FTP Clients cant download Files from External FTP Server - Pfsense Config Help

humps

I'm Running Pfsense 2.0.1 with Dual WAN fail-over (2 WAN + 1 LAN - No Load Balancing)

I Close all Outgoing Ports on Pfsense and only open Ports that i use ie. 20,21,445,80,etc

I'm having problems downloading files from External FTP servers (ftp.server.com) using any FTP client (Filezilla)
I can connect to the FTP server and login to the server but i cant list directory or download any files - error: 425 Can't open data connection.

I think the problem has to do with how Passive FTP Servers Work with incoming connections on a HIGH ports, i have not figured out how to fix this problem regardless of countless reading on the forums and the wiki plus numerous configurations but still no luck….... :-[
Right now i feel so confused, i'm tired of reading, i've removed all my configurations and ready to start from scratch can someone share there setup and breakdown it down slowly so i can understand how to configure Pfsense for FTP.

Any Help Appreciated
Thanks Much

humps

??? *bump
still here…...trying to get some help with this problem
any help appreciated

johnpoz

well if you have ports closed - then no your not going to be able to ftp on the data side.. Because its not going to use the ports you have open.

Here is a good writeup on how ftp both active and passive work.
http://slacksite.com/other/ftp.html

So in active connection server would be making the connection back to you from source port 20 to some random port the client sent to the server. So do you have helper running that would open that connection based upon what it saw in the control connection to what the client sent the server?

In an passive connection the client would make some connection to a random high port that the server used. Port 20 wold never be used in this type of ftp.

If your wanting to lock down traffic – best is to allow all ports to IP of whatever ftp server you want to access.

humps

Thanks for the Link, it was a good read . . . ;)

@_" If your wanting to lock down traffic – best is to allow all ports to IP of whatever ftp server you want to access."_

Ok Thanks I will try that

I May also try opening all outbound ports for the Specific IP address of the computer that need access to a FTP Server.

Sorry for the late reply

Thanks again
Much Appreciated

johnpoz

but that would allow that ip to do whatever it wanted on anything. It would be more secure to just allow all ports, or at least the high ports to the ip of the ftp server they need access to.

humps

@It would be more secure to just allow all ports, or at least the high ports to the ip of the ftp server they need access to.

You are so RIGHT…I will take your advice as it relates to the above

Thanks Much again