5.4.1. Introduction¶

When launched, the server starts a series of file transfer services, using various file transfer protocols. It also starts the internal services used by all file transfer services; for example, the authentication service and the log service.

All services are executed under a single server process.

This page describes general server configuration options and options affecting all file transfer services.

You can access the section via the 'Server' page in Web Manager.

For text configuration, options affecting all services are grouped inside the server section.

Below is another sample for the server section as a text configuration:

[server]
uuid = 530019d0-92ce-11e2-9e96-0800200c9a66
name = Short_Name_For_Server
description = Long text describing the server
account = sftpplus
umask = 022
authentications = 0022b17a-30a0-4b70, ffa9-bd05-51c2-42f1

5.4.2. uuid¶

Default value:

single-server-uuid

Optional:

No

Values:

• An unique identifier among all servers active in a deployment

• Alphanumeric and dash ('-') character. No space characters.

From version:

2.0.0

Description:

The universally unique identifier (UUID) allows the server to be identified when multiple servers are active in the same deployment.

It can be any unique string, but we recommend using the UUID standard format.

When aggregating audit entries (logs) or authentication requests from multiple servers, the UUID is used to identify the source server.

UUIDs are intended to be used for low-level server implementations. For a human-readable name, please use the name attribute.

5.4.3. name¶

Default value:

single-server-name

Optional:

No

Values:

• Human-readable name for this server.

• This may be a fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

• Any text.

From version:

2.0.0

Description:

This is a human-readable companion for the UUID.

As long as the UUID is not changed, you can change the name at any time, and the server will still be recognized in a multiple deployment architecture.

5.4.4. description¶

Default value:

''

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• Free form text describing this server.

From version:

2.0.0

Description:

This can be used for any free form text attached to this server. It can include contact information about the system administrator, comments or other details specific to the installation.

5.4.5. account¶

Default value:

sftpplus

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• A user under which the server will operate.

• Empty

From version:

1.6.0

Description:

This is a system account used by the server to run its main operations with restricted privileges on Unix-like systems.

To disable running the server under a dedicated account leave this value empty.

5.4.6. umask¶

Default value:

022

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• Filemask in octal format.

From version:

1.7.0

Description:

User mask file permissions (filemask) used for creating new files and folders on the server.

When creating new files, the server will use the 0666 mode, masked with the value of umask.

When creating new folders, the server will use the 0777 mode, masked with the value of umask.

5.4.7. authentications¶

Default value:

DEFAULT-AUTHENTICATION

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• List of authentication UUIDs.

From version:

2.10.0

To version:

Description:

Comma-separated list of UUIDs with global authentication methods enabled on this server.

The list should be ordered by priority. The server will try to use the first authentication from the list, and continue with the next method if the user is not accepted.

When not present, it defaults to the SFTPPlus embedded authentication.

5.4.8. password_minimum_strength¶

Default value:

4

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

From version:

3.43.0

To version:

Description:

This defines the minimum strength element of the password policy applied when setting passwords through Web Manager.

This does not enforce the policy for already defined passwords or for passwords defined outside of SFTPPlus, such as OS passwords.

The available values are from 0 to 4 where 0 is a weak password while 4 is a password which is considered strong.

The following minimum lengths are defined for each strength level:

• 0 - no length limit.

• 1 - 4 characters

• 2 - 7 characters

• 3 - 9 characters

• 4 - 11 characters

5.4.9. password_minimum_length¶

Default value:

8

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• Number

From version:

3.43.0

To version:

Description:

This defines the minimum length element of the password policy applied when setting passwords through Web Manager.

This does not enforce the policy for already defined passwords or for passwords defined outside of SFTPPlus, such as OS passwords.

Set it to 0 to disable password length checking.

5.4.10. password_history¶

Default value:

8

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• Number

From version:

4.10.0

To version:

Description:

This defines the number of unique new passwords that must be associated with a user account before an old password can be reused.

Set it to 0 to disable the password history policy.

If password_history was previously enabled and is now disabled, updating the password for an account will clear the history of previously used passwords for that account.

5.4.11. password_hashing_scheme¶

Default value:

crypt-sha512

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• crypt-sha512

• crypt-sha256

• pbkdf2_sha512

• pbkdf2_sha256

From version:

3.51.0

To version:

Description:

This defines the function used to hash the passwords of the internal SFTPPlus user and administrator accounts. Not applicable for OS accounts.

The following hash functions are supported:

• crypt-sha512 - Unix Crypt SHA-512

• crypt-sha256 - Unix Crypt SHA-256

• pbkdf2-sha512 - RSA PKCS #5 based on SHA-512

• pbkdf2-sha256 - RSA PKCS #5 based on SHA-256

For more info see the dedicated Modular Crypt Password Hashing section from our Supported Cryptographic Standards documentation page.

5.4.12. ssl_certificate¶

Default value:

Empty

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• Absolute path on the local filesystem.

• Certificate in PEM text format.

• Certificate in PKCS12 / PXF binary format.

• Empty

From version:

1.6.0

Description:

Certificate or chain of certificates in Privacy-Enhanced Mail (PEM) format or an absolute path on the local filesystem for a file containing a certificate or a chain of certificates in PEM format to be used by default for TLS/SSL services.

File content must be encoded in the Privacy-Enhanced Mail (PEM) or the PKCS12 / PFX formats.

5.4.13. ssl_key¶

Default value:

Empty

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• Absolute path on the local filesystem.

• Key as PEM text format.

• Empty

From version:

4.0.0

Description:

X.509 private key in Privacy-Enhanced Mail (PEM) format or an absolute path on the local filesystem for a file containing a X.509 private key to be used by default for TLS/SSL services.

5.4.14. ssh_host_private_keys¶

Default value:

Empty

Optional:

Yes

Values:

• Absolute path on the local filesystem.

• Multiple absolute paths on the local filesystem, one per line.

• Text version of a SSH private key.

• Multiple concatenated SSH private keys in PEM format.

• Empty.

From version:

4.9.0

Description:

One or more SSH host private keys used by default for the SSH-based services (SFTP/SCP).

It can be one or more concatenated SSH private keys in PEM format.

For Putty keys, since they are not using a PEM format, only a single private key is supported. If you have to use multiple Putty keys here, convert them to a PEM format such as the OpenSSH one.

You can also configure it with one or more absolute paths on the local filesystem to files containing private SSH keys. One path per line.