FN-FORUM: FTP connections

date posted 17th January 2006 17:08

Hi All,

Query regarding FTP connections over the internet: I'm increasingly having
to download repro files from FTP sites rather than being supplied a disc or
ISDN. It is often the case that any given site will connect ok through
Safari on a Mac but not on a PC with IE, and vice versa (with many other
combinations inbetween). This means that significant time is wasted trying
various combinations of platform and browser to try and get a transfer
going. Sometimes the link has a username and password built into it
(referred to by customer as browser optimised), other times this has to be
entered manually. In any case the whole process is very temperamental and
starting to become a proper hassle.

I wonder if anyone can clarify for me the difference between connecting
through a web browser or using an FTP client?; and what key questions to
consider when trying to connect? My limited understanding is that FTP should
be cross platform like web, but this is certainly not the case judging by
recent experience.

Example:>>>
Trying to download from a Hermstedt Stingray FTS server, using a URL.

Failed:
OS X - Firefox, error message reads something like "won't open"
OS X - Safari, error message reads something like "cannot open..."
Windows XP - IE6, eror message similar to those above
Windows XP - Smart FTP, error message similar to those above

Succeeded:
Windows 2000 - IE, connection and download worked ok.

Has anyone got any advice for troubleshooting FTP issues?

Cheers

Rob