filezilla "can't establish connection"

[Davifea]

I just installed XAMPP and started apache, mysql and filezilla. Apache and mysql seem to be fine and I am able view the website from a remote machine. However when I try to connect to filezilla from a remote FTP client I get "can't establish connection".

Any ideas on how to resolve this?

Thanks.
David

[Radzio]

Is FTP server turned on?
Are you sure it's not blocked by any firewall?

[Davifea]

xampp control panel shows filezilla turned on. when I press run 'port-check' it shows Filezilla (FTP) at port 23 and Filezilla (Admin) at port 14147. firewall is off. I think something else is conflicting with it but I can't figure out what.

Thanks.
David

[Radzio]

23? Isn't 21 the default one?
Maybe you don't specify the correct port when connecting?

[Davifea]

Sorry that was a typo. It is port 21.

[Radzio]

But you can access FileZilla ftp server locally?

[Davifea]

I just tested Filezilla locally by entering 'FTP://127.0.0.1' into the browser and a directory of Filezilla files shows up. So I'm not sure what's blocking the connection.

[Davifea]

I tried shutting down filezilla removing the service and re-running the service and re-starting filezilla. It was able to make the connection, but once disconnected was unable to reconnect even after repeating the previous sequence. That is, it appears that I am able to intermittently connect to the FTP server, maybe 1 in 30 or 40 times.

I should note that with the same client machine and FTP client I don't have problems with any other FTP connections.

David

[Davifea]

After many more attempts I once again connected to the FTP server. This time I attempted to transfer a file (a few times actually). It did not transfer and here's that part of the log:

TYPE l
200 Type set l
PORT 192.168.1.101.66.88
200 Port command successful
STOR squid.sql
550 Permission denied
squid.sql - 0 bytes transferred
PORT 192.168.1.101.66.89
200 Port command successful
LIST
150 Opening data channel for directory list.
425 Can’t open data connection
TYPE l
200 Type set l
PORT 192.168.1.101.66.90
200 Port command successful
STOR squid.sql
550 Permission denied
squid.sql - 0 bytes transferred
PORT 192.168.1.101.66.91
200 Port command successful
200 Port command successful
LIST
150 Opening data channel for directory list.
425 Can’t open data connection
Error loading directory…
421 Connection timed out
disconnected

Does this shed any light on the issue?

David

[Radzio]

Are you using passive or active FTP connection in your client?

[Davifea]

I'm using Core FTP lite which has a checkbox 'PASV'. I get the same result whether it is checked or not.

[JonB]

Here's a debugging idea:

on your XAMPP server, navigate to the C:\xampp\FileZillaFTP folder, start the 'File Zilla Server Interface.exe', Edit Settings and turn on logging.

I have tested, this works...

(000007) 6/14/2010 16:43:59 PM - jonb (209.xx.68.66)> 257 Directory created successfully
(000007) 6/14/2010 16:43:59 PM - jonb (209.xx.68.66)> CWD /sites/ml.xxxxxxxxxxxx/images
(000007) 6/14/2010 16:43:59 PM - jonb (209.xx.68.66)> 250 CWD successful. "/sites/ml.xxxxxxxxxxxx/images" is current directory.
(000007) 6/14/2010 16:43:59 PM - jonb (209.xx.68.66)> PWD
(000007) 6/14/2010 16:43:59 PM - jonb (209.xx.68.66)> 257 "/sites/ml.xxxxxxxxxxxx/images" is current directory.
(000007) 6/14/2010 16:43:59 PM - jonb (209.xx.68.66)> TYPE I
(000007) 6/14/2010 16:43:59 PM - jonb (209.xx.68.66)> 200 Type set to I
(000008) 6/14/2010 16:43:59 PM - jonb (209.xx.68.66)> CWD /sites/ml.xxxxxxxxxxxx/images
(000008) 6/14/2010 16:43:59 PM - jonb (209.xx.68.66)> 250 CWD successful. "/sites/ml.xxxxxxxxxxxx/images" is current directory.
(000008) 6/14/2010 16:43:59 PM - jonb (209.xx.68.66)> PWD

[no errors as my FTP is working perfecto ATM]

Maybe this will help you get to the bottom of the problem.

Good Luck

[Radzio]

Doesn't it log the same messages as the client app?

[JonB]

My thought is that the FTP server log is likely operating when the client side can't 'see' the connection and that might provide some insight.



Did we do a port scan?

Another thought might be to install the standard FileZilla server 'outside' XAMPP, and see if it works.

Could also be something purely structural like a bad NIC, cable or Router... FTP taxes things as HTML rarely does.

[Davifea]

I turned logging on and I see that it created 'logs' directory and 'Filezilla Server' text document. After trying to connect through the client (unsuccessfully) I went back to check the log and 'Filezilla Server' was empty. It appears Filezilla did not receive any request.

I did a port scan using the XAMPP Port-Check button and it shows FileZilla (FTP) at Port 21. Is there another way to do it which is more informative?

Thanks.