FTP Questions

Networking, Wireless Routers (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax WiFi), NAT, LAN configuration, equipment, cabling, hubs, switches, and general network discussion
Post Reply
User avatar
Roody
SG VIP
Posts: 30735
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2000 12:00 am
Location: East Tennessee

FTP Questions

Post by Roody »

okay couple of comments here. First, I have a friend who was thinking of setting up his computer as an FTP server, unfortunately his IP is dynamic. In order to access his FTP will he have to keep giving out his new IP as it changes or is there an easier way to deal with this?

Second, we were testing out his site today trying to get into his server. At first I couldnt get into it using CuteFTP. I tried it with CuteFTP on multiple computers and couldnt connect. Oddly enough when I tried it with WS_FTP I could get in. Any ideas on why his server likes one FTP Client and not another?
cyberskye
Senior Member
Posts: 4717
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2001 12:00 am
Location: DC

Post by cyberskye »

One was connecting in passive mode, one was connecting in active mode. The difference is which end (client vs. server) selects the port for data. The communication port is almost always 21. If both sides are effectively firewalled this becomes problematic...
anything is possible - nothing is free

:wth:
Blisster wrote:It *would* be brokeback bay if I in fact went and hung out with Skye and co (did I mention he is teh hotness?)
:wth:
User avatar
Roody
SG VIP
Posts: 30735
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2000 12:00 am
Location: East Tennessee

Post by Roody »

ok so im not sure what this is telling me?
cyberskye
Senior Member
Posts: 4717
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2001 12:00 am
Location: DC

Post by cyberskye »

That's probably what's going on. You may need to change how cuteftp connects. I can explain how ftp works....

FTP works across two ports (command and data) and in one of two modes. The comm port is the one connected to by the client usually 21). Then things get a little different.

In active mode ftp: Once the client connects, it tells the server (via the comm port) which port to use for data. The server then connects to that new port at the client machine..

Security implication? The firewall on the client must be configured to allow incoming connections on all ports >1024.

Passive mode (PASV): (standard by the way for most browsers and other clients) Once the client connects then SERVER tells the client which port# to use to establish the data connection. The client still establishes the data connection, but has no control over which port will be used.

Security implication: Now the server must leave open a number of ports above 1024 to accept incoming data connections.


Firewalls (at least the kind you or I could afford) do not associate the two connections. In other words, thedata connection might look like an attack....

The server and the client must use the same mode to be successful.


Make sense? remeber, you asked... :)

Skye

A suggestion for you and your friend - and a more secure one at that?

http://www.networksimplicity.com/openssh/

This is a free, windows version of secure shell client and server. Made to replace ftp, rsh, rlogin, and rcp in the unix world. MUCH easier to protect and uses crypto. ftp passwords (the whole session actually) is sent in the clear - any snoop can capture the whole sessions.
anything is possible - nothing is free

:wth:
Blisster wrote:It *would* be brokeback bay if I in fact went and hung out with Skye and co (did I mention he is teh hotness?)
:wth:
User avatar
Roody
SG VIP
Posts: 30735
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2000 12:00 am
Location: East Tennessee

Post by Roody »

thanks for that Cyberskye, i really appreciate the time you put into this. :)
cyberskye
Senior Member
Posts: 4717
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2001 12:00 am
Location: DC

Post by cyberskye »

Glad to help. Goes around and comes around :)

Cheers,

Skye

EDIT - as for the dhcp issue - search for "dynamic dns" on your favorite engine. This is a means of running public servers behind a dynamic ip.
anything is possible - nothing is free

:wth:
Blisster wrote:It *would* be brokeback bay if I in fact went and hung out with Skye and co (did I mention he is teh hotness?)
:wth:
User avatar
BlackSword
Advanced Member
Posts: 700
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Post by BlackSword »

Originally posted by cyberskye


http://www.networksimplicity.com/openssh/

This is a free, windows version of secure shell client and server. Made to replace ftp, rsh, rlogin, and rcp in the unix world. MUCH easier to protect and uses crypto. ftp passwords (the whole session actually) is sent in the clear - any snoop can capture the whole sessions.
FYI looks like they just stopped supporting openssh today.
P4 2.4ghz 512ram XP pro ATI 9600pro
P4 2.0ghz 256ram Win2000 Geforce2 MX 400
P4 1.6ghz 512ram XP Home Geforce4 Ti4200
P3 866mhz 320ram ME & XP pro TNT2
All thru HotBrick 600
P3 1.1ghz 260ram Win2000 laptop
cyberskye
Senior Member
Posts: 4717
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2001 12:00 am
Location: DC

Post by cyberskye »

I guess I jinxed it :(

Let me check the developer's amazon wishlist and see if we can't get one more release out of him !
anything is possible - nothing is free

:wth:
Blisster wrote:It *would* be brokeback bay if I in fact went and hung out with Skye and co (did I mention he is teh hotness?)
:wth:
User avatar
Alex_Select
Member
Posts: 84
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2001 1:23 pm
Location: Washington, D.C.

Hope this helps

Post by Alex_Select »

http://www.no-ip.com/ will allow the following for free:


Use No-IP's FREE dynamic DNS solution to run a server at home even with a dynamic IP.


Our dynamic DNS update client tracks your changing IP.


Have a site with a long URL? Use a short host name to redirect to your existing site.

Plus they have pay serives...but for what you looking for would be perfect...they will even give you a free domain name...

Good luck...
InTaH
Member
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2001 2:47 pm
Location: Canada

Dynamic IP Solution

Post by InTaH »

Another very popular program to try is http://www.dynip.com

I believe it has a trial period (30 days?), but it's the easiest to set up, and definately worth the couple of bucks/ month they're asking.

The Dynip client gives you a "username.dynip.com" static IP, and has a little program (that uses very little system resource) sitting in your tray which keeps track of your changing (dynamic) IP.
User avatar
Alex_Select
Member
Posts: 84
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2001 1:23 pm
Location: Washington, D.C.

No-Ip Is Free

Post by Alex_Select »

and allows you to setup 5 hosts for free, and has more host names than just no-ip.com; then have a variety of ,com, .biz, .org, .us, .ca, etc....
InTaH
Member
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2001 2:47 pm
Location: Canada

No-Ip

Post by InTaH »

I just tried out No-Ip for the first time. Looks great :)
It actually looks better than my favorite - Dynip!

Thanks for the info.
Post Reply