Command-line FTP function does not work

Question

I am using Windows 7 and have multiple FTP client applications working without any problem. However when I use command-line FTP, I can get connected, log in (after entering user name and password) but it always get disconnected when dir or ls command is used. The response is "Connection closed by remote host".

Any tip would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

You'll usually see this type of thing happen when the server tries to connect back to you but can't. FTP originally used two TCP channels. One was for commands, and the other for transferring data. When you run the dir command it uses a data channel. The data channel is established on demand and results in the server trying to connect back to you.

That's most likely being blocked by your router or windows firewall. What you need is a client that supports PASV mode.

You can enable PASV mode in internet explorer. http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/novellgroupwise/ht/setpassiveftpie.htm

Or use a different client. I'm not sure if the command line version can use PASV mode. It's a very basic client.

Answer 2

I encountered this problem on a Windows 2008 server.

This article suggests enabling the Application Layer Gateway Service. This did not fix the problem for me.

What did fix the problem was adding an exception in the Windows Firewall for C:\Windows\system32\ftp.exe

Answer 3

I was experiencing the same issue with 3rd party POS software on a Windows 7 machine that batches client transaction data over back to a SQL server.

It worked fine until the client location changed ISPs and, therefore, static IPs. Command line FTP commands did not work beyond the initial login and none of the remedies I found online or this thread worked.

Just for kicks, I re-created the FTP rule in the firewall, a cheapo D-Link, and viola, it seems to be working again.

Answer 4

I had an issue with transmitting files via FTP once I was logged into the box in question. It would create the file name, but the file was empty. I resolved by doing the following:

• go to Control Panel → Windows Firewall → Advanced Settings → Inbound Rules
• double-click the Name column to sort by name
• scroll down until you see two rules called "File Transfer Program"; these were set to Block on my PC (big red circle with a line through it)
• double-click on the rule
• on the General tab, under Action, set to "Allow the connection"
• click OK
• do this for the other rule

Should be good to go now.