FTP overview and credentials

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a network protocol used to upload website data from your local computer to your web server so it appears online.

This article explains how to locate your credentials and log into your server using an SFTP client.

Difference between FTP and SFTP

FTP is an old protocol that IS NOT SECURE. It uses port #21.

SFTP is the newer protocol that IS SECURE. It uses port #22.

The FTP term

FTP is an old term that's still commonly used to reference transferring data to your server. However, since it's not secure, it should never be used. Only SFTP connections should be used when connecting to your server.

New users created at DreamHost are automatically created as SFTP users, so there's nothing you need to adjust. You should just understand that when you see the term FTP, it's most often referencing SFTP (which is the secure option).

Prerequisites

Add hosting

Make sure that you have added hosting to your domain in your DreamHost panel. This assigns it the credentials you need to log into your server.

Choose an FTP client

This article uses the FTP client Filezilla to illustrate examples. You can use any client you like to log into your server as the settings are the same.

You will need the following information to log into your web server:

• Server/Hostname
• Username
• Password
• Port

There are two hostnames you can use to log into your DreamHost server.

• The site name — You can use your site name to log in to your server, but only if the DNS is already pointing to DreamHost
• The server name — You can always use your server name to log in to your server, even if the DNS is not pointed to DreamHost yet.

Option 1 — Use your site name

If you have added hosting to your domain and the domain's DNS is set up to point to your hosting at DreamHost, you may use your domain's name as the SFTP hostname. For example, if your website is named https://www.example.com just use example.com.

Here is what it would look like in Filezilla:

Option 2 — Use the server name

If you have added hosting to your site, but have not pointed your DNS to DreamHost yet, you can still connect to the server using the server's hostname.

The server URL is the name of your server followed by .dreamhost.com.

1. Navigate to the Manage Websites page.
2. Click the Manage button to open the Manage Websites page, which allows you to adjust various settings for your site.
   • If in Grid view, click the Manage button at the bottom of the website box.
   • If in List view, click the Manage button at the far right of your domain name.

   

3. When the Manage Websites page opens, select the Hosting tab.

Your hosting plan and Machine (server) name is listed at the top. In this example, the server is named philip-livingston, so the server address would be philip-livingston.dreamhost.com. This is how it would appear in Filezilla.

1. Navigate to the Manage Websites page.
2. Click the Manage button to open the Manage Websites page, which allows you to adjust various settings for your site.
   • If in Grid view, click the Manage button at the bottom of the website box.
   • If in List view, click the Manage button at the far right of your domain name.

   

3. Click Show Login Info under the Manage Files section to view the Username field.

Here is what the username would look like in Filezilla:

Locating the user's password

The password was originally created when the username was created. If you do not remember this password, you can reset it.

To change your user's password in the panel:

1. Navigate to the Manage Websites page.
2. Click the Manage button to open the Manage Websites page, which allows you to adjust various settings for your site.
   • If in Grid view, click the Manage button at the bottom of the website box.
   • If in List view, click the Manage button at the far right of your domain name.
3. Click Show Login Info under the Manage Files section to view the user settings.

   

4. Click the Reset Password link.

   The following dialog box appears, prompting you to enter a password:

   

5. Enter a password and click the Reset Password button to reset the password.

   If the password you entered is found in the haveibeenpwned database, the following message appears:

   

   

   You must enter a new password before proceeding. See Have I been pwned for more information.

6. If necessary, enter a new password.

   The following progress bar appears:

   

   When the password is successfully updated, the following message appears:

   

7. Enter the password into your FTP client.

   

As explained above, port #22 is the only port # you should use to connect since this uses SFTP.

Enter port 22 into your FTP client.

Finally, click Quickconnect to log into your server:

View the following article for further details on the difference between FTP and SFTP and how to secure your username.

• FTP security

Once you're logged in you'll see several files and folders. View the following article for instructions on where to upload your site files:

• Where do I upload my site files?

When you originally log into a DreamHost server, you may see the following warning:

The server's host key is unknown. You have no guarantee that the server is the computer you think it is.

View the following article for further information on how to confirm the key values you're seeing and log into your server:

• 'The server's host key is unknown' warning

Multiple failed FTP or SSH connection attempts may result in the server temporarily blocking your IP. This block will eventually be lifted automatically, but if you need it removed sooner, please contact support.