Lion Server: Enabling the FTP service

Use the following steps (you must use Terminal). Note: In the steps 1 and 2, the example local administrator's short name is ladmin. Change it to your own local admin account's short name.

1. Create an Access Control List (ACL) group:
   
   dseditgroup -o create -n /Local/Default -u ladmin com.apple.access_ftp
   
   
2. Enter your password when prompted.
3. Add users and groups to the ACL group.
   
   For example, to add a user named jacob:
   dseditgroup -o edit -u ladmin -a jacob com.apple.access_ftp
   
   For example, to add a group named teachers:
   dseditgroup -o edit -u ladmin -a teachers -t group com.apple.access_ftp
   
   
4. Repeat the example commands above for any additional users or groups that need FTP access.
5. Configure the FTP service to load on demand:
   
   sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist