Your best friend for file transfer.

Fetch application logoFetch

stopped being able to connect to one host (9 posts)

  • Started 15 years ago by manitou
  • Latest reply 15 years ago from Scott McGuire
  • manitou Member

    I've been uploading files to an ftp addres for 6 months, often 10-15 times per day. Then one day I stopped being able to connect and haven't been able to connect since.

    I CAN connect to all my other ftp addresses I use, and everyone else I've asked is able to connect to the ftp that I'm unable to open.

    So it's a problem specific to me and this server. None of the computers (I have 3) in my office can now connect to this particular ftp. Why on earth would this happen when I've had no trouble in the past? Nothing has changed on my end....no new equipment, no new software, no new networks. I just get the fetch dog running and running, finally getting a message that "an ftp connection...could not be opened".

    I'm a little desperate because this is a client I obviously need to service a lot with uploads. Suddenly, I can't access them any more. Any ideas?

    Here's my Fetch transcript:
    Fetch 5.2.1 (5C263) PowerPC running on Mac OS X 10.4.3 (8F46) PowerPC English
    StuffIt Engine 0x820, StuffIt SDK Version 10.1.1b1
    Partial serial FETCH5X001-RNWX-PGE2 T
    Connecting to ftp.dsso.com port 21 (Mac OS X firewall is off) (5/7/08 8:13:30 PM)
    Connected to 64.209.227.103 port 21 (5/7/08 8:13:33 PM)
    Update check skipped at 05/07/2008 08:15 PM (next check after 05/08/2008 02:57 AM)

    Posted 15 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi,

    That does sound odd. One possibility is that the server is limiting who can connect based by IP address, and your IP address is not on the approved list; but it's hard to tell for sure if that's the problem.

    The first thing I would try is downloading the latest version of Fetch, version 5.3, and see if that helps. (It's a free upgrade for you, but if you don't want to replace your current copy of Fetch, you could just install Fetch 5.3 someplace else temporarily to try it.)

    If Fetch 5.3 can't connect either, could you please try connecting to the host using the command-line FTP client and let us know what it says when you try to connect?

    To do this:

    * Open the Applications folder.
    * Open the Utilities folder.
    * Open the Terminal application.
    * At the prompt, type:

    ftp your-server-address

    * Replace "your-server-address" with the hostname (or IP address) for the problem server.
    * And then press the Return key.
    * If you connect successfully, the command-line ftp client will prompt you for "Name:"; type your username and press the Return key.
    * Then you will be prompted to enter your password; enter your password and press the Return key. (The letters you type won't appear on the screen, for privacy.)
    * You should get a response from the server at this point.
    * Then please select all the text in the Terminal window, copy it, and paste it in a reply to this message.
    * Then you can exit the command-line ftp client by typing "quit" (without the quotes).

    Thanks,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 15 years ago #

  • manitou Member

    Hi Scott,

    Thanks for your quick reply!

    When I open my Terminal, you directed:
    "* At the prompt, type:"

    I do not get any sort of prompt. How do I enter text in this panel?

    This is what my Terminal window says:

    Last login: Thu May 8 09:03:53 on console
    Welcome to Darwin!
    sally-rauschenfels-power-mac-g5:~ sallyrauschenfels$

    But there is no prompt or way to key anything in. Help?

    Posted 15 years ago #

  • manitou Member

    I'm an idot...I just figured out what the "prompt" means. I'm going ahead with typing in the Terminal data now and will update you.

    Posted 15 years ago #

  • manitou Member

    I cannot connect using the Terminal approach. Here's what my Terminal window says (I kept typing in my name and pass before the server replied to me):

    Last login: Thu May 8 11:17:15 on ttyp1
    Welcome to Darwin!
    sally-rauschenfels-power-mac-g5:~ sallyrauschenfels$ ftp ftp.dsso.com
    Connected to dsso.com.

    421 Service not available, remote server timed out. Connection closed
    ftp>
    ?Invalid command.
    ftp>
    ?Invalid command.
    ftp>

    [This message has been edited by ScottMcGuire (edited 05-08-2008).]

    Posted 15 years ago #

  • manitou Member

    By the way, I did download and install Fetch 5.3 -- which unfortunatley didn't fix the situation.

    Posted 15 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi,

    Thanks for trying those things and sending that information.

    The fact that you cannot connect successfully with either Fetch or the command line suggests that it is either something on your network blocking connections to the server, or the server is blocking connections from your IP address for some reason. It is not a problem with Fetch.

    (I tried with Fetch and while I cannot get on because I don't know the right username or password, I could at least connect successfully in order get the username I tried rejected, which is further than you are getting.)

    Since these problems started unexpectedly, either the folks who run the server made some sort of change, or your Internet service provider or office network made some sort of change that is preventing you from connecting.

    I would start by contacting the folks who run the server and seeing if they can figure out the problem from their end.

    If they don't have any suggestions, if you're in an office with other people, check to see if your coworkers can connect to this server successfully. Then talk to the person who runs the office network.

    If you're in a home office, I'd talk to your Internet provider about the problem.

    I'm sorry not to have a solution for you, but I do not believe there are settings you can change in Fetch or on your Mac to fix the problem - the problem lies elsewhere.

    Please let us know if you have further questions.

    Thanks,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 15 years ago #

  • manitou Member

    Thanks for your help, Scott. Since I am in an office by myself with 3 Macs and nothing has changed on my network, I'll start by contacting the server. I thought I would start on my end first. I appreciate your speedy reply!

    Posted 15 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi,

    You're welcome.

    Even though you may not have changed anything on your network, is it possible that your Internet provider sent some change to your modem's configuration without any notification, or made some change further up their line that is causing the problem.

    However, I agree that contacting the server is the next step to take.

    Best,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 15 years ago #

Reply

  • Or nickname, if you prefer.
  • This will be kept confidential.
  • This is to ensure that you’re a person, not a spambot.