ftpusers(5)

💖 ftpusers — the "bestie you're NOT getting in" list 💖

okay so real talk, this is the ftpusers(5) page, aka a File Formats Manual entry, and it's genuinely one of the cutest little files on your whole system. it's giving bouncer-at-the-club energy. let's get into it 🫶

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✨ NAME ✨

ftpusers — the list of users that may not log in via the FTP daemon 🚫

like. that's it. that's the whole vibe. a lil text file with a guest list of people who are not getting past the rope. 💅

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

so, the text file ftpusers contains a list of users that may not log in using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server daemon. and bestie, this file is used not merely for system administration purposes but also for improving security within a TCP/IP networked environment. it's doing double duty and it ate. 🔥

the ftpusers file will typically contain a list of the users that either have no business using ftp or have too many privileges to be allowed to log in through the FTP server daemon. these are the VIPs you do not want wandering into the FTP door, no cap.

such users usually include:

• root
• daemon
• bin
• uucp
• news

periodt. those five are the classic suspects. 🙈

heads up! if your FTP server daemon doesn't use ftpusers, then it is suggested that you read its documentation to find out how to block access for certain users. don't just assume the file is doing something — go check, fr fr. 📖

and for the record, these two are known to make use of ftpusers:

• Washington University FTP server Daemon (wuftpd)
• Professional FTP Daemon (proftpd)

iconic behavior from both of them honestly. 👑

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🎀 Format 🎀

the format of ftpusers is very simple and honestly that's the beauty of it. there is one account name (or username) per line. that's the whole format. one per line, bestie, no commas, no drama.

and lines starting with a # are ignored — so go ahead and leave yourself little notes, they're just chillin' there unread by the daemon. ✨

# one account name (or username) per line
root
daemon
bin
uucp
news

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🦋 FILES 🦋

• /etc/ftpusers — the file itself, right where you'd expect her 🏠

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

• passwd(5)
• proftpd(8)
• wuftpd(8)

go read those next, iykyk. they're all part of the same little ecosystem and they all slay in their own way. 💜

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and that's the page!! this one comes to you from Linux man-pages 6.20, dated 2026-02-08 — so like, fresh, current, and still out here protecting your FTP daemon. stay safe, keep your ftpusers tight, and never let root through the FTP door bestie, not even once. mwah 💋🌸