Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of jjwolven
jjwolvenFlag for United States of America

asked on

Cannot connect to FTP while Windows Firewall is on

We are setting up FTP for Server1 (Win 2008). Windows Firewall needs to be on, as other programs depend on it.

When testing:
When Windows Firewall is on, the connection times out; but when the Firewall is off it tries to connect.
We added all default FTP rules, as well as allow port 21-23 on TCP and UDP, but still times out when trying to connect.

Has anyone ran into this and a fix for it?
Avatar of Jeremy Weisinger
Jeremy Weisinger

Creating port exceptions won't work if the server is in active mode. You can try passive mode or, better yet, create a program firewall exception. That way any ports the program uses will automatically be allowed when it's listening on them.
You need to add the FTP program as an application to the firewall rules.  FTP uses ports 21 and 20 plus 'ephemeral' ports above port 1024.  The ephemeral ports change with every connection and/or data transfer.  See if this page helps: http://www.iis.net/learn/publish/using-the-ftp-service/configuring-ftp-firewall-settings-in-iis-7
Avatar of jjwolven

ASKER

So, if we are using Filezilla, we should setup an exception on the server's firewall for that program?

I thought that Filezilla was just making an FTP request to the server and that the filezilla program was not identifiable as the program being used.
What if I am just trying to FTP through Windows Explorer?
Did you allow "Host Process for Windows Services"?

Windows key + r

Type: firewall.cpl

Click on "Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall"

Make sure you have the appropriate boxes checked on "FTP Server"

Now check to see if you have "Host Process for Windows Services" allowed through the firewall.

If not click on "Allow another Program" ----> Browse to the C:\\Windows\System32 -------> svchost.exe ------> click "Open" -----> Click to "Add" "Host Process for Windows Services"

Now check the appropriate boxes and test the results.
You will need to provide the firewall exception for the FTP server program that is on the server.  Filezilla client from another computer generally doesn't have a problem unless the server side isn't working.
Hi,

Windows Firewall can prevent an FTP connection. You can adjust the setting to allow FTP connections by doing the following:

Go to your Control Panel by clicking on the Windows Orb and clicking on "Control Panel". Click on "Network and Internet".  Click on "Windows Firewall". Click on "Change Setting" and then click on the "Exceptions" tab. Under that tab, put a check mark next to the FTP port 43. This should allow connections to FTP sites. Click "OK" on the Firewall settings and close the other windows. I would then restart your computer and try to connect to the FTP site again.
The FTP server program is the built in FTP in Windows.

We have allowed ports 20, 21, 22, and 43 without success, though the FTP is internal.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Dave Baldwin
Dave Baldwin
Flag of United States of America image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial