CompleteFTP Installation Guide for Debian

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing CompleteFTP on Debian-based distributions, including Debian, Ubuntu and its derivatives (like Linux Mint and Pop!_OS).

Step 1: Check if .NET is Already Installed

To check your installed .NET version, run:

dotnet --list-runtimes

If the output includes Microsoft.NETCore.App 6.0 or later, then you already have a compatible .NET version, and you can skip to Step 3.

If you attempt to check your .NET version and see an error like:

Error: [/usr/lib/dotnet/host/fxr] does not exist

it means that .NET is not installed or is incomplete. In this case, you should proceed to Step 2 to install the correct version.

Step 2: Install .NET

CompleteFTP supports .NET 6 or later. You can choose which version to install, but these instructions will guide you through installing the latest official version, as it includes the most up-to-date performance, security, and compatibility improvements while still being fully supported by Microsoft.

For Debian-Based Distributions (Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, etc.):

To find the correct package repository URL for your distribution and version, visit Microsoft's package repository and navigate by clicking on your distribution name and version number. Alternatively, refer to Microsoft's .NET Install Guide for Linux for additional details.

Once you have the correct URL, download and install the package using:

wget <repository-url> -O packages-microsoft-prod.deb
sudo dpkg -i packages-microsoft-prod.deb
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y dotnet-sdk-8.0 dotnet-runtime-8.0  # Replace '8.0' with the latest version from Microsoft's documentation

Verify .NET Installation

After installation, check again:

dotnet --list-runtimes

Ensure that Microsoft.NETCore.App X.x (or later) appears in the output. If using Debian, confirm that the package source is correct for your specific version.

Step 3: Install CompleteFTP

Run the following command to install CompleteFTP. Make sure you have downloaded the .deb package from the official source and navigate to the directory where it is stored before running the command:

sudo apt install ./completeftp_25.0.0_amd64.deb

CompleteFTP and all necessary dependencies will be installed automatically.

Once installed, the CompleteFTP service should start automatically.

Step 4: Verify the Service

Check that CompleteFTP is running:

sudo systemctl status completeftp

If it is inactive, start it manually:

sudo systemctl start completeftp

Step 5: Add Your User to the completeftp Group

To manage CompleteFTP via the command line, add yourself to the completeftp group. This step grants your user the necessary permissions to interact with the CompleteFTP server, allowing you to manage users, sites, and configurations without requiring root access.

sudo usermod -aG completeftp $(whoami)

Log Out and Log Back In

For the changes to take effect, log out and back in. Then confirm:

groups

Ensure completeftp appears in the list.

Step 6: Test CompleteFTP

Once logged back in, try:

completeftp user list

If it outputs a list of users, everything is set up correctly.

Managing CompleteFTP

Starting and Stopping the Service

  • Check the status: 
    sudo systemctl status completeftp
  • Restart the service: 
    sudo systemctl restart completeftp
  • Stop the service: 
    sudo systemctl stop completeftp

Common Commands

  • View available commands: 
    completeftp --help
  • Manage users: 
    completeftp user list
completeftp user add <username>
completeftp user remove <username>
  • Manage sites: 
    completeftp site list
  • Check logs: 
    sudo journalctl -u completeftp --no-pager

Step 7: Next Steps

After installation, refer to the Quick Tour to begin configuring and testing your CompleteFTP server. This guide will walk you through adding users, testing connections, and exploring key features.

Troubleshooting

Issue Solution
CompleteFTP installation fails due to missing dependencies Run sudo apt update && sudo apt install -f
Error: [/usr/lib/dotnet/host/fxr] does not exist This means .NET is not installed or incomplete. Install the correct version by following Step 2.
CompleteFTP requires .NET 6, but I installed .NET 8 Ensure dotnet --list-runtimes shows .NET 8, then try installing again
"Can't reach CompleteFTP. Ensure that the current user is a member of the group, completeftp" Run sudo usermod -aG completeftp $(whoami), then log out and log back in
CompleteFTP service is not running Start it manually with sudo systemctl start completeftp
Need to reinstall CompleteFTP Uninstall with sudo apt remove completeftp and reinstall

Summary

  1. Check if .NET 6 or later is already installed.
  2. If needed, install .NET (this guide covers .NET 8).
  3. Install CompleteFTP, which will start automatically.
  4. Ensure the service is running.
  5. Add your user to the **completeftp**** group.**
  6. Log out and back in before using the CLI.

This guide ensures a smooth installation and management experience for CompleteFTP on Ubuntu. 🚀