FTP question

[RoseW]

Are there recommended web sites for FTP issues (forums, articles, whatever)
or newsgroups?
I have one server that has had connectivity issues this past week when I
connect with FTP software. Initially last Saturday the directory list became
unavailable in FileZilla after months of use.
I tried FlashXp software and got the directory listing by
turning of MLSD and using Stat -L but files will not transfer (426
connection closed,transfer aborted) . I have been in contact with the
support section of the server but the suggestions are more directed at
trying yet another ftp software. I'm certainly getting familiar with FTP
error codes and I'm on the 4th software. I'm connected to the FTP
directory but not in contact with the files. (425 can't open data) or an
error about the socket connection.
I'm on a satelite style (ppoe) internet connection which has its own modem
and a Linksey router using Xp 64bit system. I wondered about sidestepping
the router and hooking the satelite modem directly to the computer but that
doesn't seem logical since I can connect to another server and upload files.
When things go 'off' with this area it seems to be difficult to get solid
answers since the server support will say 'Its working at our end'.
My Google search terms are running low so I'm asking if there are some
decent reference sites.
Rose

 

[John Wunderlich]

I have one server that has had connectivity issues this past week
when I connect with FTP software. Initially last Saturday the
directory list became unavailable in FileZilla after months of
use. I tried FlashXp software and got the directory listing by
turning of MLSD and using Stat -L but files will not transfer (426
connection closed,transfer aborted) . I have been in contact with
the support section of the server but the suggestions are more
directed at trying yet another ftp software. I'm certainly getting
familiar with FTP error codes and I'm on the 4th software. I'm
connected to the FTP directory but not in contact with the files.
(425 can't open data) or an error about the socket connection.
I'm on a satelite style (ppoe) internet connection which has its
own modem and a Linksey router using Xp 64bit system. I wondered
about sidestepping the router and hooking the satelite modem
directly to the computer but that doesn't seem logical since I can
connect to another server and upload files.

I assume that you are successfully connecting/logging into the server
but run into connection problems when you try to list a directory or
transfer files. In my experience, two things can cause this problem.

One is a MTU problem. As this is the first time that "big" packets
are transferred in the protocol, a MTU setting that is too big can
cause packet fracturing and a failed connection. You can use
"DrTCP" to set your MTU at a conservative 1300 and see if it helps.
<http://www.dslreports.com/faq/tweaks/4._MTU>
<http://www.dslreports.com/drtcp>
But since you can successfully FTP from other sites, this is not
likely your problem.

The other area is "Active" vs "Passive" mode FTP. Since you are
behind a NAT router, unless you properly set up port forwarding in
your router and configure FileZilla to reply with your external IP
address, your only practical option is to use Passive Mode (the most
common method). If you use the Site Manager in Filezilla, you can
configure the mode of each site you connect to. Make sure you are
selecting Passive mode for your trouble server. If you aren't using
Site Manager, make sure Edit->Preferences->Connection->FTP is set to
Passive. If the trouble server doesn't support Passive mode or it is
itself behind a NAT router this makes things even more difficult.
Ironically, if this server does insist on using Active mode, the
other thing you can do is to disconnect your router and connect your
computer directly into the modem and then select "Active FTP" in
Filezilla. Active FTP mode stands a chance of working in this
configuration.

There is lots of info on the net on Active vs Passive FTP modes.

HTH,
John

 

[RoseW]

| |
| > I have one server that has had connectivity issues this past week
| > when I connect with FTP software. Initially last Saturday the
| > directory list became unavailable in FileZilla after months of
| > use. I tried FlashXp software and got the directory listing by
| > turning of MLSD and using Stat -L but files will not transfer (426
| > connection closed,transfer aborted) . I have been in contact with
| > the support section of the server but the suggestions are more
| > directed at trying yet another ftp software. I'm certainly getting
| > familiar with FTP error codes and I'm on the 4th software. I'm
| > connected to the FTP directory but not in contact with the files.
| > (425 can't open data) or an error about the socket connection.
| > I'm on a satelite style (ppoe) internet connection which has its
| > own modem and a Linksey router using Xp 64bit system. I wondered
| > about sidestepping the router and hooking the satelite modem
| > directly to the computer but that doesn't seem logical since I can
| > connect to another server and upload files.
|
| I assume that you are successfully connecting/logging into the server
| but run into connection problems when you try to list a directory or
| transfer files. In my experience, two things can cause this problem.
|
| One is a MTU problem. As this is the first time that "big" packets
| are transferred in the protocol, a MTU setting that is too big can
| cause packet fracturing and a failed connection. You can use
| "DrTCP" to set your MTU at a conservative 1300 and see if it helps.
| <http://www.dslreports.com/faq/tweaks/4._MTU>
| <http://www.dslreports.com/drtcp>
| But since you can successfully FTP from other sites, this is not
| likely your problem.
|
| The other area is "Active" vs "Passive" mode FTP. Since you are
| behind a NAT router, unless you properly set up port forwarding in
| your router and configure FileZilla to reply with your external IP
| address, your only practical option is to use Passive Mode (the most
| common method). If you use the Site Manager in Filezilla, you can
| configure the mode of each site you connect to. Make sure you are
| selecting Passive mode for your trouble server. If you aren't using
| Site Manager, make sure Edit->Preferences->Connection->FTP is set to
| Passive. If the trouble server doesn't support Passive mode or it is
| itself behind a NAT router this makes things even more difficult.
| Ironically, if this server does insist on using Active mode, the
| other thing you can do is to disconnect your router and connect your
| computer directly into the modem and then select "Active FTP" in
| Filezilla. Active FTP mode stands a chance of working in this
| configuration.
|
| There is lots of info on the net on Active vs Passive FTP modes.
|
| HTH,
| John

