SSH Secure Shell File Permissions

I can't update that file!

Have you ever been told to update a web page, only to find that you can't? It's probably because someone else on your team may have used a program that automatically broke things by turning off the sharing bits.  Several FTP clients do this  by default as a "security" measure. However, at U of L, we often have to share files with other people in our group.

Tweak the SSH file transfer client

Since some file transfer programs set file permissions incorrectly by default - at least for people writing files in a collaborative group environment. I'd recommend using the SSH file transfer client (available free from the University from this URL: https://apps.louisville.edu/softwareresales/customer/free.php ). Change the SSH software's settings so the default file permissions for files is '664' and '775' for folders.

The Steps to set group write defaults

From the Start menu:

Programs > SSH Secure Shell > Secure File Transfer Client

Once the program starts, from the program menu select:

Edit > Settings > Global settings > File transfer > Advanced

Set:

  Default File Permissions: 664
  Default Directory Permissions: 775

File Permissions caveats

There are about a half-million different tools that people use to get files up to the server, so each piece of software may (or may not) have it's own configuration options. (This will improve a bit once we switch to WebDAV as a file transfer protocol and eliminate the insecure FTP logins and the unneeded shell accounts.)