FTP server service on a host that comes with advanced web hosting package such as VPS (Virtual Private Server), VDS (Virtual Dedicated Server), hybrid server, or dedicated server, regardless of whether it’s powered by proftpd, vsftpd, or pure-ftpd, etc., usually been set up and configured by default to restrict and jail the FTP users to have only limited access to files and folders located within their own home directory. The restriction is set by chroot directive where FTP users are locked within chrooted folder, normally their home folder.

If FTP users need to access or change to another folders out of chrooted home directory, they have to be allowed to access other directories and files by disabling chroot control. Disable chroot will allow FTP users to break out the chroot to go to directory in different location.

To disable chroot cage for FTP users in their home directories, locate the chroot configuration in FTP server configuration file and set the value to “NO”. Some directive name and configuration file name with its location for common FTP server software is listed below.

Pure-FTPd: /etc/pure-ftpd.conf

ChrootEveryone=NO

ProFTPd: /etc/proftpd.conf

DefaultRoot ~ (delete this line)

VSFTPd: /etc/vsftpd.conf

chroot_local_user=NO

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