ftp over ssh

roopakl · 09-19-2013, 10:48 PM

Hi All,
I have a small doubt, do we need to buy any license to configure SFTP(i.e just editing /etc/ssh/sshd_config file and adding the entries for SFTP)?
Is it not free to configure and use?
Because I had configured SFTP locally and also using since couple of months without any issues. But one of our manager said, we need buy license for this.
I asked him what type of license and from where we need to buy. He didn't say anything.
So please can anyone clarrifiy whether do we really need to buy any license for this and from where and why.

evo2 · 09-19-2013, 11:26 PM

Hi,

it's likely that your manager is a complete ignoramus.

Presumably you are using the openssh-server package for sftp on Ubuntu. If so, the licence is at:

Code:

/usr/share/doc/openssh-server/copyright

If you read it you will see that it is distributed under free licence, and therefore there is nothing for you to buy.

NB. You can find the licence for any package at:

Code:

/usr/share/doc/<package name>/copyright

HTH,

Evo2.

roopakl · 09-20-2013, 12:11 AM

Hi Evo2,
Great explanations, Thanks a lot.
And it is not Ubuntu, it is RHEL 6.4. No problem, Isn't it?

evo2 · 09-20-2013, 12:45 AM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by roopakl

Hi Evo2,
Great explanations, Thanks a lot.

No problem.

Quote:

And it is not Ubuntu, it is RHEL 6.4. No problem, Isn't it?

Not a problem, but the location of the copyright/licence will be different... seems to be:

Code:

/usr/share/doc/openssh-5.3p1/LICENCE

The files /usr/share/<package name>/copyright that you will find on an Ubuntu machine exist because the existence of the file is required for a compliant deb package. I don't know if there is an equivalent standard for RHEL or rpm packges.

Evo2.

Firerat · 09-20-2013, 12:47 AM

I do not know for certain, but perhaps it is that sftp is not covered by the Support Contract with Redhat.

Just a guess, I do not know.

roopakl · 09-20-2013, 12:56 AM

Thanks a lot for clarifications.

evo2 · 09-20-2013, 01:18 AM

Hi,

Perhaps firerat has a point. If you are using RHEL then you won't get any updates without a subscription. Is this a public facing server?

Evo2.

roopakl · 09-20-2013, 01:44 AM

Hi Thanks,
We have the subscription and we are able get updates.
And what is firerat?

Firerat · 09-20-2013, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roopakl

And what is firerat?

A name derived from a name

Think Zulu (1964), and any film with a commanding officer and guns.
Factor in a Manchester UK accent.

Anyway, in all honesty I do not know how Redhat licenses, support contracts are structured.

I was working on the assumption they were modular, and running a public facing sftp server was not included in your current contract. Which would support your Managers concerns.

Still I could be totally wrong, but better you have that 'idea' when presenting the openssh copyright docs.