Doing passive transfers

Normally, when you connect to an FTP site, the site establishes the data connection to your PC (the client). However, some FTP sites allow passive transfers – this means that your PC establishes the data connection.

By default, passive mode is selected in WS_FTP; we recommend that you use it for transfers to and from FTP sites that support it. Note that passive mode may be required in the following instances:

  • For users on networks behind some types of router-based firewalls
  • Users on networks behind a gateway requiring passive transfers
  • If transfers are erratic
  • If you keep getting failed data channel errors

To select passive transfers for a site:

  1. Click Connect to open the Site Manager.
  2. Select the site in the Sites list, then click Edit.
  3. On the Advanced dialog, select Use passive mode for data connections.