FTP unable to connect externally

what make and model is your router?  is it possible that you need to create a rule that allows traffice to come in on port 21?  Some firewalls require that you allow traffic on a port in addition to forwarding that port.

Also, how are external clients connecting?  Using IE or a ftp client?

they are using ftp client, but I had them try to connect by using DOS also and no go.  Our router is a RV082, it worked up until Friday morning.  Something just happened.  I called my ISP and they said they didn't change anything.  

what happens when they connect, does the connection timeout?

yes

Do they ftp to a url or a specific IP.  If a url, try having them use the IP directly.  Do they use a proxy server from their end to browse the Internet?  

On a side note I like to have users use Filezilla (free download) as their ftp client.  Lot's of nice features and allows setup of a proxy if necessary.

sgh_aba

I will try Filezilla, to see if that works.  They FTP to a specific IP.  I just had them try it again and one of them actually got a connection refused.  I checked the Firewall and It is enabled, but again the port forwarding is open.  

Yea they are using the correct username and password, but to be sure I will change it and let her try, I was unable to get a connection to FTP from home last night also.

Can they connect to any other FTP site. e.g ftp.microsoft.com

May be the problem is at their end.

Ask them if they are able to connect to some other ftp site.

I will have them try that.

They are able to connect to other FTP sites.  I guess there is something blocking it here.

what about reverse DNS ..... is this setup correctly at the site were the FTP server is setup?  usually does not cause a problem but with the added latency of satellite it could cause issues.  Try maping the reverse lookup for one site in the headend and the client side see if that fixes the problem... Using host files of course.

Thanks
Scott

I have never done mapping the reverse lookup, how do I do that?  
Thanks

do you manage the DNS servers that the client side and server side use?  If so you need to add them and what type are they windows or unix?

Thanks
Scott

The ISP is in charge of handling the DNS, they sent me the numbers to use.  Here is a question for you, all of this stuff worked on Friday morning, is it possible that if my ISP changed something and didn't tell me (for example one of the DNS numbers) that this could cause my FTP satellite sites not to be able to connect.  By the way all of my servers are windows.  
Thanks Scott

It's very likley that they changed something and anticipated no impact to anyone.... and could be unaware of it....  you could try adding a host file to your client pc and one host file to your server and see if that helps

Thanks
scott

when adding a host file what do you mean by that I have never done something like that.  My mail server is sendmail, would I have to add a host file to that also?  Thanks

got it figured out, my flipping domain name expired.  So now it is up, but I am going to remember all this help.