Pure-FTPd strives to remain simple to operate, and keeps the number of knobs down to a minimum. Virtually everything can be set using command-line switches, so that a configuration file is not required. For example, the '-H' switch is recommended and avoids DNS lookups. To enable this feature, just add it right after the executable name: /usr/local/sbin/pure-ftpd -H Long options are also supported. This is equivalent to the previous command: /usr/local/sbin/pure-ftpd --dontresolve As an alternative to command-line switches, Pure-FTPd can use a configuration file. The set of supported features is the same no matter what way of configuring the server is being used. A sample configuration file named pure-ftpd.conf should have been installed in /etc/, /usr/local/etc/ or another standard location derived from the package installation prefix. Tweak it according to your needs, and start the server using that file: /usr/local/sbin/pure-ftpd /etc/pure-ftpd.conf Note the absence of switches. In order to avoid confusion, either a configuration file or a set of command-line switches can be used.