Setting up FTP server

I am not sure which newsgroup to ask this question in.

I am trying to set up an FTP file server and am very frustrated because I
have not been able to connect to it.

Vista Home Premium x64
4GB RAM
Intel Core2 Duo T9300 @ 2.50 GHz
Windows Firewall - On
FTP port forwarding enabled in router

I have tried connecting using a host name (mynickname.hostname.net) which is
correctly resolving to my broadband Internet IP address. The server
software allows me to configure it to use the external IP address in passive
mode. I also tried using the IP address to connect. I have checked the
firewall settings on the router and on the Windows firewall and there is
nothing that should prevent the connection.

Suggestions?

"Vista Newbie" <> wrote in message
news:8C833839-C6DF-491C-BA51-...
>I am not sure which newsgroup to ask this question in.
>
> I am trying to set up an FTP file server and am very frustrated because I
> have not been able to connect to it.
>
> Vista Home Premium x64
> 4GB RAM
> Intel Core2 Duo T9300 @ 2.50 GHz
> Windows Firewall - On
> FTP port forwarding enabled in router
>
> I have tried connecting using a host name (mynickname.hostname.net) which
> is correctly resolving to my broadband Internet IP address. The server
> software allows me to configure it to use the external IP address in
> passive mode. I also tried using the IP address to connect. I have
> checked the firewall settings on the router and on the Windows firewall
> and there is nothing that should prevent the connection.
>
> Suggestions?

Take the machine and connect it directly to the modem and see what happens,
of course with the Vista FW/packet filter enabled and the FTP exception rule
active.

"Vista Newbie" <> wrote in message
news:8C833839-C6DF-491C-BA51-...
>I am not sure which newsgroup to ask this question in.
>
> I am trying to set up an FTP file server and am very frustrated because I
> have not been able to connect to it.
>
> Vista Home Premium x64
> 4GB RAM
> Intel Core2 Duo T9300 @ 2.50 GHz
> Windows Firewall - On
> FTP port forwarding enabled in router
>
> I have tried connecting using a host name (mynickname.hostname.net) which
> is correctly resolving to my broadband Internet IP address. The server
> software allows me to configure it to use the external IP address in
> passive mode. I also tried using the IP address to connect. I have
> checked the firewall settings on the router and on the Windows firewall
> and there is nothing that should prevent the connection.

How are you trying to connect? Surely not from your own LAN?

I have an HSDPA modem for my laptop now, but before, I found it useful to
troubleshoot and test my FTP server using an online FTP client, like this
one:
http://www.net2ftp.com/

What port are you using? Usually, when you open the default FTP port in a
firewall or forward it in a router, it uses the default port 21.

Are you sure that you 'forwarded' the port 21 (or whatever you are using) to
your internal FTP server's IP address, if you are using a NAT router? This
is not the same as opening the port in a firewall in the router.

If you have remote access to a remote machine, you can try pinging your FTP
port using the command PORTPING from www.tools4ever.com.

ss.

"Vista Newbie" <> wrote in
news:8C833839-C6DF-491C-BA51-:

> I am not sure which newsgroup to ask this question in.
>
> I am trying to set up an FTP file server and am very frustrated
> because I have not been able to connect to it.
>
> Vista Home Premium x64
> 4GB RAM
> Intel Core2 Duo T9300 @ 2.50 GHz
> Windows Firewall - On
> FTP port forwarding enabled in router
>
> I have tried connecting using a host name (mynickname.hostname.net)
> which is correctly resolving to my broadband Internet IP address. The
> server software allows me to configure it to use the external IP
> address in passive mode. I also tried using the IP address to
> connect. I have checked the firewall settings on the router and on
> the Windows firewall and there is nothing that should prevent the
> connection.
>
> Suggestions?

In addition to SS's response, FTP require 2 ports. The default being 21
for the initial contact, but it also needs another for the actual data
transfer. I can't remember if the default other is 20 or 22, but one of
those.

What is the error message given by the client ? Your post says you can't
connect at all. After getting your inital connection going, if the client
can connect, but then fails getting the data (data here means dir
listing's as well as actual files), try it w/o a passive mode connection.
My FTP sits behind a NAT rtr and if you try to connect with PASV mode, it
will fail with the data channel (even though that is what they clain PASV
mode is for).

"Synapse Syndrome" <> wrote in message
news:Oe$...
> "Vista Newbie" <> wrote in message
> news:8C833839-C6DF-491C-BA51-...
is nothing that should prevent the connection.
>
> How are you trying to connect? Surely not from your own LAN?
>
> I have an HSDPA modem for my laptop now, but before, I found it useful to
> troubleshoot and test my FTP server using an online FTP client, like this
> one:
> http://www.net2ftp.com/
>
> What port are you using? Usually, when you open the default FTP port in a
> firewall or forward it in a router, it uses the default port 21.
>
> Are you sure that you 'forwarded' the port 21 (or whatever you are using)
> to your internal FTP server's IP address, if you are using a NAT router?
> This is not the same as opening the port in a firewall in the router.
>
> If you have remote access to a remote machine, you can try pinging your
> FTP port using the command PORTPING from www.tools4ever.com.
>
> ss.

