ORA-29260/ORA-24247

I am trying to read a file on a ftp server..

I compiled the package provided in sdstuber's blog..

https://www.experts-exchange.com/Database/Oracle/PL_SQL/A_3043-How-to-FTP-with-Oracle-PL-SQL.html


when I execute the following piece of code to test it..I get the following error

    DECLARE
        v_conn   sdsftp.connection;
    BEGIN
        sdsftp.clear_log;
        sdsftp.set_log_options(1);
        v_conn   := sdsftp.open('localhost','<user_name>', '<pwd>');
        DBMS_OUTPUT.put_line(
            '----------------------------------------------------------------------------'
        );
        DBMS_OUTPUT.put_line(sdsftp.get_clob(v_conn, 'test.txt'));
        DBMS_OUTPUT.put_line(
            '----------------------------------------------------------------------------'
        );
        sdsftp.close(v_conn);
    EXCEPTION
        WHEN OTHERS THEN
            sdsftp.close(v_conn);
            RAISE;
    END;
    /
   

ORA-29260: network error: not connected
ORA-06512: at "HR.SDSFTP", line 432
ORA-06512: at "HR.SDSFTP", line 236
ORA-06512: at line 17
ORA-24247: network access denied by access control list (ACL)


all the privs have been given to the package owner ie HR..

The FTP server and the database reside on the same machine..(ie windows xp)

I am able to access the ftp server using ftp://localhost or ftp://<hostname>

not sure why I am getting the errors..

Please let me know if you have any ideas to trouble shoot this..

thanks