Manage files over SFTP (FileZilla or WinSCP)

SFTP lets you work with your server’s files as if they were a folder on your own computer. You need a program such as FileZilla or WinSCP and four details from the game panel: the host name, port 2022, your username with the server ID after it, and your game panel password.

When should you use SFTP?

For a single file, File managers in the game panel is fine. SFTP is handier for big worlds, modpacks and lots of files: you drag whole folders at once, and the maximum file size for uploads in the game panel doesn’t apply. The connection is encrypted, so your password and files never travel over the internet in plain text.

Where do you find your SFTP details?

1. Open your server in the game panel and go to Settings.
2. Under SFTP Details you’ll see Server Address and Username. Click them to copy.
3. Your password is your game panel password. That’s a separate account from My CakeHosting.

Server Address looks like sftp://hostname:2022: the part between sftp:// and the colon is the host name, and 2022 is the port. Your username is your game panel name, a dot and your server’s short ID, for example sam.1a2b3c4d.

How do you connect with FileZilla?

1. Install FileZilla Client from the official website.
2. Open the Site Manager and click New site.
3. Set the protocol to SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol.
4. Enter the host name under Host, without sftp:// and without :2022, and 2022 under Port.
5. Choose Normal as the logon type, enter your username and password, and click Connect.
6. The first time, FileZilla asks whether you trust the server’s host key. That’s normal for a new connection: confirm it.

How do you connect with WinSCP?

1. Open WinSCP; the login window appears straight away.
2. Choose SFTP as the file protocol.
3. Enter the host name, port number 2022, your username and your password.
4. Click Login and accept the server’s host key on the first connection.

You’ll then see your own computer on the left and your server on the right, with the same folders as in File managers. Drag to the right to upload, to the left to download.

How do you move a big world or modpack?

Stop your server first and make a backup, as in Create and restore a backup. Then drag the whole folder across in one go; there’s no need to unzip anything. A running server can overwrite your new files. Replacing a world is covered step by step in Upload your Minecraft world to your server.

What are the common mistakes?

• Port 21 or 22. You’ll get a timeout or Connection refused. Use 2022.
• Plain FTP. That won’t work; choose SFTP.
• A username without the server part. The bit after the dot belongs to it.
• Your My CakeHosting password. Use your game panel password. Forgotten it? Choose Forgot password? on the login page of the game panel.