ftp error opening folder

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win xp pro w/sp2, firewall on. Have authenticated access on an ftp site. We
can access the site locally w/no issues. External access via the IE
generates FTP folder error. The exact message is "an error occurred opening
that folder on the FTP server. Make sure you have permission to access that
folder. Details: The operation timed out".

We have tried passive mode, disabling the firewall. We are not using ports
20 and 21, but specify a unique port in the FTP command. From what we can
tell the user validates OK and the proper ports are opened. We get a screen
stating "getting folder contents" which eventually times out. We have a
router with the proper ports opened. Any help in figuring out what's going
on would be greatly appreciated.
 
From: "Diane" <[email protected]>

| win xp pro w/sp2, firewall on. Have authenticated access on an ftp site. We
| can access the site locally w/no issues. External access via the IE
| generates FTP folder error. The exact message is "an error occurred opening
| that folder on the FTP server. Make sure you have permission to access that
| folder. Details: The operation timed out".
|
| We have tried passive mode, disabling the firewall. We are not using ports
| 20 and 21, but specify a unique port in the FTP command. From what we can
| tell the user validates OK and the proper ports are opened. We get a screen
| stating "getting folder contents" which eventually times out. We have a
| router with the proper ports opened. Any help in figuring out what's going
| on would be greatly appreciated.

You are saying you are using a syntax such as; ftp://ftp.site.com:72/path1/path2 ?
That is assuming the FTP Daemon is using TCP port 72.
 
Yes, that is correct. I am now wondering whether alternate ports do not work
externally, or, perhaps the data port must at least be set to the standard
port.

Diane
 
From: "Diane" <[email protected]>

| Yes, that is correct. I am now wondering whether alternate ports do not work
| externally, or, perhaps the data port must at least be set to the standard
| port.
|
| Diane

I suggest testing using a GUI FTP utility where you can enter into a site prifile the TCP
port you use. This way you can help isolate wheter it is an IE problem or if it is an
outside problem.

Also, examine the port use. When you normall FTP you use TCP ports 20 & 21. In my example
I used TCP port 72. If you used TCP port 72, what second posrt is used ? Does it still use
TCP port 20 for FTP-Data ?

A good utility to examine PC level ports, in a GUI dynamic view, is TCPVIEW from
Sysinternals.
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/TcpView.html
 
Dave,

Thank you. Sorry for the delay, we got pulled into another issue. Now
we're back to FTP. We tried going to the standard ports 20 and 21 and now
have the same issue with an FTP folder error. I agree with your question
about the associated port when not using 20 and 21. I am not sure whether
port 20 is used or just one port lower in number. Some information I have
seen implied as much, but nothing concrete.

Thanks also for the utility link. We will use it to check the PC ports and
go from here.

Diane
 
Diane,

I am trying to troubleshoot the same issue. Were you able to resolve?
If so, how?

Thanks for your time,

Shaun
 
Shaun,


For use of ports 20, 21 it was a pilot error on our port. We were using IE
and forgot to uncheck "use passive FTP" under Tools/Advanced Options.

Hope this helps.

Diane
 
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