FTP info needed.

[Silverbug]

Hi, Im making an FTP client using winsock (only because Inet is too limited when it comes to my advanced features that Ill be adding later on.)

I have a bit of a problem with the list command. More specificly what the server sends the client. I have been using Serv-U as a local server on my machine while testing it. When I send the list command it returns the string which I then decode and output to the user. However other servers dont seem to work the same.

So what I needed to know is what is the output from the server to the client when the list command is sent. I have looked in the FTP RFC(959 I think) and cant find it ne where.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[JoshT]

Can you use a passive mode connection to the other servers so you don't have to open a listening port on the client?

[Silverbug]

wooohh! slow down there. hehe. whats passive mode? (take note of the avatar on the side ) i think i know what ur talking about but im pretty new to ftp etc, so i am still learning.

i have a friend who is writing a ftp server and thats why im writing the client. eventually it will be able to detect that its connected to the "advanced server" (the one my firend is making) and open up a whole group of advanced features.

however i just wanted to know how the list command works (well actually whats replyed to the client)
what and how dose passive mode work?

[JoshT]

Passive mode causes the FTP session to only use one connection. I believe normally FTP uses port 21 for commands and port 20 for data. The list command returns data from port 20 on the server to a listening port on the client, IIRC.