CompleteFTP Linux User Guide

Welcome to the CompleteFTP Linux User Guide! This guide will help you install, configure, and use CompleteFTP on Linux systems through its powerful command-line interface.

What is CompleteFTP?

CompleteFTP is a secure, high-performance file transfer server that supports multiple protocols including FTP, FTPS, SFTP, SCP, HTTP, and HTTPS. The Linux version is administered through a comprehensive CLI, making it ideal for server environments and automation. Remote GUI administration via CompleteFTP Manager on Windows is also available for users who prefer graphical interfaces.

Who This Guide Is For

This guide is designed for:

  • System administrators setting up file transfer services
  • Early adopters evaluating CompleteFTP for Linux
  • IT professionals migrating from other FTP servers
  • DevOps engineers implementing automated file transfer solutions
  • Linux users familiar with command-line tools

What You'll Learn

By following this guide, you'll learn how to:

  • Install CompleteFTP on various Linux distributions
  • Configure secure file transfer protocols (SFTP, FTPS, HTTPS)
  • Create and manage users and groups
  • Set up virtual file systems with flexible folder mappings
  • Implement SSL/TLS certificates for secure connections
  • Configure SSH key authentication
  • Manage licenses and activations
  • Troubleshoot common issues

Prerequisites

Before starting, you should have:

  • A Linux server with root/sudo access
  • Basic familiarity with Linux command line
  • Network connectivity for package installation
  • Understanding of file transfer protocols (helpful but not required)

Guide Overview and Table of Contents

This guide is structured to help you get started quickly or dive deep, depending on your needs.

  • For Impatient Users: Go to Installation and Setup, follow the Quick Start Guide, and then return to other chapters as needed.
  • For Thorough Users: Read this introduction completely, then work through chapters 1-9 in order.

Use the table of contents below to jump directly to the section you need.

Essential Setup

  • Chapter 1: Installation and Setup

    • Supported Linux distributions
    • Package installation (.deb and .rpm)
    • Service configuration
    • Initial testing and troubleshooting

  • Chapter 2: Quick Start Guide

    • Create your first user
    • Set up basic folder structure
    • Test FTP, SFTP, and HTTPS connections
    • Basic security configuration

  • Chapter 3: Site Configuration

    • Essential protocol setup (FTP, SFTP, HTTPS)
    • Port configuration
    • Basic security settings
    • Common site configurations

Core Configuration

Security and Licensing

  • Chapter 7: Keys and Certificates

    • SSH key generation and management
    • SSL/TLS certificate setup (self-signed, Let's Encrypt)
    • Enabling secure protocols (FTPS, HTTPS)
    • Key-based authentication

  • Chapter 8: License Management

    • License types and editions
    • Online and offline activation
    • License viewing and management
    • Troubleshooting activation issues

Advanced Topics

Appendices

Using This Guide

Command Conventions

Commands are presented in code blocks. Lines starting with # are comments.

# This is a command with explanation
completeftp user add myuser

Important notes are highlighted to explain key concepts or warnings.

Testing Your Progress

Each chapter includes testing steps to verify your configuration works correctly. Commands can be tested in real-time using the completeftp CLI.

Getting Help

Built-in Help

The completeftp CLI has comprehensive built-in help.

# General help
completeftp --help

# Command-specific help
completeftp user --help
completeftp user add --help

Additional Resources

  • CLI Reference: Complete command documentation is available in LinuxCLI.md.
  • Support: Contact EnterpriseDT support for technical assistance.
  • Community: Join discussions and share experiences with other users.

Beyond This Guide: Advanced Features

While this guide covers the essentials for getting started, CompleteFTP offers a wide range of enterprise features that are also available via the CLI, including:

  • Advanced Authentication: LDAP, SAML SSO, database authentication, two-factor authentication
  • Cloud Storage Integration: Amazon S3, Azure, and other cloud backends
  • Web Features: Full file manager interface, custom web applications, file sharing
  • Enterprise Security: Advanced IP filtering, client certificates, encryption at rest
  • Automation & Events: Email notifications, process triggers, scheduled tasks, scripting
  • Clustering & HA: Multi-server clusters, load balancing, disaster recovery
  • Monitoring & Reporting: Advanced logging, analytics, performance monitoring
  • Extensibility: Custom .NET extensions, JavaScript server-side programming

For detailed information on these advanced features, see Advanced Features Overview or consult the Windows User Guide for conceptual guidance.

Support and Feedback

Getting Support

  • Documentation Issues: Report problems with this guide.
  • Product Support: Contact EnterpriseDT for technical assistance.
  • Feature Requests: Suggest improvements and new features.

Contributing

Help improve this guide by reporting errors, suggesting examples, or sharing your use cases.

Ready to get started? Proceed to Chapter 1: Installation and Setup to begin your CompleteFTP journey!