Hi everyone, I've just upgraded my computer from Red Hat 8 to 9 and now I'm trying to install the ProFTPD server. The installation went fine. However, when I try to start it with:

# service proftpd start

it gives me this reply:

Starting proftpd: [ OK ]

The reply says the server started but when i try to access it, it coudnt connect.When I restart the server, the message says:

Shutting down proftpd: [FAILED]
Starting proftpd: [ OK ]

It seems that the server never started, but the message said it did. I then tried the vsftpd but the same thing happens. Is there anything I'm doing wrong? What can I do to get it the server to work?

This is how I managed to get ProFTP to work. I installed it from source not with an RPM so there could be some differences.
After the installation is done edit the file /usr/local/etc/proftpd.conf and modify the following lines:
ServerType inetd

# Set the user and group under which the server will run
Group nobody

After that edit the file /etc/xinetd.conf and add the following (it's a basic installation but it works for me for the moment):
service ftp
{
flags = REUSE
socket_type = stream
instances = 50
wait = no
user = root
server = /usr/local/sbin/proftpd
bind = <ENTER THE HOST'S IP ADDRESS HERE>
log_on_success = HOST PID
log_on_failure = HOST RECORD
}


After that you can reboot your server and the deamon will start

arooze,

I have a question about these three lines:

bind = <ENTER THE HOST'S IP ADDRESS HERE>
log_on_success = HOST PID
log_on_failure = HOST RECORD


did you leave "bind" line in?
what did you put in for "HOST PID" ?
what did you put in for "HOST RECORD?

I am configuring proftpd 1.2.9 on RH 9.0 and I am getting an error:
421 Service not available, remote server has closed connection <---- when trying to ftp in to the machine, from a remote machine.

when trying to connect...could the three lines above (with the correct comments in them) help to remove my error?

thanks,

zepplin611

As far as I know you need the 'bind' line with your hosts ip-address.
The lines:
log_on_succes = HOST PID
log_on_failure = HOST RECORD
should be litterary in the xinetd.conf
This is how my /etc/xinetd.conf looks like, the only thing you should do is change the ip-address:
<cut here>=============================================
#
# Simple configuration file for xinetd
#
# Some defaults, and include /etc/xinetd.d/

defaults
{
instances = 60
log_type = SYSLOG authpriv
log_on_success = HOST PID
log_on_failure = HOST
cps = 25 30
}

service ftp
{
flags = REUSE
socket_type = stream
instances = 50
wait = no
user = root
server = /usr/local/sbin/proftpd
bind = 100.100.100.100
log_on_success = HOST PID
log_on_failure = HOST RECORD
}

includedir /etc/xinetd.d

<cut here>=============================================

When you get the 'service nt available' message the proftp deamon is not running.

Good luck!

Greez, Arjan

Did you try scanning the local machine with NMAP?

nmap -sT localhost

perhaps it is binding to the wrong port. Did you make sure your server was configured correctly? Doublecheck that it isn't running.

ps -aux | grep *proftp*

====================

netstat -a

will show listening ports on your computer. Maybe one of them will map to the ftp server.

Did you doublecheck the configuration of your server? I didn't notice you mentioning anything about looking at or even editing the configuration file. That would be the first place I would look before ever trying to start it.