Connecting with SFTP (SSH FTP)
Another way to connect to a Linux VPS is with SFTP, or FTP-over-SSH, not to be confused with FTPS.
Because SFTP makes use of a graphical interface for viewing folders and folder trees, it is well-suited to transferring files to and from Linux VPS servers, without the need to install additional software like FTP.
Executing commands on the system does still require the use of a shell, however.
Some FTP/SFTP programs have shell terminals built-in as a "Launch Shell" utility.
You can use this method with most FTP client applications, including:
- FileZilla
- SmartFTP
- Transmit (OS X)
- Cyberduck
- WinSCP
Using your FTP client of choice, select SFTP as the connection type, and ensure the Port is set to 22.
The remaining information is the same as above: IP address, username, password.
You should now see the root folder of your VPS appear, just like when connecting via FTP.
When connecting to a VPS or dedicated server with SFTP, however, you will have access to the entire server.
Note: Be very careful when transferring and editing files with SFTP!
