Local FTP not working

[Dogway]

I'm not sure why but I can't seem to be able to acces my mobile phone through ftp.

I install an app that tells me the address and the port, but I can't get to that by any means, FileZilla, Pale Moon, or file explorer. It simply times out. It happens in both partitions (XP and 7) and without any antivirus or firewalls, so I don't know what could be going wrong. The only thing that comes to mind, might be a disabled service or Window feature (in case it uses any), since local FTP is not something I use on a daily basis I might have turned it off.

[Tripredacus]

Different phone models may act differently, also how are you connecting to it? Are you on the same subnet? Do you need to enable sharing on the phone? etc.

[Dogway]

Yes, same wifi. I simply use one of those FTP apps, enable service, and try to access from my computer. I didn't spot any "sharing" setting when I checked a few hours ago. I'm not sure what can be wrong, I googled for the issue yesterday but nobody asked about smartphone options, one guy said to try to check "Use default gateway on remote network". I don't have that option though, hence my question if any service is needed for FTP.

[jaclaz]

Are you trying to serve via FTP files residing on the phone, accessing them from another device?
Which EXACT FTP server are you using?
Which EXACT phone is it/which OS does it run?

jaclaz

 

[Dogway]

I'm using this phone (spanish brand), and this app.

What do you mean with server? it's local, my phone IP is 192.168.1.2, and the open port is 2121. That's how I try to access: ftp://192.168.1.2:2121

[jaclaz]

A "server" is something that "serves" (usually contents and usually according to a given protocol).

FTP is such a protocol, it implies the use of a "client" and of a "server" program.

In this case that app is (or should be) a "FTP server" (though thanks to the new idea of calling things with some other names it is called differently).

However the "tags" are correct :

 

Quote

Tags: file explorer, server ftp

 

On the other side (your Windows XP or 7) you run a "client" that should connect to the server and allow you to see the files (contents) of the phone.

Explorer (and most browsers) do allow (besides local and http paths) also ftp access, but there are a number of parameters (sometimes not-so-easy to set/inspect/change) that may make the setup not working.

You should try to use a  "specific" FTP Client program to attempt connecting, as such a program will allow you to see what the client "asks" and what the server "responds", if you are attempting to use it in Explorer (or in a normal browser) a number of security settings/firewall/antivirus/etc. may be involved in the issue.

A good, simple program (old and not anymore supported) is LeechFTP:
http://www.leechftp.de/

a more recent, supported one is WinSCP:
https://winscp.net/eng/docs/free_ftp_client_for_windows

but even a couple commands in the console should be enough to understand what the problem is:

http://www.xpertmart.com/Manual/Synchronization_Test_FTP_Server.html

Seemingly the program you used is a very simple FTP server with no particular settings, so it should work "out of the box", if you cannot make it work, you can try some alternatives, such as (same "Wi-Fi Transfer" name, and same FTP protocol used):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.kenig39apps.wifitransfer&hl=en

or this one (strangely similar to the one you posted a link to):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mbapp.ftpserver

or this one (with some added options, useful also for troubleshooting):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=lutey.FTPServer&hl=en

jaclaz

 

Edited April 12, 2016 by jaclaz

[Dogway]

I also used another app called Wifi FTP. I tested things twice before posting here. As I said I didn't use any firewall (windows firewall is disabled), and I used FileZilla, don't know if you dislike it for some reason.

The first CMD test failed in case it helps. I asked if there are needed services for FTP to work because I can have a look at them and save a lot of "figuring out" time.

[Tripredacus]

14 minutes ago, Dogway said:

The first CMD test failed in case it helps.

The first test on that page is to get a response via SNMP/ping. SNMP response need not to be enabled for FTP to work.
Did you try to connect using "Test 2" at all? What happens with that?

You posted your phone's IP before, do you know the subnet and have you made sure your PC and your phone is on the same IP range and subnet?

[jaclaz]

Sure SNMP/Ping is not *needed* for FTP, but AFAIK (unless something was changed lately or by the user) by default an Android should reply to ping requests, so it would be a sign that another protocol is working (or if you prefer that there is a connection).

