[Pro] Cannot upload file because of an FTP error?

Freeway
1

Intel iMac OS X 10.5.8 FW5.4.2

I am having a problem trying to upload a website to our client’s chosen ISP. When I try uploading from FW, it uploads the first few files then gives me "Cannot upload file because of an FTP error. [425 Could not open data connection to port 50421: Operation timed out] (the port number changes each time I try, does this mean anything?)

I’ve tried both passive and active FTP and my firewall is switched off. I am able to access the webspace using Cyberduck, but when I uploaded using this method, every 12th file ended up at 0k and had to be recopied individually.

I’m not sure in which order FW copies the files, but it appeared that the only files that got through before erroring were the HTML files, the image files didn’t - could this mean anything?

I’ve googled the problem and tried each of the solutions that I could understand! (turn off firewall, ensure enough disk space)
I’ve spoken to the ISP and they say they cannot understand why I am having problems, as they have approx 200 other clients who are able to upload without problems. I too, am able to upload to other ISPs without problems - I am of the opinion that the problem is at their end and, obviously, they think it’s the other way around! The only thing the ISP think ‘could’ cause a problem is some virus software they have running, but they can’t turn that off everytime I need to upload.

I currently have to zip the files, email them to the ISP and let them place them - hardly ideal!

Any suggestions anybody?

In an ideal world, I could do with someone trying to upload some files into the same webspace from an identical setup as I have, to prove whether the problem is at my end or theirs.

I’m also sending the URL for this thread to the ISP so they can see any suggestions and comment where necessary.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Neil

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2

Who is your client’s host - maybe somebody else here is using them and can shed some light.

David

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3

www.aries.co.uk

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4

Not one I am familiar with but I see that they have Cpanel (or similar)

Does it not have a File Manager feature that will allow you to upload files rather than sending zipped stuff to them?

David

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5

Are they the same files that don’t upload each time you try? Maybe there’s a problem with those particular files?

Bob

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6

DeltaDave,

Thanks, yes, they do have Cpanel, and now you mention it, I suppose it would be easier than zipping and emailing; call me lazy, but I would still rather FW do the work than me! If it turns out that Cpanel is the only option, then so be it! I’ll give it a go anyway.

Robert B,

It does appear to stop at the same point each time (appears to be image files) but the files work fine locally, and also when zipped and sent via email. I can’t really see how the content of the file can affect their transmission though; I assume the file could be transmitted even it it were totally corrupt - it just wouldn’t work at the other end.

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7

Could it be their file format or name? I know that seems pretty obvious, but you never know.

Bob

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8

Hmm, not sure about that. The file it appears to stop at is a jpeg and called ‘picture3a.jpeg’ and is created by FW from an imported tiff. I can’t see anything wrong with it.

Neil

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9

Long shot, but maybe .jpg is preferred?

Bob

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10

Nope, just tried uploading again to find out which file was causing the problem. Last time it stopped with 578 files remaining, this time with 521! Last time with a .jpeg, this time with a .gif. It had already uploaded numerous jpegs, gifs and html files.

Only other difference this time: port 50578 instead of 50421. What is the relevance of these port numbers?

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11

Your host is using Passive FTP (which is normal, and no better/
different than regular FTP). The port you actually upload through is
randomly assigned from within a large range of port numbers. You
signal your intent to upload through the normal port 21, but then the
server tells you what port to use from there.

What does your ISP (not your hosting provider) say about blocking
ports, or firewalls, etc? That’s a possible avenue to explore here. If
your hosting provider is requesting that you upload within the normal
range of passive FTP port numbers, then the only way such a
transaction would be scuttled is if your ISP blocks one or more of
those ports, or something else along the line does.

What type of connection do you have to the Internet?

Walter

On Oct 23, 2009, at 9:25 AM, neil.west1 wrote:

Only other difference this time: port 50578 instead of 50421. What
is the relevance of these port numbers?

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12

Thanks Walter

What type of connection do you have to the Internet? - ADSL broadband via BT

I’ll ask the question to our provider about the ports, but our firewall is turned off so I wouldn’t imagine it would be that.

Neil

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13

The other thing to try is toggling between having Passive checked or not in the upload settings. File>Document Setup>Upload

If Passive is checked then uncheck and vice versa

David

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14

“I’ve spoken to the ISP and they say they cannot understand why I am having problems, as they have approx 200 other clients who are able to upload without problems. I too, am able to upload to other ISPs without problems - I am of the opinion that the problem is at their end and, obviously, they think it’s the other way around!”

Any time I’ve had this happen it was on the other end and it always cleared up after some time. Have you ever been able to upload the site in full at one pass? Did you try different times of day for instance?

If they only have 200 clients then it’s even more suspect on their end I would think. You could try a different FTP app like CyberDuck or Transmission etc. (with a little research on which files to upload) - however, FW should be able to do this…

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15

Sometime around 23/10/09 (at 17:11 -0400) igirl said:

You could try a different FTP app like CyberDuck or Transmission
etc. (with a little research on which files to upload) - however, FW
should be able to do this…

This is the best advice so far. Use a third-party FTP client (some
ones to try: Captain FTP, Cyberduck, Fetch, Transmit, Yummy FTP) and
see how that works. For simplicity just upload the whole site each
time. If this works but Freeway still chokes every time get in touch
directly with Softpress support as they may want to try some tests.

If using a third-party FTP client solves the problem then you could
investigate folder synching or mirroring features that the software
might offer in an attempt to avoid having to upload the whole site or
risk not having everything correct each time you make a change.

k

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16

DeltaDave

Tried both passive and active FTP - no joy!

igirl/DeltaDave

No, I’ve never been able to upload in one pass, and the uploading does tend to be done at different times within the working day. I’ll try it out of hours.
I have tried with cyberduck but, as stated above, every 12th file registered as 0k on the server, I then had to go through and replace these files one at a time - not a task I relish doing every time I upload!

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17

Sometime around 24/10/09 (at 13:31 -0400) neil.west1 said:

I have tried with cyberduck but, as stated above, every 12th file
registered as 0k on the server

Try with one more third-party FTP client - I suggest Transmit from
http://www.panic.com/ - and if you get the same sort of result
complain bitterly to the web host company. If they don’t agree that
their server is somewhere at the root of the problem, WHATEVER excuse
they give, ditch 'em and get web space with a different company.

k

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18

If you use Transmit, go under View>Show Transcript then do your upload. This will show you what’s going on and might help when trying to explain things to your web host.

Bob

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19

Yes Transmit by Panic at $29.95 is a great fully featured tool and you wont regret the investment.

A must have for any serious mac Web Developer - demo available

David

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20

FileZilla maybe? Is free, simple and fast.

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