To view FTP usernames and passwords on a server, you need to have access to the server's configuration files. The process may vary depending on the operating system and FTP server software used. In this guide, we will discuss how to view FTP usernames and passwords for common FTP server software such as FileZilla, vsftpd, and ProFTPD.

FileZilla:

Open FileZilla and go to Edit -> Settings.

In the Settings dialog box, click on the "FTP" category on the left-hand side.

On the right-hand side, you will see a section labeled "FTP Accounts." Here, you can view and manage the FTP usernames and passwords you have saved.

vsftpd (Very Secure FTP Daemon):

Access the server via SSH or the terminal.

Open the configuration file for vsftpd. It is usually located at /etc/vsftpd.conf.

Look for the userlist_file directive in the configuration file. It specifies the file that contains the usernames allowed to access the FTP server.

Open the file specified by userlist_file (e.g., /etc/vsftpd.userlist). The usernames listed in this file are the FTP usernames.

To view the passwords, you will need to access the system's password file, such as /etc/passwd or use a tool like chpasswd to retrieve the passwords associated with the usernames.

ProFTPD:

Connect to the server via SSH or the terminal.

Open the configuration file for ProFTPD. It is usually located at /etc/proftpd.conf or /etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf.

Look for the AuthUserFile directive in the configuration file. It specifies the file that contains the usernames and passwords.

Open the file specified by AuthUserFile directive. It is typically in a htpasswd or shadow format. Use a tool like htpasswd or openssl to decrypt the passwords and view them.

It is important to note that retrieving usernames and passwords should only be done if you have the necessary permissions and authorization to do so. Additionally, ensure that you take appropriate security measures to protect sensitive login information and use strong passwords for your FTP accounts.