SFTP Services
SFTP Access Guide
This guide provides instructions on connecting to CS department SFTP servers using popular clients like WinSCP and MobaXterm on Windows, as well as command-line alternatives for Linux users. SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) allows you to securely transfer files to and from remote servers.
Connecting to SFTP
Connecting with WinSCP (Windows)
WinSCP is a popular free SFTP client for Windows.
Installation
- Download the latest version of WinSCP from the official website.
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup. Default installation options are usually fine.
Configuration and Usage
- Open WinSCP.
- If the "Login" dialog doesn't appear automatically, click on "New Session".
-
Enter the following details in the session configuration:
- File protocol:
SFTP
- Host name:
<your_cs_username>@<sftp_server_address>
- Port number:
22
(this is the default for SFTP and usually auto-fills) - User name:
<your_cs_username>
(this might auto-fill from the Host name)
Understanding Hostname and Username
- Replace
<your_cs_username>
with your actual CS student/faculty username (e.g.,jdoe123
). - Replace
<sftp_server_address>
with the URL or IP address of the specific CS server you need to connect to (e.g.,linux.cs.odu.edu
,webhost.cs.odu.edu
).
- File protocol:
-
You can click "Save" to store these session details for future use (recommended). Give the session a descriptive name.
- Click "Login" to connect. You may be prompted to accept the server's host key on the first connection; this is normal.
- Enter your CS account password when prompted.
File Operations
- WinSCP typically displays a two-pane view: your local computer's files on one side and the remote server's files on the other.
- Upload: Drag files from your local pane to the remote pane.
- Download: Drag files from the remote pane to your local pane.
- Right-click on files or folders for more options like Edit, Rename, Delete, or Create directory.
Connecting with MobaXterm (Windows)
MobaXterm is an enhanced terminal for Windows with built-in X11 server, tabbed SSH client, and network tools, including SFTP.
Installation
- Download MobaXterm (usually the "Home Edition" installer) from the official website.
- Run the installer and follow the setup steps.
Configuration and Usage
- Open MobaXterm.
- Start a new session: Click on "Session" (top-left button).
- In the "Session settings" window, select "SFTP" as the session type.
-
Enter the following connection details:
- Remote host:
<sftp_server_address>
- Specify username: Check this box and enter
<your_cs_username>
- Port:
22
Understanding Hostname and Username
- Replace
<your_cs_username>
with your actual CS student/faculty username. - Replace
<sftp_server_address>
with the URL or IP address of the specific CS server.
- Remote host:
-
Click "OK". You will be prompted for your password.
- You can save the password if MobaXterm prompts and you trust the security of your local machine.
File Operations
- Once connected, MobaXterm opens an SFTP browser in a sidebar or a dedicated tab.
- This graphical browser allows you to navigate your remote file system.
- Upload/Download: Drag-and-drop files between your local Windows Explorer and the MobaXterm SFTP browser. You can also right-click for upload/download options.
Connecting from Linux (Command Line)
For Linux systems, SFTP connections can be easily made using the built-in sftp
command-line utility. For a more integrated experience, sshfs
can mount the remote file system.
Using the sftp
Command
- Open a terminal window.
-
Execute the following command:
!!! tip "Username and Server Address"sftp <your_cs_username>@<sftp_server_address>
* Replace `<your_cs_username>` with your actual CS username. * Replace `<sftp_server_address>` with the server's URL or IP.
-
If it's your first time connecting to this server, you might be asked to verify the host key. Type
yes
and press Enter. - Enter your CS account password when prompted.
Basic sftp
Commands
Once connected, you'll be at an sftp>
prompt. Here are some common commands:
ls
: List files and directories on the remote server.lls
: List files and directories on your local machine.cd <directory>
: Change directory on the remote server.lcd <directory>
: Change directory on your local machine.get <remote_filename>
: Downloadremote_filename
to your current local directory.put <local_filename>
: Uploadlocal_filename
to your current remote directory.mkdir <directory_name>
: Create a new directory on the remote server.rm <filename>
: Delete a file on the remote server.help
: Display a list of available commands.exit
orquit
: Disconnect from the SFTP session.
Using sshfs
(Mounting Remote Filesystem)
sshfs
allows you to mount a remote filesystem via SSH, making it appear as a local directory.
- Installation (if not already installed):
sudo apt update # For Debian/Ubuntu sudo apt install sshfs # For other distributions, use their respective package manager (e.g., yum, dnf, pacman)
- Create a local mount point (an empty directory):
mkdir ~/remote_sftp_files
- Mount the remote filesystem:
sshfs <your_cs_username>@<sftp_server_address>:/path/to/remote/directory ~/remote_sftp_files
- Replace
/path/to/remote/directory
with the specific remote path you want to mount (e.g.,/home/<your_cs_username>
or simply:
for your home directory).
- Replace
- Now, you can access the remote files in
~/remote_sftp_files
using your regular file manager or command-line tools. - To unmount:
fusermount -u ~/remote_sftp_files
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
- Connection Timeouts:
- Verify the SFTP server address (
<sftp_server_address>
) is correct. - Ensure your internet connection is active.
- Check if a firewall (either on your local machine or network) is blocking outgoing connections on port
22
. - Confirm the SFTP server is online and accepting connections.
- Verify the SFTP server address (
- Permission Denied / Authentication Failed:
- Double-check that you are using the correct CS username and password. Passwords are case-sensitive.
- Ensure your account has SFTP access permissions on the server.
- If you recently changed your password, make sure you are using the new one.
- File Transfer Errors (e.g., "Permission denied" during upload/download):
- Verify you have read permissions for files you are trying to download from the server.
- Verify you have write permissions for the directory you are trying to upload to on the server.
- Check if there is sufficient disk space on both your local machine (for downloads) and the remote server (for uploads).
- Ensure file and directory paths are correct and do not contain invalid characters.
- Host Key Verification Failed:
- This can happen if the server's host key has changed (e.g., due to a server rebuild). If you are sure you are connecting to the correct server, you might need to remove the old host key from your client's known_hosts file.
- WinSCP: It usually prompts you with an option to update the key.
- Linux/macOS: The error message will often tell you the path to your
known_hosts
file and the line number to remove (e.g.,~/.ssh/known_hosts
).
- This can happen if the server's host key has changed (e.g., due to a server rebuild). If you are sure you are connecting to the correct server, you might need to remove the old host key from your client's known_hosts file.
Still Having Trouble?
If you continue to experience issues, please gather any error messages you see and contact CS Systems Support at root@cs.odu.edu
for assistance.