File transfer to another ftp server

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Level 2

284 points

File transfer to another ftp server

Dear All,

Please forgive my ignorance regarding the OS X Server possibilities. I am required to upload stock video files to the stock company's FTP server and am having problems doing so with any of the free FTP servers out there. I cannot get them to connect or accept my password, and I wonder if it's just because they want you to move up to the paid features before it will work. Before I spend money on "Pro" FTP apps, I'm wondering if the OS X Server available through the App Store will allow me to transfer digital video files to the stock company's FTP server using the login and passwords that they provide. I would rather invest in OS X Server for other needs than another FTP server. Thanks much. I'm working on an iMac 27inch retina with El Capitan 10.11.1

iMac with Retina 5K display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Oct 30, 2015 8:24 AM

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Answer 1

Barbara Smits Author

Level 2

284 points

Oct 30, 2015 12:15 PM in response to cdhw

Dear cdhw,

You will note that my original statement began with "Please forgive my ignorance" -- I thought that perhaps the OS X server would act like CyberDuck as the FTP send feature, and evidently it will, so I'll give that a try. By the way, CyberDuck is no longer free, but is a $23.00 app through the App Store. I was able to get logged in (it was the stock company's fault), and then ran the gamut of problems with an FTP app download from the App Store which were ultimately cleared up when I downloaded the same app from the Company's website. So, things are working now, but I will check out my Mac's capability of acting as a server as you suggest, and I'll log in with any further questions. Thanks, and all the best to you, too.

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Answer 2

cdhw

Level 4

3,594 points

Oct 30, 2015 8:41 AM in response to Barbara Smits

It's much more likely that a firewall is blocking FTP, which is an appalling protocol from a security point of view. From many other PoVs too, in my opinion.

C.

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Answer 3

Barbara Smits Author

Level 2

284 points

Oct 30, 2015 8:51 AM in response to cdhw

You're absolutely correct. I have several cloud accounts and ways to transfer large video files, but the company requires you to do it through their FTP server, and they are not alone -- it seems that the stock companies that I looked at have this requirement. Outdated and cumbersome to say the least, but I'm trying to solve the problem and am wondering if OS X server can do the job, although the app doesn't get very good reviews, either!

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Answer 4

cdhw

Level 4

3,594 points

Oct 30, 2015 11:58 AM in response to Barbara Smits

If you are required to use 'their' ftp server then I don't understand why you think OS X Server would provide a solution; it's a server not a client, which is what the rest of your question implies you need. All Macs have got a built-in FTP client:

Finder > Go > Server ...

and type the URL ftp:// or ftps:// in to the dialog. Alternatively, try CyberDuck:

https://cyberduck.io

which works fine IME, is free / open source, and provides a large set of options for protocols. You need to ask whoever owns the server you are connecting to what method you should use to make the connection and verify that the necessary ports are open in the necessary directions. If you are trying to connect from a domestic ISP you will need to configure your router/firewall correctly. Network admins dislike FTP and tend to block it at their perimeters so you may need to use a VPN connection to your stock company's network and then most of your problems should vanish.

All the best

C.

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Answer 5

Barbara Smits Author

Level 2

284 points

Oct 30, 2015 1:56 PM in response to Barbara Smits

Dear cdhw,

I went to the Go Menu, connect to server, entered the ftp address of the server I wished to upload files to, but the login failed and I could not access the ftp server with my iMac. The following is from the Apple Support page:

OS X El Capitan: Network address formats for shared computers and servers...

From the Finder, you can connect to FTP servers only with read-only access. To copy files to an FTP server, use an FTP app.

Anything to add to this? Can I use my Mac server to upload files to the other FTP server, or must I go through another FTP application like the one I just used to complete my upload. I would really like to know this for the future, so please be specific in your answer. I am not a server guru!

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Answer 6

cdhw

Level 4

3,594 points

Oct 30, 2015 3:37 PM in response to Barbara Smits

By the way, CyberDuck is no longer free, but is a $23.00 app through the App Store.

CyberDuck is based on GPL licensed software. You can either buy it for $23 from the App store or download a free version from the page I referred to. It's currently 'Cyberduck-4.7.3.zip' from the link with small lettering just above the 'Mac App Store' link, which has much larger lettering.

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Answer 7

cdhw

Level 4

3,594 points

Oct 30, 2015 3:45 PM in response to Barbara Smits

My mistake, I'd forgotten that the Finder client was read only. So, yes the error message means what it says: you need to use a third-party application for ftp.

C.

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Answer 8

Barbara Smits Author

Level 2

284 points

Oct 30, 2015 5:18 PM in response to cdhw

Dear cdhw,

Thanks much for your help on this. Yes, CyberDuck can be downloaded from the website for free, but they strongly urge you to donate! I used Viper FTP Lite from the Web Site and it worked just fine once I got the login problems worked out with the stock company -- they hadn't activated my file. The Viper FTP Lite download from the App Store must have a bug in it, because I could log in and drag my files into the upload window, but nothing happened -- they just sat there and no upload began. I then went to the Viper website and downloaded the application from that site, and that application worked without problems. So, I will use Viper FTP Lite and perhaps update to the Pro Version in the future. Thanks again, and Happy Halloween!

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Answer 9

Oct 30, 2015 8:11 PM in response to Barbara Smits

See if you can use sftp with these folks. Beyond the never-ending problems due to the design of ftp and its inherent incompatibility with modern networks and firewalls, ftp also is wildly insecure, and any uploads you do transmit your password for anyone in a privileged network position — the folks running the coffee shop or hotel Wi-Fi or convention Wi-Fi — can easily acquire it. It's trivial to get connected to a rogue Wi-Fi, too — I encountered one at a convention over a year ago.

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Answer 10

Barbara Smits Author

Level 2

284 points

Oct 30, 2015 8:17 PM in response to MrHoffman

Dear MrHoffman,

I will do that -- I would certainly rather have a secure connection than give anything away to the cyber crooks.

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