Unable to zero in on why FileZilla connects but fails on directory read

[SergioQ]

The short version of my long story:

* Had to reinstall my Ubuntu server, 22.04
* Finally got FileZilla to connect to server
* SSH connects without headache, on same user

Below is the output I am receiving from FileZilla, but my knowledge of linux is less than basic, so unsure how to debug from here.

I have tried to make FileZilla connect to different directories, and they all exist

Status: Connecting to 192.168.1.155:21...
Status: Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
Status: Insecure server, it does not support FTP over TLS.
Status: Server does not support non-ASCII characters.
Status: Logged in
Status: Retrieving directory listing of "/var/www"...
Command: CWD /var/www
Response: 250 Directory successfully changed.
Command: TYPE I
Response: 200 Switching to Binary mode.
Command: PASV
Response: 227 Entering Passive Mode (192,168,1,155,38,145).
Command: LIST
Error: Connection timed out after 20 seconds of inactivity
Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing

[boco]

If SSH connects, try using protocol SFTP in FileZilla. The normal FTP server's data ports seem to be blocked by the server firewall.

[SergioQ]

I found this solution that worked:

Code: Select all

Open Filezilla, go to Edit -> Settings
Click on Connection -> FTP: Choose Active
Click on Connection -> FTP -> Active Mode: Select "Ask your operating system for the external IP address"
Click on Connection -> FTP -> Passive Mode: Choose Fall Back to Active Mode
Press OK.

Which I found here:

https://my.wirenine.com/index.php/knowledgebase/140/How-to-fix-failed-to-retrieve-directory-listing-error-in-FileZilla-FTP.html#:~:text=Open%20Filezilla%2C%20go%20to%20Edit,Fall%20Back%20to%20Active%20Mode

[boco]

That's not a solution, at all.

Click on Connection -> FTP: Choose Active

That shifts the configuration bias to the client. Now you need to configure the data ports on your side, as the server connects back to you. While this might "magically" work locally, it will haunt you later when the client is in a different network.

Click on Connection -> FTP -> Active Mode: Select "Ask your operating system for the external IP address"

You are connecting to a local server, external IP does not apply here.

Click on Connection -> FTP -> Passive Mode: Choose Fall Back to Active Mode

Same as line 1, expect problems when connecting from abroad.