Ok.. Before any of you read anymore, I did in fact hit the Search Button and search before I posted here. Infact I even Googled, but I couldn't find it + I had a sinus headache so I was feeling like poo.

Anyway....on to the story...Once upon a time...

My router/gateway is a Linksys WRT54G(Firmware v2.04.3) that is hooked directly to a windows XP machine. I have a laptop with Mandrake Linux 10.0, and thats where my FTP is.

So it looks likes this

Internet-->Router--->Computer
.....................|
.....................|
.....................|
.....................O Laptop

Anyway I'm using ProFtpd on the laptop, and I can access the FTP with no problems with my computer, and my brothers in his room thats also connected to the network.

Now here's the problem...

I sent my friend the IP and supposedly it just tries to connect but never loads. I sent it to others to make sure it wasn't just him, but same problem.

I think I have the ports forwarded right...Port 20 and 21 fowarded. Heres an img

img18.exs.cx/img18/8780/router1.png

the laptop is always going to be ip 102 on my DCHP thingy...

Help will be much appreciated...

Can you make a portscan from the outside to see if your ISP let's ftp thru ?

I don't know how to see the laptops IP...All i got is the computers IP that is directly connected.

your laptop's IP is private and thus will never show up on the public network, since it' is not routable. The portscan must be done to the public address of your router. If your ISP supports active FTP and your router is properly setup then ports 20 and 21 will appear open.