Cannot access FTP server via WAN

[superkrups20056]

Hello everyone,

I know this has been posted multiple times on these forums before, but I just can't access my FTP data via the Internet. I have an Asus RT-AC66U running firmware 3.0.0.4.270.26 (Merlin build). I am not able to access my Cloud Disk (Aicloud) over the internet. I have followed the first steps of the following post already:

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=7793

I have enabled WAN access to the router's interface, and I was able to log into my router over the internet on port 8080; therefore, we know it is not a double NAT issue.

At this point, Merlin suggests changing the port to something other than 21, but then he realizes that even if you type in a new value in WAN >> Virtual Server/Port Forwarding >> FTP Server Port, the FTP server is still accessed using port 21 online. I noticed this too; when I tried changing my FTP server port to something other than 21, logging in to my FTP server on my local network via ftp://[my public IP address], the dialog box came up saying "The server ftp://[my public IP address]:21 requires a username and password." However, it fails to connect to the FTP server when I am not on my local network.

I have a similar problem with Aicloud. Whenever I type in https://[my DDNS].asuscomm.com on my local network it works; however, it does not work via WAN.

My theory is that my ISP blocks port 21. I helped set up my friend's FTP server with his Linksys E4200 a few days ago. He lives in the same small town and we both have the same ISP and equipment. We were running into problems connecting to his FTP server until he was able to change the port away from 21 using the stock Linksys firmware, and everything worked!

Is it a bug in the Asus firmware that doesn't change the FTP port? Is there any way to change the FTP server port away from 21? Will fixing this issue also fix my Aicloud access problem?

Thanks for your time.

 

[shpankey]

Same problem. Any answers yet?

 

[jlake]

Hello everyone,

I know this has been posted multiple times on these forums before, but I just can't access my FTP data via the Internet. I have an Asus RT-AC66U running firmware 3.0.0.4.270.26 (Merlin build). I am not able to access my Cloud Disk (Aicloud) over the internet. I have followed the first steps of the following post already:

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=7793

I have enabled WAN access to the router's interface, and I was able to log into my router over the internet on port 8080; therefore, we know it is not a double NAT issue.

At this point, Merlin suggests changing the port to something other than 21, but then he realizes that even if you type in a new value in WAN >> Virtual Server/Port Forwarding >> FTP Server Port, the FTP server is still accessed using port 21 online. I noticed this too; when I tried changing my FTP server port to something other than 21, logging in to my FTP server on my local network via ftp://[my public IP address], the dialog box came up saying "The server ftp://[my public IP address]:21 requires a username and password." However, it fails to connect to the FTP server when I am not on my local network.

I have a similar problem with Aicloud. Whenever I type in https://[my DDNS].asuscomm.com on my local network it works; however, it does not work via WAN.

My theory is that my ISP blocks port 21. I helped set up my friend's FTP server with his Linksys E4200 a few days ago. He lives in the same small town and we both have the same ISP and equipment. We were running into problems connecting to his FTP server until he was able to change the port away from 21 using the stock Linksys firmware, and everything worked!

Is it a bug in the Asus firmware that doesn't change the FTP port? Is there any way to change the FTP server port away from 21? Will fixing this issue also fix my Aicloud access problem?

Thanks for your time.

Ok guys.....let me see if I can help.

Let me start off by saying that the Asus port forwarding wording in regards to FTP is a little confusing so I understand your pain.

I don't have an RT-AC66U, but I have an RT-N66U currently running the latest stock firmware (.979).

I use Aicloud and don't have any problems locally or remotely. I just setup the built-in FTP server on RT-N66U and it works fine locally and remotely. To test, I used my iphone and disabled wifi on the iPhone and was on a 3G cellular connection. I accessed a music library via FTP (FTP client Pro app) and played 1 song on my iphone via Verizon 3G cellular network. Then I accessed with Aicloud app and played a different song via Verizon 3G cellular network.

So after reading your post, here's where I think you're confused. When I just setup (turned on) the built-in Asus FTP server, I didn't do any port forwarding. In fact, I currently have port forwarding completely disabled on the router. In the past, I have run an FTP server on a different router, and have successfully used double router port forwarding on the Asus by forwarding a different port. I used port 61963 because it's easy for me to remember and it's outside of IANA.

Anyway, I think that's where you are possibly confused. Try disabling all port forwarding on the router and reboot.

Here's the steps that I took to get the built-in Asus FTP server working on the Asus router. At the present moment, I only have one little 8 GB USB flash drive plugged in to the Asus (formatted NTSF).

1. Log in to Asus GUI
2. Click on USB application
3. Click on FTP share
4. click on "share with account"
5. click on "enable FTP"
6. That's it. That's all I did.

I accessed the router remotely over a 3G connection and entered my public ip address. I don't have to enter port 21 on my app because it's an FTP app and it defaults to port 21. I had entered my router login credentials (the same ones you use for logging in to your Asus router GUI)

Ok. Now the Aicloud. First of all, the firmware you are using has an Aicloud security vulnerability, so you might want to update to Merlin .32 or Merlin .33.

If you list the make and model of your modem and your ISP, someone might be able to steer in you in the right direction as to whether your ISP is blocking or you have a NAT router blocking you. Take a look at your network map on GUI. Are you getting a public IP address or private IP address. A private IP address would be something like 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x. Please don't post your public IP address though, especially if you're doing things like FTP.

You can try the basic trouble shooting steps first here:

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=12453

If by chance I totally misunderstood your post, and you're attempting to run an FTP server on a different device besides the Asus router, please post. That will work too, but it will require port forwarding. But if you are just wanting to use the Asus routers built-in FTP server, then no portforwarding is required.

 

[TheDr1ver]

I joined SNB just to respond to this thread since I appear to be having a similar problem, but do not want to use the built-in Asus FTP Server.

I have an FTP server running on a Linksys NAS locally, that is statically set to 192.168.1.25. The NAS FTP server must be run on port 21, otherwise I would have tried changing it already.

If connected to the local network (either physically/wirelessly or through the Asus VPN), I can FTP to 192.168.1.25:21 without any problems.

However, after setting up port forwarding for 2222 to 192.168.1.25:21 TCP, I am unable to make any external connections when I attempt to FTP to [public IP or DDNS address]:2222

Status: Resolving address of [user].asuscomm.com
Status: Connecting to [publicIP]:2222...
Error: Connection timed out
Error: Could not connect to server

I know port forwarding is working properly, because I am able to access the Asus Web Interface and additionally am able to SSH into a Raspberry Pi I have installed (Port forwarding 3333 to 192.168.1.123:22 - BOTH) while on an external/non-VPN connection.

I'm wondering if the router naturally does not want to forward any ports to 21 since it normally reserves that for its built-in FTP server? I've also tried setting up forwarding of 2223 to 192.168.1.25:20 TCP, but had no luck.

I know the NAS FTP server works for external-to-internal, because it has never had any problems in the past with port forwarding on other routers.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Other Info:
RT-AC68U
Operation Mode:Wireless router Firmware Version:3.0.0.4.374_205
HW Accel: OFF
Asus FTP/AirCloud: OFF
Port Forwarding: Basic Config: FTP Server Port:2021 (not that this should matter?)