As a matter of fact, I was testing the connection using the net2ftp website.

Yes, I am sure that I set up the router port forwarding to direct all FTP
activity to port 21. I do not see an option in the port forwarding
configuration area to forward to an IP address. The options were:

Protocol: FTP or UDP or Both (I selected Both)
Source Ports: Any or Single or Range (I selected Any)
Destination Ports: Single or Range (I selected 21)

The server software has a setting for Passive mode which tells the program
which IP address to use, the local address or the internet address. I have
toggled this setting back and forth and neither setting seems to allow the
connection.

Additionally, for troubleshooting purposes, I disabled the Windows firewall
to attempt the connection.

"Vista Newbie" <> wrote in message
news:5E1F5E3F-A5AE-4BDB-8AE6-...
>
> I do not see an option in the port forwarding
> configuration area to forward to an IP address.

This really does sound like your problem. There has to be forwarding in the
NAT to a particular machine on the internal LAN. What make and model is
your router? You should be able to find exactly how to do it here:
http://www.portforward.com/english/a...P/FTPindex.htm

> Protocol: FTP or UDP or Both (I selected Both)

Surely you meant TCP? You only need TCP. Disable UDP.

> Source Ports: Any or Single or Range (I selected Any)

Just select Port 21 as source.

> Destination Ports: Single or Range (I selected 21)

Okay.

> The server software has a setting for Passive mode which tells the program
> which IP address to use, the local address or the internet address. I
> have
> toggled this setting back and forth and neither setting seems to allow the
> connection.

I'd personally prefer to disable PASV connections, as I don't seem to ever
need them from the clients. Most routers these days have special handling
for FTP connections, so I don't think clients using NAT need to forward
ports or use PASV. I may be wrong, but that is my own personal experience
with never having any problems with people connected to my server, from a
variety of connection types.

> Additionally, for troubleshooting purposes, I disabled the Windows
> firewall
> to attempt the connection.

Just remember to put it back on afterwards, although it's not really that
useful behind NAT.

ss.

"DanS" <> wrote in message
news:Xns9AED6D79C1448thisnthatadelphianet@85.214.9 0.236...
> "Vista Newbie" <> wrote in
> news:8C833839-C6DF-491C-BA51-:

> What is the error message given by the client ? Your post says you can't
> connect at all. After getting your inital connection going, if the client
> can connect, but then fails getting the data (data here means dir
> listing's as well as actual files), try it w/o a passive mode connection.
> My FTP sits behind a NAT rtr and if you try to connect with PASV mode, it
> will fail with the data channel (even though that is what they clain PASV
> mode is for).

OK... I manually added the server program to the exceptions of the Windows
Firewall. Now, I can connect BUT, I get the following error:

Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing

Below is part of the client log file:

Status: Resolving address of my.homeftp.net
Status: Connecting to 71.191.150.001:21...
Status: Connection established, waiting for welcome
message...
Response: 220-FileZilla Server version 0.9.24 beta
Response: 220-written by Tim Kosse ()
Response: 220 Please visit http://sourceforge.net/projects/filezilla/
Command: USER TestUserName
Response: 331 Password required for TestUserName
Command: PASS ******
Response: 230 Logged on
Command: SYST
Response: 215 UNIX emulated by FileZilla
Command: FEAT
Response: 211-Features:
Response: MDTM
Response: REST STREAM
Response: SIZE
Response: MLST type*;size*;modify*;
Response: MLSD
Response: UTF8
Response: CLNT
Response: MFMT
Response: 211 End
Status: Connected
Status: Retrieving directory listing...
Command: CWD /
Response: 250 CWD successful. "/" is current directory.
Command: PWD
Response: 257 "/" is current directory.
Command: TYPE I
Response: 200 Type set to I
Command: PORT 192,168,1,2,193,129
Response: 200 Port command successful
Command: LIST
Response: 150 Opening data channel for directory list.
Response: 425 Can't open data connection.
Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing

"Vista Newbie" <> wrote in
news:ej#vrh$:

