FTP through browser / Windows Explorer

[rogerfgay]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been running FTP servers for the first time in my life. I started with The Personal FTP Server (Roth), then tried TitanFTP, and now FileZilla. FileZilla seems to be working great through a regular FTP Client.

Back when I was using The Personal FTP Server, I followed up on a forum tip and ftp:ed through my web browser and Windows Explorer using ftp://username:password@hostname -- that seemed pretty cool.

I haven't been able to get it to work using FileZilla. Can I?

FileZilla knows when I try, and logs me in. It says CWD successful and names the root directory for the user. 200 Type set to A. 227 Entering passive mode.

Back in Windows Explorer, I watch the flashlight search for about 30 seconds before it gives up and says I might not have permission. Same username, password, and hostname in an FTP client works just fine; so there's apparently no mistake or bug -- just a wild guess by Windows about what the problem might be.

[botg]

Perhaps incorrect router/firewall configuration. Hard to tell without complete logs.

[rogerfgay]

Perhaps incorrect router/firewall configuration. Hard to tell without complete logs.

There doesn't seem to be much in the log other than what I included in the post above. What more do you need to know?

(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - (not logged in) (84.291.334.102)> Connected, sending welcome message...
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - (not logged in) (84.291.334.102)> 220 Hello Tom -- Using FileZillar FTP Server - Hope this works! -- Roger
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - (not logged in) (84.291.334.102)> USER rtommy
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - (not logged in) (84.291.334.102)> 331 Password required for rtommy
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - (not logged in) (84.291.334.102)> PASS *****
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - rtommy (84.291.334.102)> 230 Logged on
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - rtommy (84.291.334.102)> CWD /
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - rtommy (84.291.334.102)> 250 CWD successful. "/" is current directory.
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - rtommy (84.291.334.102)> TYPE A
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - rtommy (84.291.334.102)> 200 Type set to A
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - rtommy (84.291.334.102)> PASV
(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - rtommy (84.291.334.102)> 227 Entering Passive Mode (192,168,1,102,8,47)

[rogerfgay]

Perhaps incorrect router/firewall configuration. Hard to tell without complete logs.

router / firewall should be fine. This is the third FTP Server I've had running, and it runs fine with an FTP Client.

[botg]

(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - rtommy (84.291.334.102)> 227 Entering Passive Mode (192,168,1,102,8,47)

You need to tell FZS your external IP address.

[rogerfgay]

(000002) 04/04/2007 13:14:58 - rtommy (84.291.334.102)> 227 Entering Passive Mode (192,168,1,102,8,47)

You need to tell FZS your external IP address.

OK. I remember seeing that advice in another thread, and tried to do something about it the other day. As I recall, I tried entering both my external address and my lan address (because the other way didn't work).

I guess I need more detailed, step-by-step instructions.

[rogerfgay]

Picked up an example from another thread (of course it's always easy once you know how) and I am getting the external IP address showing in the interface log where it was showing an internal address before.

But that hasn't effected the result. Other than the change of address in the log, things are still working (not) as described above.

Alt: I can get the drag&drop icon type features in WinSCP; which also seems to be blazingly fast. It's very nice to be able to live without yet another client however, if I can do small jobs directly in the Explorer or Browser.

[refdk]

I do get the same result.

Using IE to log in I get the same error with the details:

An error occurred opening that folder on the FTP Server. Make sure you have permission to access that folder. Details: The server name or address could not be resolved.

However if I log on to the server via a Command Promt I am able to log in move files etc.

Did you find any solution?

[linerjac]

See below screen:

1. If Static IP, put your IP like I did under "Use the following IP:"
If Dynamic IP, either you setup your router like I did tu use a "DYNDNS" host name or tick "Retrieve external IP adress from" box and leave the adress written in the caption box by default.

2. Check same boxes as me on the screenshot and ports 5000-5100 (TCP)

3. Be sure you have ports 21 and 5000 to 5100 opened in your Firewall / Router.

"4." Be sure your Windows Firewall is configured correctly, see post :
http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/forum/ ... php?t=3608

[rogerfgay]

Thanks. That really helped me to check see if I am doing the right thing. I do have a DynDNS.org account and am using one of their domain names.

Only thing I changed in current set-up so that mine is like yours was to reduce the custom port range from the default. I have added that range to port forward from my router. (Is that the best way to hande it?)

RE: Windows Firewall .... ahhh! There's the rub. Everything else has been working fine (using ftp client software) without opening default ports 1-65535 (or port forwarding from my router). I even tried one server (PFTP - Michael Roth) that did the trick in the browser and explorer handily without those ports open either in the firewall or router.

Anyway ... I also haven't figured out the trick to opening a range of ports in Windows Firewall. It seems to want me to add ports one at a time. But yes, definitely, I added FileZilla FTP Server to the firewall exceptions list.

[rogerfgay]

BTW: RE: size of the custom port range? How big does it need to be? Is it bigger if I need to support lots of traffic and smaller if it's available to a limited group for limited purposes? Or is there something else in the equation for optimum size?

[botg]

Just make it huge to avoid potential problems.