topic Re: Free Webspace ftp problem in Archive

Free Webspace ftp problem

RazziB — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:59:40 GMT

Hi everybody

Since saturday 24th April I am no longer able to upload files to my free BT webspace.

I can connect ok to ftphost.btconnect.com with my username and password, that works fine I get the usual "User xxxx logged in." message.

I can use PWD to check my current directory, or cd public to change directory.

But I can not upload or download any files - even a simple directory listing!

If I try to use dir to get a current directory listing it waits for about 3 minutes before giving the following error:

"200 PORT command successful
425 Unable to build data connection: Connection timed out".

Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me? Does anyone have a solution?

I have searched google/bt for any known issues but found nothing.

Thanks

Chris

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

Adavies — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:12:25 GMT

Yes I'm experiencing the same problem, unable to find any information about it

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

hannaharnold — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:47:50 GMT

I also have the problem - I use dreamweaver - bt told me it was the program problem - but ok on the 20th - tried ftp using leech and still got a problem - hope someone from bt sees this and sorts it out as now my website gone blank...

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

Adavies — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:02:31 GMT

I think it must be a server problem, I have experiened this before and it has resolved itself but this time it seems to be lasting a lot longer.

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

dave — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:14:51 GMT

Not sure about everyone else, but to the original poster who has posted the logs:

from the PORT command, it looks like you are using active FTP meaning that the server is unable to open the connection back to the port that your client is specifying, probably due to a firewall issue.

Try switching the mode of the FTP client to passive and see if that resolves the issue.

No problems for me by the way.

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

hannaharnold — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:17:35 GMT

I am being stupid here - how do you change the ftp to passive

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

dave — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:24:10 GMT

I am not entiely sure. Most FTP clients will have this option in one of the settings menus.

You can tell which mode it is in when it is connecting, if you watch the connection log. If you see PORT it is active, if you see PASV it is in passive.

Passive mode is preferable as it causes less issues with firewalls due to the client not having to listen for an incoming connection from the server.

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

hannaharnold — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:29:22 GMT

Checked - and yes, my ftp is passive.

I have not changed anything except my avg was updated in the last few days - is it this?

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

dave — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:31:16 GMT

In that case, you do not have quite the same issue as the original poster who is definately using active mode. It could well be AVG that is doing this. Have you tried disabling it temporarily?

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

hannaharnold — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:50:13 GMT

One, I have spent the last 10 mins looking at avg and not knowing how to 'disarm' it - but also I was told at the very last resort don't do this - cannot I tell it somehow that to ignore the ftp thing (sorry my pc talk is not that good)

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

hannaharnold — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:54:17 GMT

I said when I go to tools etc I have passive ftp checked - however, when I used leech to help transfer the files as dreamweaver not working I could see that is said:

200 PORT command successful

being PORT - this means active?

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

dave — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:55:43 GMT

Yes, this means active. Try changing leech to passive if you can and see what happens. I am afraid I am not sure how to disable AVG.

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

hannaharnold — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:01:05 GMT

Is n't it BT who is my ftp provider that needs to change to passive and not leech - leech is just a program that does exactly what dreamweaver does and puts your local file onto the remote server - it is this that is not working as both programs are saying they cannot get onto the remote server.

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

dave — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:50:24 GMT

The FTP server can handle both active and passive modes. It is the FTP client (leech) that decides whether active or passive mode is in use. Passive mode is certainly a lot more compatible with firewalls due to the way it works.

It is not quite as simple as just putting files on the server. With FTP there are 2 connections going on. The control connection where you send the commands to the server, and the actual data transfer connection

With active mode, for the data transfer the server has to initiate a connection back to your machine and your machine needs to be ready to take this incoming connection. From the original posters logs, it is at this point it is failing.

With passive mode, your machine initiates both the required connections.

Try using something like Filezilla if you are having problems. That is nice and easy to switch modes.

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

hannaharnold — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:18:56 GMT

downloaded firezilla but don't know what todo next - help

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

dave — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:25:51 GMT

Assuming you downloaded Filezilla client and not Filezilla server, enter your FTP login details in the 3 boxes at the top and connect.

Then drag files from the left side (your computer) to the right side (the server)

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

hannaharnold — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:26:19 GMT

relaised downloaded server not client - try again

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

hannaharnold — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:05:14 GMT

yes - it all works now thanks - (well dreamweaver doesn't) seems like you cannot with version 7 tell it to use passive (unless anyone can correct me on this) - I tried updating dreamweaver and managed to get to version 7.01 which made no difference but also went to trial version and now cannot find my numbers to activate!! Good days work hey! But at least website back working.

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

RazziB — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:02:24 GMT

Hi Dave

Thanks for your suggestion to change the mode from active to passive - you are a genius!!

However, unfortunately it does not seem to be quite that simple...:

I have tested with a graphical ftp program - ticking the 'passive' mode box now allows directory listing, file transfers as normal, unticking it results in a 5 minute pause then a timeout error.

Unfortunately we have to send a dozen or so files every 15 minutes which is why we use the standard windows FTP.EXE program because we can automate it.

Using FTP I switch to passive mode by using literal pasv as follows:

ftp> literal PASV
227 Entering Passive Mode (209,235,144,30,133,234).
ftp> dir
200 PORT command successful
425 Unable to build data connection: Connection timed out

But as you can see even after using PASV the very next command seems to be using active mode again, resulting in a long wait and error.

We would like to contine to use the FTP program rather than buy another package that can be automated.

Re: Free Webspace ftp problem

trewirgies — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:58:12 GMT

I have had the same problem - this time with Microsoft Fontpage which I have been using their ftp transfer quite happily up to the end of last week... then suddenly developed a fault in trying to update the website this week…

“425 Unable to build data connection: Connection timed out”

I get the same result from both my laptop and my desktop.

I have been using it for weeks without problem with the settings stored in Frontpage

I hear all th discussion about ftp settings but WHY shoould it suddenly stop working unless the hosts have changed something?