WinSCP - SOLUTIONS FOR ALL

📋

What is WinSCP?

The essential tool for managing files on your Linux VPS from Windows

💻

Left Panel — Your PC

Your local Windows files
C:\Users\albert\Documents\

⬆ Upload Download ⬇

🖥️

Right Panel — Your VPS

Your server files
177.7.45.212 — /root/

💡

Key Concept

WinSCP works exactly like Windows Explorer — but the right panel is your remote server. Drag files between the two panels to upload or download. Everything else (delete, rename, create folder) works the same as on your PC.

🔌 How to Connect

Protocol: SFTP
Host: 177.7.45.212
Username: root
Password: (from Hostinger hPanel)
Port: 22

👁️ Show Hidden Files

Options → Preferences → Panels → check Show hidden files
OR press Ctrl+Alt+H
Essential for seeing .n8n, .ssh, .cache folders

📂 Default Start Folder

Edit your saved session → Remote directory → type /root
WinSCP will always open there when you connect.

⚠️ No Recycle Bin!

Deleting files on Linux is permanent and instant. There is no undo, no recycle bin. Always keep a PC backup before deleting anything important from the VPS.

📁

Linux vs Windows — Folder Structure

Every Linux path and its Windows equivalent explained

# Linux folder tree — like your Windows C:\ drive

/→The entire server (like C:\)

├── home/→All regular user folders (like C:\Users\)

└── ubuntu/→The ubuntu user’s home (like C:\Users\ubuntu\)

├── root/→Admin home — YOUR workspace (like C:\Administrator\)

├── .n8n/→Hidden folder — n8n config & data (dot = hidden)

├── .ssh/→Hidden folder — SSH login keys (do not touch)

└── n8n-content/→The folder YOU created

├── etc/→System config files (like C:\Windows\System32\)

├── var/→Logs and app data (like C:\ProgramData\)

└── usr/→Installed programs (like C:\Program Files\)

Linux Path (VPS)	Windows Equivalent	What It Is
/	C:\	The very top of the entire server — the whole hard drive
/home/	C:\Users\	Where all regular user home folders live
/home/ubuntu/	C:\Users\ubuntu\	Home folder of the ubuntu (regular) user
/root/	C:\Administrator\	Home folder of the root (admin) user — this is where you work
/root/.n8n/	C:\Administrator\.n8n\	Hidden n8n config folder — dot at start = hidden in Linux
/root/.ssh/	C:\Administrator\.ssh\	Hidden SSH keys for secure login — do not modify
/root/n8n-content/	C:\Administrator\n8n-content\	The custom folder you created during this project
/etc/	C:\Windows\System32\	System configuration files — caution: modifying can break the server
/var/log/	C:\Windows\Logs\	System and application log files — useful for troubleshooting
/usr/local/bin/	C:\Program Files\	Where globally installed programs live (like n8n itself)
/tmp/	C:\Temp\	Temporary files — automatically cleared when server restarts

💡

Hidden Files

In Linux, any file or folder whose name starts with a dot ( . ) is hidden — just like “Hidden” files in Windows. Examples: .n8n, .ssh, .bashrc. Enable Show hidden files in WinSCP to see them (Ctrl+Alt+H).

⚠️

Important

/root/ is NOT the same as / (the server root). This confuses almost every Windows user at first. The / is the very top of everything. /root/ is just the admin user’s home folder — one level below.

⌨️

Keyboard Shortcuts

All WinSCP shortcuts with their Windows Explorer equivalents

Shortcut	Action	PC Equivalent	What It Does
`F5`	Refresh	F5 in Explorer	Refreshes the file panel — always press after uploading, deleting, or making changes
`Delete`	Delete	Delete key	PERMANENT — deletes the selected file or folder instantly. No recycle bin.
`F2` or `Enter`	Rename	F2 in Explorer	Renames the selected file or folder
`F7`	New Folder	Right-click → New Folder	Creates a new folder at the current location
`F4`	Edit File	Open with Notepad	Opens the selected file in a text editor directly on the VPS
`F6`	Move	Cut + Paste	Moves a file from one location to another
`Backspace`	Go Up	Backspace in Explorer	Goes up one folder level — same as clicking the parent folder
`Ctrl`+`A`	Select All	Ctrl+A	Selects all files in the current panel
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`H`	Hidden Files	Show hidden items checkbox	Toggles visibility of hidden files and folders (those starting with a dot)
`Ctrl`+`R`	Refresh Right	F5 in Explorer	Refreshes only the right (VPS) panel
`Drag L→R`	Upload	Copy to network drive	Drag from LEFT panel (your PC) to RIGHT panel (VPS) to upload a file
`Drag R→L`	Download	Copy from network drive	Drag from RIGHT panel (VPS) to LEFT panel (your PC) to download a file
`Ctrl`+`S`	Save Edit	Ctrl+S in Notepad	Saves changes when editing a file with the F4 editor

