Read only ftp

[jimmyc]

New to this and hoping someone can help... I have read the posts to do with the loss of anonymous ftp access, but would like to have a read-only ftp folder for photo downloads - is this possible? And if so, how do I do it?

Thanks
Jim

[eukrobert]

Hello Jim,

You can change permissions using FTP software such as CuteFTP, Fetch or Transmit. There is no facility on Internet Explorer to change permissions.

Using your FTP software locate the file or folder you want to modify and navigate to the "File Properties" or "File Info" - whatever your software calls it. You should see a window something like:



To make this folder read only uncheck the group write permission (or change the Octal value to 755). The folder remains writable by admin but becomes read-only to other users.

The procedure to make files read only is similar, the Octal value for a read-only file is 644.

And don't forget you need to do the same for any further files you add or sub-folders you make.

Hope this helps ya Jim,

Many Thanks,

Robert

[jc8654]

Hi Jim,
What I would suggest is to set up the seperate FTP account as outlined in the other articles. Then you can either:
1) Use file manager in cPanel and set the permissions of the folder (right click on it and chose 'Change Permissions') so there are no 'write' options enabled.
2) Use an ftp client to login to the server with your main account and change the permissions to that folder.

Hope that's useful, particularly if you want to do it all through an internet browser.

[jimmyc]

Hi Guys
Thanks for the prompt replies. I had already tried something similar and have now played with what you have suggested for the files rather than the folder (for the moment). All the files have permissions set as -r--r--r-- or 444 and are owned by admin, but if I log in to ftp through Filezilla as an 'ordinary user' I can still delete them... does the permission have to be set on the folder?

I am beginning to wonder if the 'ordinary user' is somehow part of the admin group, but why can I still delete the file if it's read-only for everyone?

[jc8654]

I set the permission on the folder and it seemed to work so I suggest you try that.

[jimmyc]

Hi jc - thanks but... now tried it and can still delete.

What I've tried is:
public_ftp folder as set up by default and with an ftp account using Filezilla I can upload, change permissions and delete. All files are auto flagged as owner/group admin. Changing file permissions within cPanel does not stop me from subsequently deleting using the ftp account. Adding a folder via cPanel under public_ftp with permission 744 still allows me to add, change permsissions and delete files (and the folder) from the ftp account.

folder under public_html with permissions 755, as above.

Am I missing something obvious?

[jc8654]

Ignore the public_ftp and just make the public_html folder have the rights to read only and try that...

[jimmyc]

OK - jc I will try that this evening, but how would I then upload my website hosting files via ftp...?

[jc8654]

Hi Jim,
I'm just trying to see if we can get the directory to be read-only initially and then we'll go from there.

[jimmyc]

OK - sorry!
I have set public_html to 0744 from 0750, after adding a test download folder. All permissions under the public folder default to 0000. Have set up ftp to the test folder and I get a pass on the connection but Error: Could not connect to server. Changing the permissions on test folder to 0444 make no difference...

[jc8654]

Hi Jim,
Sorry for the slow reply! Lots of things to do yesterday.

I've just tried to do things myself and this seems to work....

If you set up the user you want to have access and create them a subfolder with access. This can be done in cPanel. Now, in cPanel, you can go to 'File Manager' and then right click on this folder. Remove all write permissions (the permissions I set were 555) and then try from there. Obviously to check, you're probably best adding a file to the folder before setting the permissions and then you can see if you can read the files but not modify them. If you do want to make any changes, will have to make the user have 'write' permission but you can then set them back to 555 once you're done. And all of that can be done through cPanel if you want to.

Hope that all makes sense.

[jimmyc]

Hi jc - please don't apologise... thank you for your help!

I've done this and it seems to work now - I really don't understand why it didn't before but hey, it does now! I suppose the really useful way would be to have permissions on the user so that one could upload and others could only download, but I guess that's not available...?

Thanks again for your help and patience!

Jim

[jc8654]

I don't think that's available... It's sort of an all or nothing when it comes to ftp write permissions!

[DPS Computing]

I don't think you can do that - I think the closest that you get to that is that you can set "World" permissions (ie everyone inc anonymous) and "User" permissions. But user permissions would apply to every user - not just specfic ones.

[jimmyc]

Hi Guys,

Thanks again. I know folder permissions can be set for users on a Linux network but I don't suppose that works on a hosted, shared Internet server.

But what I've got (with your help) will certainly do, as changes to the download files aren't made that often.

Best regards,
Jim

[DPS Computing]

You can set folder permissions on Linux shared hosting through the File Manager in cPanel.

Hope that helps .

[Jimmy123]

Hi DPS Computing,

What is the linux shared hosting kindly described.

[jc8654]

Linux shared hosting is when a server running linux acts as a webserver, holding many separate users accounts, each hosting one or more website hostings. Each individual user is unaware of the other users on the server. It is idea for a small website hosting and requires minimum technical knowledge as all issues are dealt with by your provider itself.