sftp configuration step-by-step procedures?

[dvrman123]

We are trying to set up a number of Solaris, Linux, UnixWare and HPUX servers with sftp servers to support secure file transfer out of these servers. What are the step-by-step procedures to configure the sftp servers? For example, what do I need to do to enable sftp? do I need t install any keys on the servers? do I just need a regular unix login/password or do I need something special for authentication? are there any difference among the different unix flavors? it is expected that custom sftp clients will be developed. Are there anything special to set up on the client side? Thanks.

[cazzypooh]

SFTP is typically run over SSH protocol so you need to configure and enable sshd (ssh daemon) on the UNIX servers. Typically, on most UNIX flavors, the configuration files are located at /etc/ssh. The file you need to configure is ssh_config. The keys and such for the sshd should have been already generated for the host (depending on the flavor, most Linux distributions do this automatically at install time). All you need to do is simply enable the sshd at the appropriate runlevel. How to enable the sshd varies depending on the flavor of UNIX, under Linux, there are tons of runlevel script editors available, like ksysv. Last but not least make sure the port configured (default is 22) is not filtered by any iptable filter or other firewall that you run.

You should be able to use your UNIX login to use all of these services like SFTP, SSH, SCP etc., once the sshd is up and running.

HTH
Cazzy