ftp server help needed

[FastLearner]

Hello. I was wondering if someone would be so kind and help me test my ftp server from an external location. I have successfully connected locally (127.0.0.1) but it is one of those things that is very hard to test yourself - and I only have one computer here at home. I have a feeling it is not working from external locations, either from IE or from a real ftp client.

Here are the credentials you will need:

server: garyvogt.myftp.biz
user: visitor
pw: password
port: 21

I am using FileZilla Server server software, but it never really asked me to associate my domain name (I am using Dynamic DNS) with the server. This is why I am thinking it won't work...

Thanks in advance.

[pentachris]

Unable to connect.

I tried the username you provided, "vistor" as well as what I think you meant, "visitor."

[FastLearner]

hmmm. are you at least able to ping the server?

it is at 84.58.151.150 at the moment...

[FastLearner]

I just added the server name to the IP bindings setting. Perhaps it works now?...

Edit: also restarted the server and verified the DNS address (now at 84.58.161.89).

Can anyone tell me if they are able to connect 1) with a web browser or 2) with Filezilla or another client? Thanks again for the help...

[Jiggy]

If I ping 84.58.151.150 I get back,

Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss)

[FastLearner]

Hi Jiggy. Thanks, please try the edited address:
84.58.161.89

Edit: moved to chat if anyone can help out... Thanks in advance...

Another edit: well, no takers in the chatroom so I'm off to bed (that pesky German time zone and all:D))

If anyone wants to check in the meantime, the credentials are:

server: garyvogt.myftp.biz
user:visitor
pw: password

It may be working now, but I give it about 60/40. Sometimes a restart can work wonders...:)

Thanks again.
Bis morgen!

[pentachris]

I'll try it again when I go home for lunch in a couple of hours.

[deddard]

No luck.
Tried with Firefox and got no joy.
pinging the IP address got a time out.
Tracert stopped at 145.254.0.78

Where is the FTP server located? if it's at home your ISP may prevent you using a home based system as an FTP server, another thing with a home based system is that if you are behind a router, you'll need to configure the router to allow connection to the server.

[pentachris]

Sorry dude, I had several people to call while at home for lunch (getting ready to move - stressful!), and I forgot to check.

I'd do it from here, but port 21 is blocked by our corporate firewall...

[FastLearner]

OK, I finally had a little success today. I was able to connect from work using FileZilla. Strangely though, I could not connect from work with either IE or Firefox (wonder why... :confused: )...

I connected and successfully downloaded a file from my server, but then a couple hours later it stopped working and responding to pings altogether. I think this was due to my power settings shutting my hard drive down after 5 hours of inactivity, even though I don't think it was a whole five hours... Also according to my No-IP DUC log, my current IP address was updated every 30 minutes right on schedule throughout the day... I don't think that can happen without the hard drive being on, can it?

Where is the FTP server located? if it's at home your ISP may prevent you using a home based system as an FTP server, another thing with a home based system is that if you are behind a router, you'll need to configure the router to allow connection to the server.

Hi Deddard, I thought this may be the problem at first, too, but I ruled it out once I had my first successful connection today from work. Also my router correctly forwards all requests on ports 20 and 21 to my laptop, on which the FTP server is running.

If someone wants to take another quick stab, I'd be interested in hearing if anyone cxan connect now, perhaps with FileZilla or another real ftp client. Once again, here is the info:

server: garyvogt.myftp.biz
user: visitor
pw: password

**I was just able to successfully ping and connect from home (only with FileZilla), so maybe you will all have more success this time around???

Standing by...

Thanks again for all the help, lads.

[jlreich]

I was able to get through and download with WS_FTP LE, but the connection was rather slow. Got a timeout error, then it went through on retry.

I also got a "block" error when downloading, but then it went through anyway after about ten seconds.

[FastLearner]

Great news! Strangely enough, I was also able to connect from my own computer (the one the server's running on) for a change. Once I unchecked "use passive ftp" from IE's advanced menu, I could even connect with that. Some progress anyway...

Anyone else feel free to try if you want...

Thanks again...

[jlreich]

I just tried with FF and was able to enter user/pw, but then I got the error "425 - can't open data connection"

[FastLearner]

interesting. I wonder if there is a way to turn off passive ftp with firefox as there is with IE... I seem to have the same problem with Firefox that you are having, but I can connect all day now with IE (but only since I unchecked "use Passive FTP").

[FastLearner]

I just tried with FF and was able to enter user/pw, but then I got the error "425 - can't open data connection"

Are you using the FireFTP extension? I just read that Firefox without this extension cannot really be used as a reliable FTP client...

I may give this a try and see if it makes a difference?

Can you connect with IE by any chance?

[jlreich]

Yes I could connect with IE. Interesting though I did not have to enter user/pw.

[pentachris]

Connected using WSFTP.

In response to Neu Textdokument.txt, you're welcome! :)

[mjc]

I could connect to the server with Filezilla, but would get a data error and no directory listing. FF would time out. IE would just sit there searching.

I tried it again...this time, disabling Passive Mode and connected fully.

[FastLearner]

Looks like we can wrap this up. You guys have all been a great help - I appreciate it. It looks like I just need to play with the server a little bit and its settings as the last step. In summary, for those just joining us, I learned the following things here:

1) Firefox is a web browser, not a good FTP client. The FTP client ability comes only if you have the FireFTP Extension (or another ftp extension if there is one) installed, which I had absolutely no luck with.

2) IE, by default, used Passive Mode FTP. At this point I can enable this on my server to accomodate those using IE's default setting, or I can just tell people to connect without using Passive Mode. I saw in my FileZilla FTP Server, in fact, that I can set up which ports to use for Passive FTP.

3) Real FTP Clients, in general, offer more flexibility and options than trying to use a web browser and the ftp:// protocol. It's kind of like comparing a 1) cell phone with a built-in camera and 2) a stand-alone digital camera. The device designed explicitly for taking pictures will win just about every time...

4) If you're using an ISP that changes your IP address all the time, if you want to run your own FTP server from home (or web server, for that matter), you can either pay the high costs of having a static IP address from your ISP or you can utilize Dynamic DNS, which associates your domain name with your IP address, no matter what it may be at any given time. My free Dynamic DNS software (which is free primarily because I use their domain name) is called No - IP. It updates the Internet's DNS servers every half an hour. Pay versions can do this every five minutes or even more frequently if you want.

That's about it. Thanks everyone again for the help...