💡

Pro Tip

The most important shortcut to remember is F5 — Refresh. After every upload, delete, or folder creation, press F5 so the panel updates and shows you the current state of the server.

🖱️

Right-Click Menu

Every option explained with its Windows equivalent

📌

Note

Right-click works on the bottom file list panel, not on the folder tree on the left side. If right-clicking does nothing useful, click on a file in the bottom panel first, then right-click it.

Right-Click Option	PC Equivalent	What It Does
Open	Double-click	Opens a folder or navigates into it
Edit	Open with Notepad	Opens the file in a text editor so you can read or modify it directly on the VPS
Copy	Ctrl+C	Copies the file — paste it to another location in the right panel
Move	Ctrl+X then Ctrl+V	Moves the file to a new location on the VPS
Delete	Delete key	PERMANENT — no recycle bin on Linux. Gone forever. Always keep a backup first.
Rename	F2 / slow double-click	Renames the file or folder
Properties	Right-click → Properties	Shows file size, permissions (rwx), owner, and last modified date
Download	Copy from network drive	Downloads the file from VPS to your PC (right panel → left panel)
Upload	Copy to network drive	Uploads a file from your PC to the VPS (left panel → right panel)
Create Directory	New → Folder	Creates a new empty folder at the current location
Duplicate	Copy + Paste in same folder	Creates a copy of the file in the same folder with a new name
Open Terminal	Open Command Prompt here	Opens a PowerShell/SSH terminal already pointed at the current folder

🔐

Linux File Permissions

What the letters mean in WinSCP Properties

When you right-click a file → Properties in WinSCP, you see letters in the Rights column like rwxr-xr--. Here’s what they mean:

# Reading a permissions string: rwxr-xr–

rwx r-x r– ← Owner permissions | Group permissions | Everyone else

r = read w = write x = execute – = no permission

Letter	Stands For	Windows Equivalent	Meaning
r	Read	Read permission	Can open and read the file, or list what’s inside a folder
w	Write	Write permission	Can edit, modify, or delete the file
x	Execute	Run as program	Can run the file as a program, or enter the folder
–	None	No permission	That permission is denied — the slot is simply empty

💡

Common Patterns

rw-r–r– (644) — Normal file. Owner can edit, everyone else can only read.
rwx—— (700) — Private folder. Only the owner can see inside.
rwxr-xr-x (755) — Public folder. Owner has full control, others can read and enter.
rwxrwxrwx (777) — Everyone can do everything. Avoid this on sensitive files.

📌

Why It Matters

This is why the /root/n8n-content folder was invisible to n8n — its permissions were rwx------ (700) meaning only the root user could enter it. The ubuntu user (which runs n8n) had no access.

🗺️

How to Navigate Your VPS in WinSCP

Getting to the right folder quickly

Task	How to Do It
Go to a specific folder	Click the address bar at the top of the right panel → type the full path (e.g. `/root/n8n-content`) → press Enter
Go up one folder level	Press `Backspace`, or click the .. item at the very top of the file list
Go to your root home folder	Type `/root/` in the address bar → press Enter
Go to the server root	Type `/` in the address bar → press Enter — you will see all top-level folders
Show hidden files	Options → Preferences → Panels → check Show hidden files OR press `Ctrl`+`Alt`+`H`
Set default start folder	In WinSCP, click your saved session → Edit → Remote directory → type `/root` → Save. Now it always opens there.
Refresh after changes	Press `F5` — always do this after uploading, deleting, or creating folders
Open two folders at once	Right-click a folder → Open in New Tab — useful for comparing two locations
Find a file by name	Click the Find Files button in the toolbar → type the filename → Search

💡

Quick Tip

The address bar at the top of WinSCP’s right panel works exactly like the address bar in Windows Explorer. Just click it, type any Linux path, and press Enter to jump there instantly.

