Connection Problems, What's Goin On Here

I can easily connect to my two ftp accounts via the command prompt (XP), but SmartFTP just sits there and eventually times out.

Resolving host name ftp.gutterscreen.net...
Connecting to (ftp.gutterscreen.net) -> IP: 66.96.(xxx.xxx) PORT: 21
Connection timeout. No response from server.

As you can see, the host name resolves ok, but simply doesn't connect.

I connect to the internet via a PPPoe router and run ZoneAlarm personal firewall software. SmartFTP has full Internet and server permissions. I uninstalled and re-installed SmartFTP, but the issue persists. Any ideas?


~Z

Also, here is my system data:

+- System -----------------------------

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Service Pack 1 (Build 2600)

CPU Speed : 1492 MHz
Total Memory : 523760 KB
Free Memory : 341488 KB

+- SmartFTP ---------------------------

Version : 1.0.980.1
Time Stamp : 2003-12-13 01:25:08

+- Application DLL --------------------

controls.dll : 1.6.980.1
ftpapi.dll : 2.0.980.1
language.dll : 1.0.980.1
reseng.dll : 1.3.980.1
smarthook.dll : 1.0.2.1

+- System DLL -------------------------

shell32.dll : 6.00.2800.1233 (xpsp2.030604-1804)
shlwapi.dll : 6.00.2800.1276
comctl32.dll : 6.0 (xpsp1.020828-1920)
riched20.dll : 5.30.23.1211
schannel.dll : 5.1.2600.1106 (xpsp1.020828-1920)

+- Internet Explorer ------------------

Version : 6.0.2800.1106

+- Winsock ----------------------------

Winsock : 2.2

Uninstall ZoneAlaram. Disable Windows XP Firewall.

Then try again.

The problem is with a firewall software running on your computer.

I have the native XP firewall disabled. It's almost useless anyway. I have used ZoneAlarm for years. I have over 70 programs installed on my system. ZoneAlarm works well with all of them. I should not have to uninstall such an important piece of software just to get an FTP client to work.

I will, however, unload ZA (terminate the processes) and see if it makes a difference. ZoneAlarm is every bit as important to me as SmartFTP. If I have to choose between the two, there are other FTP clients that will play nice with ZA.

~Z

Try to go to zonealarm's program control tab, programs, add, go to SmartFTP directory, open, then click on access at trusted and internet and allow. At last that worked for me.

[03:38:23] Resolving host name ftp.rediris.es...
[03:38:23] Connecting to (ftp.rediris.es) -> IP: 130.206.1.5 PORT: 21
[03:38:23] Connected to (ftp.rediris.es) -> Time = 221ms
[03:38:23] Socket connected waiting for login sequence.
[03:38:24] 220-=(<*>)=-.:. (( Welcome to ftp.rediris.es )) .:.-=(<*>)=-
[03:38:24] 220-You are user number 327 of 1500 allowed

BTW if you update your SmartFTP version you must be sure that you (or zone alarm) don't blocks SmartFTP by error

I ran a packet sniffer to get a closer look at what's happening. Here's what I found. I tried connecting to my ftp account, and SmartFTP resolved the host name to an IP and tried to connect. I think it did connect, but SmartFTP doesn't know. The following data was contained in a packet sent from the FTP server to my IP address:

220-=(<*>)=-.:. (( Welcome to PureFTPd 1.0.12 )) .:.-=(<*>)=-
220-You are user number 1 of 50 allowed.
220-Local time is now 21:44 and the load is 0.57. Server port: 21.
220 You will be disconnected after 15 minutes of inactivity.

The data above should have shown up in the lower portion of the remote connection window, but it did not. It just said "Connection timeout. No response from server."

After SmartFTP times out and gives the message "Connection timeout. No response from server," I get a packet with the following data:

220 Logout - CPU time spent: 0.010 seconds.

So, if I receive a packet that logs me out, I must have been logged on, but SmartFTP doesn't seem to know that it's logged on.

This is quite a puzzle.

Check at zonealarm's program control tab, programs, that SmartFTP is on trusted and internet at access allowed.

Yes, having used ZA since the beginning, I'm very familiar with the settings. SmartFTP has full internet and server permissions. I even removed the program entry, launched SmartFTP and let ZA create a new item for it, hoping it might somehow make a difference, but it didn't. There is something very screwy with SmartFTP. It's a shame, too, cause it seems like a pretty nice FTP client.

Edit: I just installed WS_FTP v8.03 and it works just fine. My computer isn't broke, my ZoneAlarm isn't broke... it must be SmartFTP that's broke.

~Z

False statements are not welcome here.

Thread closed.