Configuring OpenSSH daemon for SFTP backups

Download the OpenSSH installer from here (via SourceForge).

Run the installer executable. Once installed, open a command prompt, navigate to the OpenSSH program install directory and execute the following commands:

Create a group file to identify accounts with login permissions.  Open a cmd prompt and navigate to c:\program files\openssh\bin

To use local accounts:

  • Execute the following command to create a new local group:

mkgroup -l >> ..\etc\group

  • To assign specific local users to the local group, type:

mkpasswd -l -u {local username} >> ..\etc\passwd

To use domain accounts (notice -d switch):

  • Execute the following command to create a new local group:

mkgroup -d >> ..\etc\group

  • To assign specific local users to the local group, type:

mkpasswd -d -u {domain username name} >> ..\etc\passwd

Start the OpenSSH daemon by typing:
net start opensshd

You should now have SSH or SFTP access to your local machine.