To compile and install proftpd from scratch, follow these directions (uses version 1.3.3f in this example):
wget http://files.directadmin.com/services/customapache/proftpd-1.3.3f.tar.gz
tar xvzf proftpd-1.3.3f.tar.gz
cd proftpd-1.3.3f
install_user=ftp install_group=ftp ./configure --prefix=/usr --sysconfdir=/etc --localstatedir=/var/run --mandir=/usr/local/man --without-pam --disable-auth-pam --enable-nls --with-modules=mod_ratio:mod_readme:mod_tls LDFLAGS=-static
make
make install
If you need a new /etc/proftpd.conf file, you can get the DA template from /usr/local/directadmin/data/templates/proftpd.conf. Â The 2 files should be very similar.
* Note, if you use the template, you have to replace the 1 instance of |SERVER_IP| with your actual server IP address.
* Note, prefix on FreeBSD is --prefix=/usr/local
If, after this compile, when you telnet to port 21, you see:
220 ProFTPD 1.3.3f Server (ProFTPD Default Installation) [127.0.0.1]
This would imply that proftpd is using a different proftpd.conf. Â Run the following to link this other proftpd.conf to the current one:
rm -f  /usr/local/etc/proftpd.conf
ln -s /etc/proftpd.conf /usr/local/etc/proftpd.conf
The telnet to 21 should look like:
server# telnet localhost 21
Trying 127.0.0.1...
Connected to localhost.
Escape character is '^]'.
220 ProFTPD 1.3.3f Server ready.