How to Run an SFTP Server on GhostBSD XFCE

Here’s a quick guide to get an SFTP server up and running on GhostBSD.

Step 1: Install OpenSSH Server

OpenSSH is the software package that provides the SFTP service. It’s usually installed by default, but to be sure, I run:

sudo pkg install openssh-portable

Once installed, I start the SSH service so the PC can accept SFTP connections:

sudo service sshd start

Optional: To have it start automatically at boot:

sudo sysrc sshd_enable="YES"

Step 2: Find A Computer’s IP Address

To connect from my other devices, I need the IP address of your GhostBSD machine on your local network. To see it, run:

ifconfig

The IP address under the network interface used is (usually something like 192.168.x.x).

Step 3: Connect from a Linux Computer (Gnome)

My laptop runs CachyOS Gnome which lets me access my other computers via the file browser > Networks. In Gnome Files, I enter:

sftp://username@192.168.x.x

Replace username with your GhostBSD login name and 192.168.x.x with the IP address you found earlier.

Step 4: Accessing my Mac with the Thunar File Manager

Unfortunately, macOS no longer includes built-in SFTP server functionality, which means I can’t connect to my Mac using SFTP. However, both my Linux laptop and GhostBSD PC can still access the Mac via SFTP because they run their own servers and macOS still supports SFTP clients.

Here are the steps:

• Open Thunar.

• In the address bar, type: sftp://username@192.168.x.x

• A popup window will ask for the password.
  Remember that this is the password from the computer I want to access.

• Once authenticated, you’ll see your remote files and can copy paste as needed.

Final Note: Check Your Firewall Settings

For SFTP file transfers to work, your GhostBSD machine must allow incoming connections on port 22, which is the default port used by SSH and SFTP. If this port is blocked by your firewall, other computers won’t be able to connect.

If you’re unsure how to configure your firewall, refer to the GhostBSD Firewall tutorial for step-by-step guidance.