The only thing I haven't done is edit the MTU. I had checked that out
BUT.....
I AM connected to the server site site. Now with a different software to
FileZilla I get a directory listing (FlashFXP). I can delete files using
that directory listing. BUT files will not transfer. Transfer is
unsuccessful and connection closes. Tried SmartFTP which has 64 bit-not
successful, AceFTP- no, and uninstalled totally FileZilla, reinstalled -no
directory listing)
The Wizard configuration in FileZilla completed successfully with an added
note that the server closes prematurely.
The setting has been Passive throughtout history.
I'm not enthused about going directly from the modem and skipping the router
but I thought about it last night <grin>
I'm almost to the point of just moving to a server that works <grin> because
the built in web control panel is phenomenally slow, one file at a time
routine.
Using the search term 'FTP Configuration' last night brought up results that
I hadn't found because I've been through the Active vs Passive all week.
I'm beginning to consider that its not at my end.
Thanks for responding.
Rose

 

[John Wunderlich]

The only thing I haven't done is edit the MTU. I had checked that
out BUT.....
I AM connected to the server site site. Now with a different
software to FileZilla I get a directory listing (FlashFXP). I can
delete files using that directory listing. BUT files will not
transfer. Transfer is unsuccessful and connection closes. Tried
SmartFTP which has 64 bit-not successful, AceFTP- no, and
uninstalled totally FileZilla, reinstalled -no directory listing)
The Wizard configuration in FileZilla completed successfully with
an added note that the server closes prematurely.
The setting has been Passive throughtout history.
I'm not enthused about going directly from the modem and skipping
the router but I thought about it last night <grin>
I'm almost to the point of just moving to a server that works
<grin> because the built in web control panel is phenomenally
slow, one file at a time routine.
Using the search term 'FTP Configuration' last night brought up
results that I hadn't found because I've been through the Active
vs Passive all week. I'm beginning to consider that its not at my
end. Thanks for responding.
Rose

It sounds like you have a good handle on the problem. At this point,
I would capture packets with a program like Wireshark but my guess is
that the packet that would reveal the problem is the one sent from
the server that never gets to your computer. My guess that your
problem server is stuck in the active mode.

Good Luck,
John

 

[RoseW]

|
| || ||
|| > I have one server that has had connectivity issues this past week
|| > when I connect with FTP software. Initially last Saturday the
|| > directory list became unavailable in FileZilla after months of
|| > use. I tried FlashXp software and got the directory listing by
|| > turning of MLSD and using Stat -L but files will not transfer (426
|| > connection closed,transfer aborted) . I have been in contact with
|| > the support section of the server but the suggestions are more
|| > directed at trying yet another ftp software. I'm certainly getting
|| > familiar with FTP error codes and I'm on the 4th software. I'm
|| > connected to the FTP directory but not in contact with the files.
|| > (425 can't open data) or an error about the socket connection.
|| > I'm on a satelite style (ppoe) internet connection which has its
|| > own modem and a Linksey router using Xp 64bit system. I wondered
|| > about sidestepping the router and hooking the satelite modem
|| > directly to the computer but that doesn't seem logical since I can
|| > connect to another server and upload files.
||
|| I assume that you are successfully connecting/logging into the server
|| but run into connection problems when you try to list a directory or
|| transfer files. In my experience, two things can cause this problem.
||
|| One is a MTU problem. As this is the first time that "big" packets
|| are transferred in the protocol, a MTU setting that is too big can
|| cause packet fracturing and a failed connection. You can use
|| "DrTCP" to set your MTU at a conservative 1300 and see if it helps.
|| <http://www.dslreports.com/faq/tweaks/4._MTU>
|| <http://www.dslreports.com/drtcp>
|| But since you can successfully FTP from other sites, this is not
|| likely your problem.
||
|| The other area is "Active" vs "Passive" mode FTP. Since you are
|| behind a NAT router, unless you properly set up port forwarding in
|| your router and configure FileZilla to reply with your external IP
|| address, your only practical option is to use Passive Mode (the most
|| common method). If you use the Site Manager in Filezilla, you can
|| configure the mode of each site you connect to. Make sure you are
|| selecting Passive mode for your trouble server. If you aren't using
|| Site Manager, make sure Edit->Preferences->Connection->FTP is set to
|| Passive. If the trouble server doesn't support Passive mode or it is
|| itself behind a NAT router this makes things even more difficult.
|| Ironically, if this server does insist on using Active mode, the
|| other thing you can do is to disconnect your router and connect your
|| computer directly into the modem and then select "Active FTP" in
|| Filezilla. Active FTP mode stands a chance of working in this
|| configuration.
||
|| There is lots of info on the net on Active vs Passive FTP modes.
||
|| HTH,
|| John
|
| The only thing I haven't done is edit the MTU. I had checked that out
| BUT.....
| I AM connected to the server site site. Now with a different software to
| FileZilla I get a directory listing (FlashFXP). I can delete files using
| that directory listing. BUT files will not transfer. Transfer is
| unsuccessful and connection closes. Tried SmartFTP which has 64 bit-not
| successful, AceFTP- no, and uninstalled totally FileZilla, reinstalled -no
| directory listing)
| The Wizard configuration in FileZilla completed successfully with an added
| note that the server closes prematurely.
| The setting has been Passive throughtout history.
| I'm not enthused about going directly from the modem and skipping the
router
| but I thought about it last night <grin>
| I'm almost to the point of just moving to a server that works <grin>
because
| the built in web control panel is phenomenally slow, one file at a time
| routine.
| Using the search term 'FTP Configuration' last night brought up results
that
| I hadn't found because I've been through the Active vs Passive all week.
| I'm beginning to consider that its not at my end.
| Thanks for responding.
| Rose

