FTP Hosting Problems with Dynamic IP

TheAlex · 23 Sep 2017 at 19:37

In the past week or so I'm having problems connecting to my hosting account via FTP. It'll take ages to connect, time out, or not connect at all. I can be connected, but files won't upload/download, or will only partly upload (so ruining my website for an hour in the case of a CSS file that didn't fully upload earlier).

When Vidahost allow my IP, it works fine, until I restart my PC and my IP has changed. I can't get a static IP with my ISP either, as they only offer them for business accounts.

I've never had this problem before, and I've had a dynamic IP for as long as I've used the Internet (early 2000s). Vidahost support have told me they can't tell me why it happens, as there's no clear reason. So every time I want to connect, I have to contact them with my IP, so they can allow it. I've been with Vidahost for a few years now and I haven't had a problem connecting via FTP until recently.

Is this common? Does anyone know what could be causing it?

BaroUK2 · 24 Sep 2017 at 00:26

Seems like they are using some kind of while listing to allow access to their servers which will have issues with dynamic ip. My guess is how they setup their firewall, to me this needs to sorted out on their end as you are not the only one having this problem as there are others.

Beansprout · 25 Sep 2017 at 17:10

Have you got the log from your FTP client?

TheAlex · 25 Sep 2017 at 23:37

Beansprout said:
Have you got the log from your FTP client?

This sort of thing (some bits asterisked out)?

Code:

Status:    Resolving address of ***.***.***
Status:    Connecting to ****...
Status:    Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
Status:    Initializing TLS...
Status:    Verifying certificate...
Status:    TLS connection established.
Status:    Logged in
Status:    Retrieving directory listing...
Command:    PWD
Response:    257 "/" is your current location
Command:    TYPE I
Response:    200 TYPE is now 8-bit binary
Command:    PASV
Response:    227 Entering Passive Mode (to ****)
Command:    MLSD
Error:    The data connection could not be established: ETIMEDOUT - Connection attempt timed out
Error:    Connection timed out after 60 seconds of inactivity
Error:    Failed to retrieve directory listing

The_WIZ · 28 Sep 2017 at 12:57

Agree with BaroUK2, deffo their firewall settings. If you are on a mainstream company for your broadband, maybe ask your webhost to whitelist the octect for the block of ip's that your isp use.

touch · 28 Sep 2017 at 14:13

Doesnt sound like the firewall blocking your IP to me. You'd either get connected or not in that case. There wouldn't be any partial connection with some files correctly uploaded and some failed.

Try forcing the connection on active mode.
It's in settings > connection somewhere.

edit: had some time to check it.

It's in Edit > Settings > Connection > FTP then choose the 'Active' radio button.

The_WIZ · 28 Sep 2017 at 18:31

If he has to be whitelisted before he can connect, then when his ip recycles he cant, then it must be firewall

BaroUK2 · 28 Sep 2017 at 19:12

TheAlex said:

This sort of thing (some bits asterisked out)?

Code:

Status:    Resolving address of ***.***.***
Status:    Connecting to ****...
Status:    Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
Status:    Initializing TLS...
Status:    Verifying certificate...
Status:    TLS connection established.
Status:    Logged in
Status:    Retrieving directory listing...
Command:    PWD
Response:    257 "/" is your current location
Command:    TYPE I
Response:    200 TYPE is now 8-bit binary
Command:    PASV
Response:    227 Entering Passive Mode (to ****)
Command:    MLSD
Error:    The data connection could not be established: ETIMEDOUT - Connection attempt timed out
Error:    Connection timed out after 60 seconds of inactivity
Error:    Failed to retrieve directory listing

Looks like your Vidahost server is not configured properly for ftp over TLS ( Firewall or NAT Config at Vidahost end or Router ). Go into your ftp client settings and set your client not to use TLS, choose plain ftp either under connection or under encryption when entering your ftp details.

Whats happening is your ftp client has multiple modes to make a secure connection and your server reports to your client that it can use TLS and when your client tries to use TLS because server is not configured properly for TLS connection your connection gets halted.

Plain connection mode is not secure but you can contact your host to allow alternative secure connection modes.
Lets add some humour

MLSD - Lists the contents of a directory if a directory is named.

Client: Can you speak French ( TLS ) or not?
Server: Yes I can speak French ( TLS )
Client: Afficher la liste des répertoires ( MLSD )
Server: Huh?
Client: Afficher la liste des répertoires ( MLSD )
Server: Huh?
Client: Afficher la liste des répertoires ( MLSD )
Server: Huh?
Error: The data connection could not be established: ETIMEDOUT - Connection attempt timed out
Error: Connection timed out after 60 seconds of inactivity
Error: Failed to retrieve directory listing

TheAlex · 30 Sep 2017 at 21:22

Thanks for the replies - it's mysteriously started working fine again, but I'll refer to the above if the problems reoccur.

The_WIZ · 1 Oct 2017 at 01:00

Yeh keep us informed it re-occurs pal