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Introduction

Pure FTPd (also known as Pure FTP) is a free, secure, and reliable FTP server that focuses on efficiency and ease of use.

In this tutorial, we’ll go step by step to show beginners how to install Pure-FTPd, perform the initial setup, and configure it properly on CentOS 7.

What is Pure FTPd?

Pure FTPd is a lightweight FTP server that supports modern features without unnecessary complexity. It is widely used for personal projects and hosting environments because it is:

Free & secure (BSD license)
Beginner-friendly
Easy to configure with simple options
Supports virtual users and chroot for security

If you are looking for a stable and simple FTP solution, Pure-FTPd is a great choice.

How to Set Up Pure FTPd on CentOS？

Step 1: Download Pure FTPd

First, we need to download the latest version of Pure FTPd.

wget https://download.pureftpd.org/pub/pure-ftpd/releases/pure-ftpd-1.0.47.tar.bz2
tar -xvjf pure-ftpd-1.0.47.tar.bz2
cd pure-ftpd-1.0.47

Step 2: Install Pure FTPd with All Options

Now, configure and compile the installation.

./configure --prefix=/usr/local/pure-ftpd/ --with-everything
make
make install

This installs Pure-FTPd in /usr/local/pure-ftpd/.

Step 3: Pure FTPd Configuration File

Change into the configuration directory:

cd /usr/local/pure-ftpd/etc/
vi pure-ftpd.conf

Update these settings:

ChrootEveryone     yes
NoAnonymous        yes
UnixAuthentication no
PureDB             /usr/local/pure-ftpd/etc/pureftpd.pdb

Make sure the PureDB path matches your installation.

Step 4: Update Environment Path

Add Pure-FTPd binary to your PATH:

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/pure-ftpd/bin

Step 5: Create FTP User and Group

groupadd ftpgroup
useradd ftpuser -g ftpgroup -d /dev/null -s /sbin/nologin

This ensures FTP users are separated from system users.

Step 6: Create a Virtual User

Create a directory for your site:

mkdir -p /var/www/site1
chown ftpuser:ftpgroup /var/www/site1 -R

Add a virtual FTP user:

pure-pw useradd user1 -u ftpuser -g ftpgroup -d /var/www/site1 -m

Build the PureDB database:

pure-pw mkdb

Check the user details:

pure-pw show user1

Step 7: Open Firewall Ports

To allow FTP traffic:

firewall-cmd --add-port=21/tcp
firewall-cmd --add-port=30000-50000/tcp
firewall-cmd --list-ports

Step 8: Pure FTPd Setup Finished

Finally, start the FTP server:

/usr/local/pure-ftpd/sbin/pure-ftpd -j -lpuredb:/usr/local/pure-ftpd/etc/pureftpd.pdb &

Step 9: Done! Test Your FTP Server

Your Pure FTP server is now running. You can connect using your favorite FTP client (like FileZilla) with the virtual user you created.

Conclusion

Setting up Pure FTPd on CentOS 7 is straightforward, even for beginners.

You have learned how to:

Download Pure-FTPd
Install and configure Pure FTP
Create virtual users
Set up firewall rules
Start the Pure FTP server

With this Pure FTPd setup, you now have a secure and efficient FTP solution ready for use.

Keywords:

ftp user, ftp users

Outline

How to Install Pure FTPd on CentOS 7