ftp process hanging, firewall related? 1

[WildingLS2]

A ftp is initiated from system A ( Unix )to system B ( Linux ).

System B ftp server is either unable to respond or dies and unable to report that it has died, possibly down to the firewall, or something else.

The ftp process continues to run on system A until it is killed.
This is a VERY intermitent problem. Seven times out of ten the ftp request is successful.
I know very little about firewalling.

It is not a passive ftp connection. Passive ftp fails.

I am struggling to find a solution.

Is it possible to enable a timeout when initiating the ftp command from system A?

Novell BorderManager software is used for the firewalling.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[bcastner]

Do not rule out an MTU issue.

See this excellent discussion. It focuses on Linksys routers but the issue is a generic one:

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,1381832;root=equip,16;mode=flat

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,1700907~root=equip,16~mode=flat

Finally, sometimes you just have to get a better FTP client.

 

[WildingLS2]

Thanks..

More likely to be the ftp client.