sFTP
Accessing your home directory via sFTP
sFTP, or secure FTP, is a program that uses SSH to transfer files. Unlike standard FTP, it encrypts both commands and data, preventing passwords and sensitive information from being transmitted in the clear over the network. It is functionally similar to FTP, but because it uses a different protocol, you can't use a standard FTP client to talk to an sFTP server, nor can you connect to an FTP server with a client that supports only sFTP.
The following tutorial should help you in using sFTP to connect to and from your HUBzero server(s).
Graphical Clients
Using graphical SFTP clients simplifies file transfers by allowing you to transmit files simply by dragging and dropping icons between windows. When you open the program, you will have to enter the name of the host (e.g., yourhub.org) and your HUB username and password.
Windows Clients
Mac OSX Clients
Command-line
You can use command line SFTP from your Unix account, or from your Mac OS X or Unix workstation. To start an SFTP session, at the command prompt, enter:
yourmachine:~ you$ sftp username@host yourmachine:~ you$ username@host password: host ~
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
cd |
Change the directory on the remote computer |
chmod |
Change the permissions of files on the remote computer |
chown |
Change the owner of files on the remote computer |
dir (or ls) |
List the files in the current directory on the remote computer |
exit (or quit) |
Close the connection to the remote computer and exit SFTP |
get |
Copy a file from the remote computer to the local computer |
help (or ?) |
Get help on the use of SFTP commands |
lcd |
Change the directory on the local computer |
lls |
See a list of the files in the current directory on the local computer |
lmkdir |
Create a directory on the local computer |
ln (or symlink) |
Create a symbolic link for a file on the remote computer |
lpwd |
Show the current directory (present working directory) on the local computer |
lumask |
Change the local umask value |
mkdir |
Create a directory on the remote computer |
put |
Copy a file from the local computer to the remote computer |
pwd |
Show the current directory (present working directory) on the remote computer |
rename |
Rename a file on the remote host |
rm |
Delete files from the remote computer |
rmdir |
Remove a directory on the remote host (the directory usually has to be empty) |
version |
Display the SFTP version |
! |
In Unix, exit to the shell prompt, where you can enter commands. Enter exit to get back to SFTP. If you follow ! with a command (e.g., !pwd), SFTP will execute the command without dropping you to the Unix prompt. |