Critical Error: Could not connect to server

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meghantubbs
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Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#1 Post by meghantubbs » 2020-01-22 18:48

Hi there,

Our database manager recently quit, leaving me in charge of software such as Filezilla. I have only used the basics of this program. The information to connect to the server was put there by the database manager and I just connect and get files I exported from Raiser's Edge.

On Friday this connection quit working. Our IT department has confirmed our server is not the issue. The database manager's old email does not have any emails about needing to update an expiring password. This is the message I receive when I try to connect like normal:

Error: Authentication failed
Error: Critical error: Could not connect to server

Any ideas? I don't have enough knowledge about this program to know what to even search for on the forum, so I'm sorry if this has already been mentioned. Thank you in advance.

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botg
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#2 Post by botg » 2020-01-23 08:13

Wrong username and/or password. Please double-check your login credentials. If the problem persists, contact your server administrator or server hosting provider for assistance.

meghantubbs
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#3 Post by meghantubbs » 2020-01-23 13:53

Thank you!

prop.dees
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#4 Post by prop.dees » 2020-04-19 19:20

:mrgreen: Hello, using existing thread, hope thats ok....

I am in America, I am attempting to hire someone in the Phillipines to work for me, part of their job will be logging into and using FileZilla, every day for transferring files from a server, from a vendor that I use for skip tracing.

She has downloaded and installed FTP FileZilla Client,
I gave her my Username and Password to use to login

But when she tries to login, she gets the:

  • Error Authentication Failed.
    Error Could not connect to server
error message

I use the same login credentials, and and can login fine.

I dont remember doing anything to the settings when I started using it,

One thing is, usually, your first time logging in, you will get a message box (windows message box) regarding "Unknown Certificate"

She didn't get that, and I don't know Why, and if it has something to do with why she can't login

I also had her Screenshot her Site Manager Window, and show me her settings, same as mine, so I am stumped


any help?
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boco
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#5 Post by boco » 2020-04-19 20:07

Probably her error, as she has selected the SFTP protocol (file transfer subsystem over the SSH2 protocol). SFTP is a different protocol and uses host keys, not certificates.

Tell her to leave the protocol setting on "FTP" and Encryption on "Use Explicit FTP over TLS if available" or "Require Explicit FTP over TLS".
No support requests over PM! You will NOT get any reply!!!
FTP connection problems? Please read Network Configuration.
FileZilla connection test: https://filezilla-project.org/conntest.php
FileZilla Pro support: https://customerforum.fileZilla-project.org

prop.dees
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#6 Post by prop.dees » 2020-04-19 20:19

Thanks for the quick reply boco,

the only thing is, the vendor specifically requested SFTP

mine is set to SFTP
not sure if it will change anything
but hope it will!

see attached
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boco
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#7 Post by boco » 2020-04-19 22:13

Well, in this case, you didn't confirm any certificate, but the server's host key. As I wrote, SFTP does not use certificates, at all.

"Authentication failed" means that either the user name or the password was entered incorrectly. Especially when copy-pasting, very often, there are some blank characters introduced. If possible, type the password, don't copy it in.

Edit: Tested myself and I definitely get the box asking to trust the servers host key before any username and password is requested (which I naturally don't have). So, if she didn't get that box she must have permanently trusted the servers host key earlier (in this case, the box doesn't appear, anymore).

I'm not an SFTP expert, so, I have to leave that question to the admin.
No support requests over PM! You will NOT get any reply!!!
FTP connection problems? Please read Network Configuration.
FileZilla connection test: https://filezilla-project.org/conntest.php
FileZilla Pro support: https://customerforum.fileZilla-project.org

prop.dees
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#8 Post by prop.dees » 2020-04-20 01:57

darnit!

ok, thanks a bunch!

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botg
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#9 Post by botg » 2020-04-20 07:17

That screenshot is odd. It shows in text manually added in an image editor to select SFTP, yet the screenshot itself shows FTP over TLS (FTPS).

prop.dees
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#10 Post by prop.dees » 2020-04-20 22:06

noted, they have to dumb things down for people, whatevr the literal meaning of FTP xxxxx is, is probably definitely NOT what its meant to mean....if that makes sense... when they say FTP, they mean FileZilla, I think

prop.dees
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#11 Post by prop.dees » 2020-04-20 22:07

She was able to connect!

Dont know what did it, but hoorah!

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boco
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Re: Critical Error: Could not connect to server

#12 Post by boco » 2020-04-20 23:53

It's just that the Encryption field does not exist for SFTP, so, you should make the screenshot with SFTP actually selected.
No support requests over PM! You will NOT get any reply!!!
FTP connection problems? Please read Network Configuration.
FileZilla connection test: https://filezilla-project.org/conntest.php
FileZilla Pro support: https://customerforum.fileZilla-project.org

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