Whats the Difference between an Active and a Passive FTP Connection?
Originally FTP used Active Mode connections. Here, a connection is first made from the Client to the Server for the “Data Channel”. Next a connection is made back from the Server to the Client for the “Control Channel” after which file transfers can begin. Then Firewalls came along, that don’t mind outgoing connections so much but usually block all incoming connection attempts and so, for Active FTP, the Control Channel connection would fail and prevent any file transfers. Passive Mode was invented to get around the problem of firewalls and here both the Data and Control channels are initiated by the client to the server. The speed at which files are transferred is not affected by whether your FTP connection is Active or Passive. Our FTP server supports both Active and Passive mode connections. Secure FTP connections only use Passive Mode. Our advice is to use whatever works. Some firewalls, you may find yourself behind might only support Active Mode and others only Passive Mode.
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