FTP not listing files

[d0nny]

Hi

I'm having problems with FTP on one of my machines (on one of my clients machines actually). He uses Macromedia COntribute to edit his website and then upload - all done seamlessly in the background using the FTP details of his site.
Somehow, today, he couldn't connect although his internet connection is fine - no problems browsing.

I remotely logged onto his machine and tried FTP through the command prompt and although I can connect to his website using FTP, as soon as I do a DIR or an LS on the server, after about 1 minute the connection closes (Closed by remote host).
I can connect to his website from my machine (using Filezilla or Command Prompt) and everything is fine. I've even tried to connect to my website from his machine using FTP and I get the same response - as soon as I try listing files, the connection is closed.

I think I can safely say there is a problem on his machine, but I can't work out what it is. He has no internet security enabled (Nortons or anything else) and I have disabled the Windows Firewall, but still no joy.

I'm stumped! Anyone else got ay ideas?
I've asked the owner if anything has changed, but he's almost computer illiterate and probably wouldn't know if anything has or not (these guys are the worst anyway!).

Any help or suggestions would be gratefully received!

D0nny

 

[gdvissch]

This could be an active mode FTP/passive mode FTP issue.
When you connect to an ftp server you use port 21 (FTP). It is used to send commands to the server after the initial connection. Data sent back from the server (files or the output from an 'ls' command) are using port 20 (FTP-DATA)
Depending on your network/firewall/NAT setup the secondary port can probably not be set up (this connection is actually set up in the other direction i.e. from server to client, so your own personal firewall could be blocking it...)

When switching to passive mode FTP, only one port (21) is used for command and data. In filezilla you can set this in the connection settings, in internet explorer in the advanced internet options ...

CU
G.

 

[d0nny]

Thanks gdvissch.
I think I managed to sort it out. I went to the PC today and looked at all the settings and managed to get the FTP to work properly. Not really sure what I did, but I don't care - as long as it works!

Thanks again ....