Once your Azure VM has been deployed there are some post configuration steps to complete to start using this FTP Server

Login

Login using the credentials that were supplied during the VM creation

Launch Filezilla Server Instance

Launch the Filezilla server instance app, found on the desktop.  On the launch screen press connect as shown below (password is blank):

Passive Mode

You should now be connected. You may see connection errors and NAT errors, this is normal as we need to complete some configuration.  From the menu select

> Edit > Settings > Passive Mode Settings

You’ll need to set a passive mode port range. Usually (50000-51000). These ports are used for data transfers to the server.

Set Public IP Address

For this next part you’ll need to make sure the VM has a public IP address to allow external clients to connect as shown in yellow. 

To attach a public IP address to your VM, follow Microsoft’s guide

Once you have a public IP address associated with the NIC on your azure VM, add the ip address to the passive mode settings as shown below highlighted in yellow and also the passive port range:

Create Certificate (FTP over TLS)

The next step is to create a new private key and a self signed certificate, needed by FileZilla server to accept TLS connections. 

Within the FileZilla server options, click on SSL/TLS settings.  Check the Enable FTP over TLS support (FTPS).

Next click on Generate New Certificate > Fill in your company information.

IMPORTANT – In the common name (Server address) field make sure to add the public DNS name of your Azure VM.  This can be found in the azure portal, as highlighted in yellow:

Save the key locally on the server and then press Generate certificate.  No need to add a password.

Setup Users

There are 2 options:

1. Create local users and assign access 
2. Integrate Active Directory and allow users to use thier domain logins to authenticate

Option 1 (Local Users)

To setup local users and give access to directories locally on your server navigate to Edit > Users

Here you can add users and generate their passwords.

Then give the users access to your local folders you would like them to have access to.  The VM has a pre-configured folder on the C:\FTPDirectory that can be used or you can setup as many folders as you like.  Groups can also be setup and permissions applied at a group level.

Option 2 (Active Directory Integrated)

Open settings > LDAP and select enable LDAP support. Beta.

Add your private ip address of your local domain controller. Add port 389 and write the name of your domain name.

Select Enable TLS/SSL

Next you need to add the users who need access to your FTP directories. 

Select Edit > Users and here you’ll need to add the users full UPN that they use to logon to AD, for example if their name is jsmith@yourdomain.com or yourdomain\jsmith we need to make sure we add this so it matches their login UPN jsmith@yourdomain.com. We don’t need to add their password here as it authenticates against Active Directory, so make sure the password checkbox is unchecked.

Next check the boxes LOCAL and LDAP as in the screenshot below.

In the screenshot below i’ve added a test user from our AD called ftpuser and our AD domain is called yourdomain.com

Next is to assign these users to your FTP directories they need access to. Click on Shared Folders within the Users menu and add the local folders and assign permissions they need:

Now would be a good time to test if you can connect using an FTP client.  If you can’t connect, try the next step and to configure any NSG / Firewall rules.

Configure NSG Rules / Firewall Rules

If you have NSG’s or firewall appliances in Azure you will need to open access to the following ports:

• Port: 21 (Used for FTP)
• Port: 990 (Used for FTPS)
• Port: 14147 (Used for FTP Server Administration)
• Passive Port Range: 50000 – 51000 (Used for data transfer)

Client FTP Software

To allow clients to connect, users can use any FTP client.  You can use FileZillas FTP Client

Support

For issues regarding setup of this solution, leave a message in the comments below 

If you would like to use our managed azure service and let us take care of managing your VMs, get in contact with us

Want some help (hire us)?

If you would like us to implement this FTP server solution into your environment and fully configure it and get it up and running, get in contact with us and we will get you up and running asap