I recently rented a RedHat Linux root server. I have been able to set up virtual domains (via PLESK) and I can access the server as client via FTP and shell (using PuTTy) to access the domains. I can also access the server as root through shell (using PuTTy).

But when I try to access the server as 'root' user via FTP my password (that I use to access the root account via PuTTy) is not authenticated. The root password was set up by the hosting company and I have not made any changes. I am puzzled as to why I can not access the server as 'root' via FTP i.e., why my root password is not authenticated.

I do not think it is a firewall issue as I can access the server from the same computer as a client to access the virtual domains.

Please help if I am missing anything.

Also, what is the alternative to FTP to upload files to the server root?

Logging into the FTP server as root may be disabled (security risk). You could upload as a normal user, then login (shell), su and do whatever.

As an alternative to ftp, you could use rsync+ssh, or even just scp.

Much appreciated. I have just also figured that FTP is disabled for root for security. I also discovered that I can use SFTP (using FileZilla) to log on as root without any problem. SFTP uses the Shell server and meant to be secure.

Good learning for me. Anyway, many thanks.

Never login remotely as root. Use ssh and setup and use sudo or su when necessary.

Many thanks.

I have one more question realted to MySQL and phpMyAdmin. My root server got PLESK installed and I expected to get PhpMyAdmin to be available from the PLESK interface under database web-adminstration tab but it is not. Then I checked whether phpMyAdmin is installed on the server or not and found it is in the folder usr/local/psa/admin/domain/database. I am puzzled why it is not available through the PLESK interface even though it is installed in my server root (which is usr/local/psa/admin).

Because PLESK has reconfigured all the files/folders (server root/document root etc) I am confused and do not know how to access phpMyadmin. Should I edit the phpMyadmin config file or edit some other file to make it availavle via PLESK.