Setting Up FTP / SFTP

admin

There are a number of scenarios which might necessitate placing files directly onto your server space rather than going through an application like WordPress or Omeka. For example:

  • You’re working with an application that allows you to install plugins/extensions, but the files need to be manually moved to the server in order to add them. (Note: This is NOT required with WordPress which allows you to install plugins through your WP Dashboard while in your browser.)
  • You’ve developed a custom site with pages, styling, and/or scripts using a web design or coding program. Those files you created need to live and run on the server.
  • You’re installing an application that isn’t part of the applications in Installatron.

One way to upload files is by using the File Manager that is part of cPanel. However, sometimes you’ll find it necessary or simply easier to use FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to move files to the server. This can be particularly useful if you’re working with a website where more users than just the owner will be working with the file structure. Only the owner has access to the File Manager in the site’s cPanel, so the owner would need to grant separate file management access to any other users.

What exactly is FTP?

File Transfer Protocol is a method that allows you to remotely move files to a web server from another location – usually your local/personal computer. Using a pre-defined FTP account (which gives you a username and password to connect with), you can configure your FTP client (a program you run on your computer that allows you to transfer files via FTP) of choice.

There are lots of FTP clients that you can use; some are free and some are not. A couple of free, cross-platform options are:

FTP vs. SFTP: Which should you use?

SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) should be used whenever possible in order to safeguard your credentials. FTP sends your access credentials and the data you’re transferring to the server in plain text, which makes that information vulnerable to network sniffing. You should always use SFTP and connect on port 22 for your special cPanel account (discussed more in the section below).

However, any additional FTP accounts that you create will only be able to connect via FTP on port 21. For these accounts, it’s important to ensure that you don’t reuse a password from another site and that you grant the accounts only as much access to your server as absolutely necessary to accomplish the task you need them for.

Your special cPanel FTP account

When you sign up for Emerson.build, you receive a special FTP account that has full privileges to access any space on your web server. This account’s username corresponds to your cPanel username and, depending on when you signed up for build, you may have been assigned a pre-generated password.

Due to the high-level of access this account has, please follow the following precautions when using it:

  1. Do not share this account’s credentials with anyone else.
  2. Always use SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) while connecting with this account in your FTP client.
Setting / resetting your cPanel account FTP password

When you first sign up for Emerson.build, you will need to set the password for your special FTP account. The steps for setting the password for the first time are the same as those to reset a forgotten password.

Note: if you signed up for Emerson.build prior to February 2019, you received a welcome email containing the connection information for your special FTP account, including your account’s password. These credentials will still work. If you no longer have this email saved and have forgotten the account’s credentials, please follow the steps below to set a new one.

  1. Login to your Emerson.build cPanel.
  2. In the black Admin bar at the top of the window, hover over “Manage Your Account“.
  3. Click “FTP Information”
Admin bar of the Emerson.build Dashboard, with Manage Your Account menu open to show FTP Information link
  1. Under the “FTP Connection Settings” section, enter your desired password into the “Set Password” field.
  2. Click “Save“.

Getting the required information for your FTP client

Whether you’re connecting to your own server space or setting up an FTP account for someone else to use to connect to your space, you’ll need the same sorts of information to configure an FTP client (username, password, hostname).

Using your special cPanel FTP account
  1. Login to your Emerson.build cPanel.
  2. In the black Admin bar at the top of the window, hover over “Manage Your Account“.
  3. Click “FTP Information“.
  4. The information you’ll need is listed under “FTP Connection Settings“.
Creating a new, additional FTP account
  1. Login to your Emerson.build cPanel.
  2. Under the “Add FTP Account” heading, enter the following:
    • The new account’s username in the “Log In” box.
    • A password for the account in both Password fields.
      • Alternatively, click the “Password Generator” button to have one generated for you.
      • The “Strength” line will indicate how secure the password you’ve entered is. 
      • Note: you will need to save this password somewhere secure. If you lose the password in the future, you will need to set a new one from this page.
    • By default, the new FTP account will have limited access only to a directory with the same name as the account you’re creating.
      • You can change this to a different directory, if you want to grant this account access to a different location.
    • You can enter a quota limit for this account or leave it as the default (unlimited). You can change this at any time after the account’s been created.
  3. Click “Create FTP Account” when you’re done.
  4. You’ll see the new account appear in the list under the “FTP Accounts” heading.

Note: If you set this account up to provide access to someone else, you will need to send them the username, password, and server information.

Using an additional FTP account

After an FTP account has been created, you can find the connection information by following the instructions below:

  1. Login to your Emerson.build cPanel.
  2. Click “FTP Accounts” under the “Files” section.
  3. Scroll to the “FTP Accounts” heading.
  4. Click “Configure FTP Client” to get the username and server information for the account.
    • If you need to set a new password, you can do so on this screen.
    • Alternatively, if an FTP account is no longer needed, you have the option to delete it.

Configure FTP in Your FTP Client

Below are links to tutorials for setting up both FileZilla and CyberDuck to connect to your FTP account. If you’re using a different client, please check that client’s documentation site.