Topic: Problem with External FTP Access

[gsownsby]

I am new to SME but not to running FTP servers.  I can access the SME FTP folders without problem as long as I do it from my local network using the server name or assigned IP address (not from the Internet).

My Linksys firewall router and its port forwarding are correctly pointing inbound FTP traffic on port 21 to the SME box.  I can also see within my FTP client software, the correct routing to the SME box happening so at least the FTP request is getting to the SME box's doorstep.

I understand that the "Remote Access" FTP settings override the settings regarding external access in I-Bays, so I set the Remote Access FTP settings to permit access from the Internet and the second setting to permit passwords from anywhere.

When I click the "save" button in Remote Access, SME gives the following error message "Operation status report  Error occurred while updating system configuration."

When attempting this again and changing the FTP settings in Remote Access back to the previous settings, I get the same error message.

Any thoughts on this problem?  I've checked the SME User Guide but don't think I'm doing anything wrong.  All of SME functions seem to be working fine.

Thanks for your help.

[gsownsby]

No thoughts at all?  Thanks.

[CharlieBrady]

When I click the "save" button in Remote Access, SME gives the following error message "Operation status report  Error occurred while updating system configuration."

You'll need to track down details of the error in one of the /var/log/messages files. Search for "|Status|" and you'll find out which action script failed. Just above that line, you'll probably find further details of what the problem was.

That said, there's still a good chance that your FTP problem is actually with your router. You can't simply port forward the FTP protocol - it's a "two connection" protocol, and you may be only forwarding one of those connections.

Why do you have the router, rather than use "server-gateway mode"?

[gsownsby]

Thank you for your reply.  I'll check the logs as you suggest.

Yes, I know FTP is a two connection protocol and both ports are correctly routed to the SME box.  I operate an FTP server on another box and it works fine with when the router settings settings are connected/forwarded to its IP address instead of the SME box IP address.

Regarding why use a router vs the SME Gateway-Server Mode...at the present I am not confortable with SME but I can control the router in a heartbeat.  Perhaps too, the router is a simple box without hard drives and lots of software to do a relatively simple job.

Thanks again...may be the logs will shed some light on this error and the problem.

[gbaird]

What version of SME are you using

Sounds like Sme 6.5 I believe it is a little bug in 6.5

when you change access settings using the remote access screens

try setting the
Allow administrative command line access over secure shell to YES
once and I don't think you get the error then reset it back to NO leaving your ftp set as you want

hope this helps

[CharlieBrady]

Sounds like Sme 6.5 I believe it is a little bug in 6.5

Do you have a reference to that bug in the bug tracker here? If not, and you think there's a bug in 6.5, please open a bug report.

Thanks.

[gbaird]

Charlie

Bug report # is  0000279 however I don't know how to edit the bug report as I did not mention it is in SME server 6.5rc1 only
But did post a note to that effect

Greg

[gsownsby]

gbaird,

Trying making the change but still get the same error message when attempting the setting change you suggested and also when "unsetting" the change you suggested.

Other than this everything seems to be okay.  Thank you.