusted network and only when no encrypted option exists. Never assume that changing the port makes FTP secure.
Explicit FTPS
Select FTP with explicit TLS (the wording varies by client). The session normally begins on port 21 and then negotiates encryption. The server may ask you to accept a TLS certificate; verify that it belongs to the expected host. FTPS still uses FTP’s separate command and data connections, so firewall settings matter.
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Implicit FTPS
Select implicit TLS only when the host specifically says so, usually with port 990. Do not switch to 990 merely because port 21 failed; that changes the protocol and will not repair an incorrect account or hostname.
Why FTP logs in but shows no files
FTP negotiates two connections: a command connection and a separate data connection. In active mode, the server attempts to open the data connection back to the client. Network address translation and firewalls often block that incoming connection. Passive mode lets the client initiate both connections, which is generally more reliable behind a router.
Enable passive mode
- Open the client’s connection settings for the FTP site.
- Find Transfer mode, FTP mode, or a similarly named option.
- Select Passive rather than Active.
- Reconnect and retry a directory listing or a small file transfer.
cPanel documents 49152–65534 as the default passive range for its Pure-FTPd and ProFTPD configurations, but an administrator can change that range. The host must allow the selected range through its firewall and advertise the correct external address. If passive mode still hangs, ask support which range and external address the server uses; changing random client ports cannot fix a server-side firewall rule.
Troubleshooting common connection failures
“Connection refused” or a timeout
- Recheck the hostname and port copied from the panel.
- Confirm that the server is running and that file access is enabled.
- Make sure you selected SFTP, FTPS, or FTP exactly as documented.
- Try from a different network only as a diagnostic; a successful test elsewhere points to a local firewall, VPN, router, or corporate network restriction.
- Ask the host whether your IP address is blocked after repeated failed logins.
“Authentication failed”
- Check capitalization and trailing spaces in the username.
- Reset the file-transfer password in the hosting panel rather than reusing the game-panel password.
- For SFTP, verify that the account is an SSH/SFTP account, not an FTP-only account.
- For key authentication, confirm that the client is using the correct private key and that the provider has the matching public key.
Login succeeds, but the directory is empty or wrong
You may be in the account’s home directory rather than the game’s working directory, or the account may lack permission to view the server files. Use the path supplied by the host and check whether the panel starts the server from a different directory. Do not upload a second configuration file until you know which path the startup command reads.
Directory listing or transfers freeze
For FTP or FTPS, switch to passive mode and verify the host’s passive port range. For SFTP, a freeze usually points to a network interruption, an SSH access rule, or a server resource problem rather than FTP data-port negotiation. Retry with a small file and inspect the client’s detailed log.
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“Permission denied” while uploading, deleting, or editing
The account may be read-only, the target directory may belong to a different service user, or the host may intentionally block changes while the server is running. Use the panel’s file manager or request the required permission from the provider. Do not change broad permissions recursively unless the host gives a precise command and explains the consequences.
The upload completes but the game ignores it
Check the remote path, filename extension, capitalization, archive structure, and game/server version. Then restart if that file is read at startup and inspect the log for a parse error or dependency failure. A successful transfer confirms only that bytes reached the server; it does not confirm that the game can load them.
The host-key warning appears again
A legitimate migration or operating-system rebuild can change a host key, but an unexpected change can also indicate interception. Compare the new fingerprint with the provider’s notice or support response. Remove the old saved key only after the change is verified.
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Game worlds and configuration files can be difficult or impossible to reconstruct after an accidental overwrite. Download the existing data before replacing or deleting anything, and keep an additional copy on an external USB SSD or hard drive when the backup matters.
- Stop the server before copying a live world or database when the game’s documentation recommends it; otherwise files may change during the transfer.
- Download the complete world directory, configuration files, plugin or mod folders, and any database files that the game uses.
- Use a dated local folder and record the server version, mod loader, and configuration change.
- Open an archive or inspect the downloaded directory to verify that it contains expected files rather than an empty folder.
- Keep at least one copy outside the hosting account. A backup stored on the same server can disappear with the original.
- After uploading a replacement, retain the previous version until the server has started and a real in-game test has passed.
File-transfer habits that prevent avoidable damage
- Use temporary names for large replacements: upload the new archive beside the old one, verify its size, then replace the live file during a maintenance window.
- Preserve names and extensions: changing capitalization or turning a text file into
.txtcan make a game ignore it. - Transfer folders deliberately: some clients merge a local folder into a remote folder, while others create an extra nested directory. Check the resulting tree.
- Watch the queue: resolve failed or skipped items before disconnecting, especially when uploading many mods.
- Limit simultaneous transfers: a host with limited CPU, storage I/O, or bandwidth may be more reliable with a small queue.
- Do not expose credentials: remove passwords from saved profiles on shared computers and revoke keys or reset passwords when staff access changes.
When the control panel is better than an FTP client
Use the hosting panel for routine actions it already handles safely: starting and stopping the server, changing resource limits, creating scheduled backups, viewing a live console, and editing a single supported setting. Use SFTP when you need bulk uploads, recursive downloads, local editing, migration of a world, or access to logs and folders the panel does not expose.
A client also gives you a local copy that can be searched, versioned, compressed, or scanned before upload. The trade-off is that it gives you direct access to files the panel may protect with validation. If you are unsure which file controls a setting, identify the startup command and consult the game’s documentation before editing.
Quick Recap
A repeatable workflow for updates and migrations
- Plan the change: identify the game version, server software, plugin or mod version, and the exact files involved.
- Schedule downtime: notify players and stop the server if the world or database must be consistent.
- Back up: download the current world, configuration, plugins or mods, and logs; verify the backup.
- Connect securely: use SFTP on the documented SSH port, verify the host key, and navigate to the real working directory.
- Upload and compare: transfer the new files, confirm names and sizes, and avoid leaving duplicate nested folders.
- Restart and read logs: look for version mismatches, syntax errors, missing libraries, or permission messages.
- Test in-game: connect as a player, exercise the changed feature, and confirm that the world loads correctly.
- Retain the rollback copy: keep the previous files until the update has remained stable through normal play.
Key points to remember
- An FTP client is the local file-management application; FTP, FTPS, and SFTP are different connection protocols.
- SFTP is a separate SSH protocol, not FTP over SSH, and normally uses port 22 or a provider-specific SSH port.
- Plain FTP encrypts nothing. Use SFTP whenever the game host offers it, or FTPS when TLS-protected FTP is the only encrypted option.
- FTP’s separate data connection explains why passive mode often fixes successful logins followed by stalled listings or transfers.
- Back up worlds and configurations before overwriting or deleting them, and keep one backup outside the hosting account.
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