⬆️

Uploading & Downloading Files

Moving files between your PC and VPS

💻

Your PC (Left Panel)

C:\Users\albert\
thomasnet_canvas.json

⬆ UPLOAD ⬇ DOWNLOAD

🖥️

Your VPS (Right Panel)

/root/n8n-content/
thomasnet_canvas.json

Action	How to Do It
⬆️ Upload a file PC → VPS	1. Navigate to the destination folder on the RIGHT panel 2. Drag the file from the LEFT panel and drop it onto the RIGHT panel OR: right-click in the RIGHT panel → Upload
⬇️ Download a file VPS → PC	1. Find the file on the RIGHT panel 2. Drag it from the RIGHT panel and drop it onto the LEFT panel OR: right-click the file → Download
📦 Upload multiple files	Select files on the LEFT panel using `Ctrl`+Click or `Shift`+Click, then drag them all to the RIGHT panel at once
📊 Check progress	A progress bar appears at the bottom of WinSCP. Wait for it to complete before navigating away or disconnecting
✅ Confirm upload worked	Press `F5` to refresh the RIGHT panel — the file should appear with its size and date
💾 Backup before deleting	Drag the file from RIGHT to LEFT to save a copy on your PC before deleting it from the VPS

⚠️

No Recycle Bin

WinSCP has no recycle bin. Deleting a file on the VPS is permanent and instant. Always drag a copy to your PC (left panel) before deleting anything important from the server.

🗂️

Your Specific VPS Layout

solutionsforall.net — 177.7.45.212

# Your VPS — key paths to know

# Where YOU work:

/root/→Your admin home — start here when you connect

/root/.n8n/→n8n hidden config folder

/root/.ssh/→SSH keys — do not modify

# Where n8n actually runs:

/home/ubuntu/→The ubuntu user home — n8n process runs as this user

/usr/local/bin/n8n→The n8n program itself

/usr/local/lib/node_modules/n8n/→n8n source files

# System folders:

/var/log/→Server logs — check here if something breaks

/etc/→System config — caution, do not edit unless you know what you are doing

Path on Your VPS	What Is There	Safe to Edit?
/root/	Your admin home — where you work in WinSCP	✅ Yes
/root/.n8n/	n8n database and config — hidden folder	⚠️ Caution
/root/.ssh/	SSH login keys — very sensitive	❌ Do not touch
/home/ubuntu/	The ubuntu user’s home — n8n runs as this user	⚠️ Caution
/usr/local/bin/n8n	The n8n program binary	❌ Do not touch
/var/log/	System and application logs	👁️ Read-only OK
/etc/	System configuration files	❌ Expert only

❌

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

What goes wrong and how to prevent it

Mistake	What Happens	How to Avoid It
Deleting without a backup	File is gone permanently — no recovery possible	Always drag a copy to your PC (left panel) before deleting anything important
Working at / instead of /root/	You might be editing critical system files — dangerous	Always check the address bar. Set default remote directory to /root/ in session settings
Not pressing F5 after changes	WinSCP shows stale info — file you uploaded seems missing	Always press F5 to refresh after uploading, deleting, or creating folders
Hidden folders not visible	You cannot see .n8n, .ssh, or other dot-folders	Enable Show Hidden Files: Options → Preferences → Panels, or press Ctrl+Alt+H
Uploading to the wrong folder	File ends up in the wrong location on the VPS	Always check the address bar on the RIGHT panel before dragging files over
Editing a file without saving	Changes are lost when you close the editor	Press Ctrl+S to save in the WinSCP editor before closing the tab
Right-clicking in the tree panel	Delete option is missing or grayed out	Right-click must be done in the BOTTOM file list panel, not the left tree panel
Confusing / with /root/	Looking in the wrong place — files seem missing	Remember: / is the whole server. /root/ is the admin home folder where you work.

✅

Golden Rules

1. Always backup before deleting. 2. Always press F5 after changes. 3. Always check the address bar before uploading. 4. When in doubt — navigate to /root/ first.