Changing the Default FTP Transfer Mode

FTP has two different ways to establish a data connection between the FTP server and the client, the proxy acting as a client. The two modes are referred to as PASV and PORT mode FTP.

• Passive Mode (PASV). The data connection is initiated from the proxy server, and the FTP server accepts the connection. This is safer for the site running the proxy server because the server does not have to accept inbound connections.

• Active Mode (PORT). The data connection is initiated by the remote FTP server, and the proxy accepts the incoming connection. If the proxy server is within a firewall, the firewall might block the incoming FTP data connection from the FTP server, which means the PORT mode might not work.

Some FTP sites run a firewall, which makes PASV mode non-functional for proxy servers. Therefore, the proxy server can be configured to use the PORT mode FTP. You can turn on PORT mode for the entire server, or you can turn it on only for specific FTP servers.

Even when PASV mode is on, the proxy server will use PORT mode if the remote FTP server does not support PASV mode.

If the proxy server is behind a firewall that makes the PORT mode FTP non-functional, you cannot enable PORT mode. If default is selected for the resource, the proxy server uses the mode from a more general resource. If none is specified, PASV mode will be used.

To Set the FTP Mode

1. Access the Server Manager and click the Routing tab.

2. Click the Set FTP Mode link. The Set FTP Mode page is displayed.

3. Select the resource from the drop-down list or click the Regular Expression button, type a regular expression and click OK.

4. Select the FTP transfer mode

5. Click OK.

6. Click Restart Required. The Apply Changes page is displayed.

7. Click the Restart Proxy Server button to apply the changes.