Here’s how to get the FTP server running in OSX 10.9 Mavericks. This is advanced and not everyone will need the FTP server. The only thing I was use it for is to receive incoming scans from my Fuji/Xerox network scanner.

When I upgraded to 10.9 Mavericks it disabled my OSX server. Here’s how to enable the FTP server without buying OSX server.

1.  Download this app called OS X Lion FTPD Enable which will enable the built in FTP server in Mavericks.

2. Run the app and a little lock icon will appear in your top menubar (see above). Click the padlock. When it turns green the FTP server is enabled.

3. To test the FTP server, go into terminal, and type ‘ftp’. Enter your username and password. Type ‘ls’ and you should get a directory listing of your home folder. (Your home folder is the default ftp directory.)

If you are familiar with server and would prefer to do this without an app, here’s how. (Thanks to Max below!)
Go into terminal, to start it type in:

sudo -s launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist

then press return.

To stop it type in:

sudo -s launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist

and press return.