How do I set up SFTP for my website?
How to connect via SFTP using your DirectAdmin credentials for secure website file access.
SFTP lets you upload and manage website files securely over SSH. It encrypts your connection and is faster than FTP—see Why is SFTP more secure and faster than FTP? for details.
PlanetNode uses OpenSSH for SFTP (not ProFTPD). You connect with your main DirectAdmin account—the same username and password you use to log in to DirectAdmin.
Connection details
- Host: Your domain (e.g.
yourdomain.com) or the server hostname from your welcome email - Protocol: SFTP
- Port: 22
- Username: Your DirectAdmin username
- Password: Your DirectAdmin password
INFO
Use the same credentials as for DirectAdmin. No separate SFTP account is needed. SSH keys are supported for passwordless login—see How do I add SSH keys to my account?.
Path to your website files
After connecting, navigate to domains/yourdomain.com/public_html to manage your main website files. Your home directory is the starting point.
Recommended SFTP clients
- FileZilla (Windows, macOS, Linux) — filezilla-project.org
- Cyberduck (Windows, macOS) — cyberduck.io
- WinSCP (Windows) — winscp.net
When configuring your client, select SFTP (not FTP) as the protocol and port 22.
FTP vs SFTP
FTP accounts are created in DirectAdmin under FTP Management and work with ProFTPD (port 21) only. SFTP runs on OpenSSH (port 22) and uses your main account—no setup in FTP Management is needed.