Home FTP server - Can use FTP program but not IE or Windows Explorer to get to it?

[NeilF]

I've got an FTP server running at home, which if I use something like WSFTP I can log on fine etc.

However, although I'll swear it worked to start off with, now when I try and log on to the server with Internet Explorer, Firefox or Windows Explorer, I get to the logon details but that's it... It will not actually connected and list the folders...

Anyone encountered this?

ps: I'm trying to log on from a machine outside my network over the internet etc

 

[NeilF]

Which version of IE?

IE 7
Firefox - Latest version

It did work at one point because I recall in Windows Explorer (NOT IE) I could drag and drop files to/from the server...

 

[NeilF]

Alright, and your certain it's logging you into the server? or don't you get this far?

Can you turn loggin on, try access it both methods and check the logs.

With explorer you authenticate, which fetches the file list in explorer view.

Using FTP clients are much better than using IE/FF/WE.

Yes, with Windows Explorer.. I type (for example) ftp://neil.myhomeip.net and it definately asks for the logon, and then says 'Getting contents of folder'... and then after a while returns a 'operation timed out' error - 'An error occured opening that folder on the FTP server'.

Try the same with WSFTP and straight in...


I'll swear it used to work... Dragging and dropping with Windows Explorer is obviously very user friendly!

 

[NeilF]

Try this

ftp://username : password@domain_name

No spaces betweek username and : and password. It turns into a face on this forum.

Skips the logon, but otherwise the same outcome...

 

[NeilF]

Try turning off passive transfers in IE/firefox to see if that works.

If your FTP server is behind a firewall/NAT, then you'll have to configure the firewall to accept, or the NAT to forward the port range used for passive transfers - and perhaps also the IP address that it is reporting to clients (behind NAT, an FTP server will generally pass a LAN IP address to a remote client, which the remote client will never be able to connect to)

Turning off passive mode in IE solved it!!!!!!!

Are you able to explain what the passive mode thing is? I assume then WSFTP isn't using it? I do recall seeing some option in the FTP server regarding it?!

 

[NeilF]

It aint different at all. If you can connect in FTP client then it sounds like its the IE settings or FF settings. Does not explain why you can't access it in WE though. Try a different FTP server just to check. Try This:

http://www.pablosoftwaresolutions.com/html/quick__n_easy_ftp_server.html

With the passive mode, don't I need some ports forwarded on the router? Maybe I've done something stupid in the sofware like turn off passive mode or something?

 

[NeilF]

Thought you got it working?

I did, but the FTP server is for my friends and I don't want all them to have to dig around in IE options to get it to work...

 

[NeilF]

* sigh* tell them to get a client setup.

Sorry but its the only way. A Guide because theres nothing simple in the ftp world.

I'll double check my 'passive' settings back on the server... And see if I need any ports forwarded etc...

If my friends can just type an address in windows explorer and then drag/drop natively that's far easier than installing and running an application...

 

[NeilF]

As I said before, the server was working... So I recon I did something to screw it up...

Now in the settings there is a passive port range and a passive address. The passive address was disabled... I've re-enabled it and will see if that helps (when I'm back away from home again)...