>
>
> "DanS" <> wrote in message
> news:Xns9AED6D79C1448thisnthatadelphianet@85.214.9 0.236...
>> "Vista Newbie" <> wrote in
>> news:8C833839-C6DF-491C-BA51-:
>
>> What is the error message given by the client ? Your post says you
>> can't connect at all. After getting your inital connection going, if
>> the client can connect, but then fails getting the data (data here
>> means dir listing's as well as actual files), try it w/o a passive
>> mode connection. My FTP sits behind a NAT rtr and if you try to
>> connect with PASV mode, it will fail with the data channel (even
>> though that is what they clain PASV mode is for).
>
> OK... I manually added the server program to the exceptions of the
> Windows Firewall. Now, I can connect BUT, I get the following error:
>
> Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing
>
> Below is part of the client log file:
>
> Status: Resolving address of my.homeftp.net
> Status: Connecting to 71.191.150.001:21...
> Status: Connection established, waiting for
> welcome message...
> Response: 220-FileZilla Server version 0.9.24 beta
> Response: 220-written by Tim Kosse ()
> Response: 220 Please visit
> http://sourceforge.net/projects/filezilla/ Command: USER
> TestUserName Response: 331 Password required for TestUserName
> Command: PASS ******
> Response: 230 Logged on
> Command: SYST
> Response: 215 UNIX emulated by FileZilla
> Command: FEAT
> Response: 211-Features:
> Response: MDTM
> Response: REST STREAM
> Response: SIZE
> Response: MLST type*;size*;modify*;
> Response: MLSD
> Response: UTF8
> Response: CLNT
> Response: MFMT
> Response: 211 End
> Status: Connected
> Status: Retrieving directory listing...
> Command: CWD /
> Response: 250 CWD successful. "/" is current directory.
> Command: PWD
> Response: 257 "/" is current directory.
> Command: TYPE I
> Response: 200 Type set to I
> Command: PORT 192,168,1,2,193,129
> Response: 200 Port command successful
> Command: LIST
> Response: 150 Opening data channel for directory list.
> Response: 425 Can't open data connection.
> Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing

I don't see a PASV mode command set, so did you try to open/forward port
20 & 22 also.

"DanS" <> wrote in message
news:Xns9AED8D5EC4648thisnthatadelphianet@85.214.9 0.236...
> "Vista Newbie" <> wrote in
> news:ej#vrh$:

> I don't see a PASV mode command set, so did you try to open/forward port
> 20 & 22 also.

Your instructions are to open port 20 and 22. Where do I do this? In the
Router settings?

I'm afraid I am confused and do not understand what it is that you are
suggesting. I had played around with the Passive mode settings in the
server configuration. Toggled it On and Off and tried supplying the IP
address of the local host. I also selected Passive mode in the FTP client
software. See the new log file below.

Status: Resolving address of my.homeftp.net
Status: Connecting to 71.191.150.001:21...
Status: Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
Response: 220-FileZilla Server version 0.9.24 beta
Response: 220-written by Tim Kosse ()
Response: 220 Please visit http://sourceforge.net/projects/filezilla/
Command: USER TestUserName
Response: 331 Password required for TestUserName
Command: PASS ******
Response: 230 Logged on
Command: SYST
Response: 215 UNIX emulated by FileZilla
Command: FEAT
Response: 211-Features:
Response: MDTM
Response: REST STREAM
Response: SIZE
Response: MLST type*;size*;modify*;
Response: MLSD
Response: UTF8
Response: CLNT
Response: MFMT
Response: 211 End
Status: Connected
Status: Retrieving directory listing...
Command: PWD
Response: 257 "/" is current directory.
Command: TYPE I
Response: 200 Type set to I
Command: PORT 192,168,1,2,194,181
Response: 200 Port command successful
Command: LIST
Response: 150 Opening data channel for directory list.
Response: 425 Can't open data connection.
Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing
Status: Disconnected from server
Status: Resolving address of wpla.homeftp.net
Status: Connecting to 71.191.150.187:21...
Status: Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
Response: 220-FileZilla Server version 0.9.24 beta
Response: 220-written by Tim Kosse ()
Response: 220 Please visit http://sourceforge.net/projects/filezilla/
Command: USER Wilfred
Response: 331 Password required for wilfred
Command: PASS ******
Response: 230 Logged on
Command: SYST
Response: 215 UNIX emulated by FileZilla
Command: FEAT
Response: 211-Features:
Response: MDTM
Response: REST STREAM
Response: SIZE
Response: MLST type*;size*;modify*;
Response: MLSD
Response: UTF8
Response: CLNT
Response: MFMT
Response: 211 End
Status: Connected
Status: Retrieving directory listing...
Command: PWD
Response: 257 "/" is current directory.
Command: TYPE I
Response: 200 Type set to I
Command: PASV
Response: 227 Entering Passive Mode (192,168,1,2,194,183)
Status: Server sent passive reply with unroutable address. Using server
address instead.
Command: LIST
Response: 425 Can't open data connection.
Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing

On Fri, 1 Aug 2008 16:05:39 -0400, "Vista Newbie" <>
wrote:

>Your instructions are to open port 20 and 22. Where do I do this? In the
>Router settings?
>
>I'm afraid I am confused and do not understand what it is that you are
>suggesting. I had played around with the Passive mode settings in the
>server configuration. Toggled it On and Off and tried supplying the IP
>address of the local host. I also selected Passive mode in the FTP client
>software. See the new log file below.

Newbie:

Try shutting off the Windows Firewall completely. See if it works. If
it does, you know you are down to a firewall problem. If not,
something else is stopping you.

Also, are you sure you want to do this? If it's local file sharing
you are after, you can do it better through a network share. If it's
external access you want to provide, I would suggest simply setting up
a domain ($10) and contracting with a host ($5/month) and doing it
that way. You will get much better performance, more control, and you
don't have to open up your machine and your local network to any
potential security risks. Not to mention, depending on how you value
your time, it's much cheaper.