I'm trying to ftp to my linux box from windows and from unix and its not working. I can telnet just fine, but ftp doesn't work. Where should I start looking? What config file is it that controls the ftp? Why does telnet work and ftp not? I'm using redhat 6.1, samba's working for browsing the directories, but no ftp works.

check the file /etc/inetd.conf

look for the line starting with ftp, most likley it has an # infront of it, which means the service is commented out, ie not running. remove the # and issue the command ( as root):
/etc/init.d/inetd restart

if that dosnt work then you probably dont have an ftp daemon installed. check your redhat package manager and pick one to install.

Try to ftp from your unix box to your unix box. does that work? if not, then it may be a problem with the ftp daemon

check to see if you dont also have the ftp port commented out in /etc/services Be sure you have the following lines in /etc/services (and they are NOT commented out). They define the service, port and protocol.

ftp-data 20/tcp
ftp 21/tcp

You can get the ftpd at ftp://ftp.wu-ftpd.org/pub/wu-ftpd I beleive that wu-ftpd-2.6.1.tar.gz is the latest version.

check to see if you have an /etc/ftpaccess file. This file is used on linux systems to provide ftp access control - Do a google search on ftpaccess to find out more. This file can be used to set up anonymous ftp, groups, non-anon and more..

Other WU-FTP files to check out are:
/etc/ftpaccess
/etc/ftpgroups
/etc/ftphosts
/etc/ftpusers

hmm. none of this worked. I can ftp out, i can telnet in from unix, but cannot ftp in from windows or unix. I've checked the /etc/inetd.conf file and the ftp is not #remarked out, not sure what the problem is. I don' thave a /etc/init.d/ directory. FTP was working a couple of months ago, but isn't now for some reason, i mean working in, now can't ftp in at all from any platform.

this is the ftpaccess file, but nothing is glaring out at me that might be wrong:

class all real,guest,anonymous *

email kmartin@dyess.nlxcorp.com

loginfails 5

readme README* login
readme README* cwd=*

message /welcome.msg login
message .message cwd=*

compress yes real,anonymous
tar yes real,anonymous
chmod no guest,anonymous
delete no guest,anonymous
overwrite no guest,anonymous
rename no guest,anonymous

log commands real
log transfers real,anonymous inbound,outbound

shutdown /etc/shutmsg

passwd-check rfc822 warn
tar no guest
compress no guest
chmod yes real
delete yes real
overwrite yes real
rename yes real

this is the ftpusers file: I've tried putting my username in there, to no avail, doens't even allow root, its locked up and no one can get in there for some reason. It's broadcasting fine in Exceed, so that's there.


root
bin
daemon
adm
lp
sync
shutdown
halt
mail
news
uucp
operator
games
#nobody
*
all

The ftpusers file is for denying the users listed ftp access.

See the faq at wu-ftpd.org