There are reports that the phone MAC needs to be added to the ARP table in order for it to work, however:
http://forum.airdroid.com/discussion/379/i-can-t-even-ping-my-phone

possibly because the Wi-Fi router/access point/whatever *needs* ARP resolution:
https://supportforums.cisco.com/document/137186/how-arp-functions-ftp-process

jaclaz
 

[Dogway]

I did "Test 2" yesterday, before posting here... all I get is some idling, then a new line with "ftp>".
My phone is 192.168.1.2, PC is 192.168.1.3, gateway is 192.168.1.1. What do you mean with subnet? They are all connected to the same wifi.

jaclaz: let me check MAC permissions, that might be a thing.

EDIT: I added the MAC to the ARP table without success. I also turned on my Wii, since I know I have used its FTP many times before at least with XP (this is homebrew Wii), but again, no success from 7 at least. Just one difference, with the phone, I get a ping response of "timed out", with the Wii, it's "Destination host unreachable"

Edited April 12, 2016 by Dogway

[submix8c]

? FTP "incoming" ports are 20 and 21. Why Port 2121 on the phone? You'll note that's the open (incoming) ports on your XP and Win7, so....

You also may need to allow incoming ICMP port opened for "ping" (or "echo") to work.

Of course, this is the "server" ports (which may make the above irrelevant) but there's also the "browser" service involved with Local, as well as all devices being in a common "Workgroup".

For Windows 7 you should use "Public" (not Home/Work) and open up all the other options within it.

Now backing out, since jaclaz is "on" this...

[Dogway]

submix8c, I proactively opened 2121 port just in case.

EDIT: so no need for this?

Edited April 12, 2016 by Dogway

[Tripredacus]

5 hours ago, Dogway said:

EDIT: so no need for this?

Well that would be for if you had an FTP server on the computer. For Windows to act as a client, you shouldn't need to open any ports on the firewall to connect to an FTP site. This is partly because Windows Firewall is quite passive on outbound connections. The only thing you may need to do is add your FTP client to the exclusion list, but I've never had to do this. Since you said you have the firewall disabled, it doesn't matter.

You can see your subnet on the Windows PC in CMD by using ipconfig -all. The subnet needs to match on the PC and on the phone. BUT, this may only be true if the PC is also connected to wireless or you are using an adhoc network. If you are using a wireless router, see if there isn't any isolation set up for wireless clients. Same as if the PC is wired and the phone is wireless, some routers isolate the traffic between both networks. I would say that you probably should stick with using CMD FTP to verify you can connect, then switch to a more comfortable GUI once you get it to work.

So how is your network set up? Can your computer see other wireless systems?

Regarding ports, you can see a diagram (showing server and client) as well as ftp commands for connecting here:
http://www.slacksite.com/other/ftp.html

It may be interesting to note that the FTP program in CMD uses the LUnix commands and not Windows ones, so the ones in that example will work fine.

Also, the standard FTP ports are 20 and 21, however in real world you may run into other ports, such as if the server is using SFTP, TLS, etc, not to mention some implementations may use custom port numbers for reasons.
http://www.rebex.net/kb/secure-ftp/

[jaclaz]

AFAICT the "Destination Host Unreachable" seemingly confirms that the addition to ARP table does *something*, if I get this right, if you ping from the PC to the phone WITHOUT the phone MAC added to the ARP table you should get as well "Destination Host Unreachable" (which in a nutshell means "cannot find destination"), whilst when you have the MAC added you should get "timed out" (which in a nutshell means I can find device but it doesn't reply).

If the above is correct it does mean that there is some kind of "isolation" in the network.

It is entirely possible that you have to review and change some settings in the WiFi router, as Trip said, it depends on the specific make/model of router, there are some that have an (almost) understandable web interface (with meaningful tags for settings and the possibility to change them) and some that are pretty much "locked", either because they are actually "locked" or because the web interface and available options seem to have been written by a drunk Klingon .

jaclaz