I was trying to get an FTP server running the other day. I installed vftpd from a package, configured the firewall and vftpd (and the firewall on the client) and yet when I try to connect I don't get very far.

At first, I went with the default config and tried to access the shared directory. It seemed to connect, but then the client would be "waiting for welcome message" and it would eventually time out. After I changed the settings to individual user logins and disabled anonymous, it doesn't even get to that point (using FileZilla as the client). Then I tried to change it back, but it still isn't doing the "waiting for welcome message thing anymore". I guess I should play around with it some more, but if anyone knows of any common pitfalls that I wouldn't spot, please let me know.

Java question: is updating Java on a platform like SuseLinux10 that big a deal? I have 1.4.2 and I think I want to bump it up to 1.6.* Can I just do that in Yast or would that be a bad idea.

I don't suppose you need to stop and start the ftp server any time you change a setting? The web resource I was using didn't mention that.