Understanding administrator privileges

Host administrators and system administrators have different permissions in the WS_FTP Server Manager and when connected using a file transfer client. The table below explains the permissions each type of administrators has in each case.

Connecting via:

Host Administrator

Server Administrator

WS_FTP Server Manager

Full control over the host to which they belong, except the following:

  • Host administrators of hosts using an alternative user database cannot configure the user database plugin.
  • When creating virtual folders, host administrators cannot see any folders that are not located below the top folder of the host. When viewing virtual folders that point to a physical folder that is not located below the top folder of the host, the host administrator cannot modify the location of the physical folder to which the virtual folder points.
  • When creating or modifying rules, host administrators cannot configure or modify any executables that are run when the rule is triggered.
  • Host administrators cannot create or delete SITE commands, but can manage which users can trigger SITE commands created by a system administrator.

No control over server-wide settings, except the following:

  • Host administrators can use the Log Viewer to view logs for their host only.
  • Host administrators can create, manage and delete notifications.

Full control over all hosts on the server.

Full control over all server-wide settings.

File Transfer Client

Full permissions to all folders on the host to which the user account belongs.

Full permissions to all folders on the host to which the user account belongs.