The most unlikely solution arrived in my ear when I phoned my server tech
support to ask why the main server number in my router status page was so
different from the external address that is on my machine. The response was
that the server has a "Mask Number" therefore the usual number starting with
216 etc had a 67.220 ## ## configuration.
He just threw in the fact of typing 'ip/ before my user name in the router
set-up page which would remove the mask.
Immediately following that the FTP software worked exactly as it should. In
fact all 4 that I had downloaded to test out worked perfectly. The sites
could respond to exactly the number that had inquired on passive mode - the
directories listed and the connection closing were no longer present.
Why a server would mask its number is beyond me.
Rose

 

[John Wunderlich]

The most unlikely solution arrived in my ear when I phoned my
server tech support to ask why the main server number in my router
status page was so different from the external address that is on
my machine. The response was that the server has a "Mask Number"
therefore the usual number starting with 216 etc had a 67.220 ##
## configuration. He just threw in the fact of typing 'ip/ before
my user name in the router set-up page which would remove the
mask. Immediately following that the FTP software worked exactly
as it should. In fact all 4 that I had downloaded to test out
worked perfectly. The sites could respond to exactly the number
that had inquired on passive mode - the directories listed and the
connection closing were no longer present. Why a server would mask
its number is beyond me. Rose

Thanks for the feedback. I'm a little confused about which router
setup page you're talking about (Linksys or server-side router) but
it's good to know you have a solution. Your biggest problem now is
choosing which FTP client you like best.

-- John

 

[RoseW]

| |
| > The most unlikely solution arrived in my ear when I phoned my
| > server tech support to ask why the main server number in my router
| > status page was so different from the external address that is on
| > my machine. The response was that the server has a "Mask Number"
| > therefore the usual number starting with 216 etc had a 67.220 ##
| > ## configuration. He just threw in the fact of typing 'ip/ before
| > my user name in the router set-up page which would remove the
| > mask. Immediately following that the FTP software worked exactly
| > as it should. In fact all 4 that I had downloaded to test out
| > worked perfectly. The sites could respond to exactly the number
| > that had inquired on passive mode - the directories listed and the
| > connection closing were no longer present. Why a server would mask
| > its number is beyond me. Rose
| >
|
| Thanks for the feedback. I'm a little confused about which router
| setup page you're talking about (Linksys or server-side router) but
| it's good to know you have a solution. Your biggest problem now is
| choosing which FTP client you like best.
|
| -- John
My Linsksey set-up page was the location for adding the ip/in front of my
user information from my own ISP and there is a Linskey page that lists all
the stats (IP number, gateway, that sort of thing)
I rebooted the router to factory default and then figured it would be handy
to have my server support on the line when I re-entered my data for a PPOE
set-up.
In that context I asked why their main IP number was so different from my
external address on the stats page.
If I had phoned my internet provider and asked an FTP question the response
is an immediate withdrawal. They just say they don't deal with FTP.
MEANWHILE it was the fact that they put this 'masking of their main number'
in place that created my troubles this last while.
The FileZilla connection wizard did report that there was a conflict between
my number and the server number which was the masked number so Active
connection wasn't possible. As it was Passive connection wasn't doing very
well either. Perhaps the router itself couldn't deal with re-translating
that masked number ????

I'm accustomed to FileZilla having used it a long time but if there needed
to be a good second choice for $25 or 29.00 (likely U.S. prices) that
FlashFXP has more configuration choices and it did the best job with the
horrid situation. It really tried to transfer files whereas all the others
wouldn't list a directory.

The actual internet storage server (gogax.com) really didn't have a
solution. They just kept suggesting yet another software. The oddest thing
was that another storage service (webng.com) could manage to wade through
this configuration issue and allow files to transfer. On a forum it was
pointed out that the server has to have more ports open so clients can
communicate.

I just thought it was the oddest 'solution' and it came up 'by chance'.
Rose
http://rwgallery.gogax.com