ftp error 425

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I am using ftp from within a scheduled batch file to download virus definitions from a major anti-virus site. The script connects, and gets a listing of definition files using ls. Once I have this list I check if the latest definition is newer than the one I have and then set about downloading it.
The problem I have is that occasionally the ftp server appears to not reply to the ls command. After three minutes I get an error as follows:

ftp> ls
200 PORT command successful.
425 Can't build data connection: No such file or directory.
ftp> quit

I queried the supplier and they have said “we don’t provide support to users using scripts to download updates” (despite the script being published in their help system). I have seen comments relating to the reliability of the standard ftp client, so I am wondering where the problem actually arises.
Do I suspect my ftp client (WinNT sp6a server or W2000 sp3 workstation) or is the problem the behaviour of the server?
tia,
Marty

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Marty, If this is a major vendor why don’t you use their automatic updates? Otherwise, you could investigate FileZilla. Is is an open source ftp product. You may be able to do what you need with it.

Joe

--Joe

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Marty, If this is a major vendor why don’t you use their automatic updates? Otherwise, you could investigate FileZilla. Is is an open source ftp product. You may be able to do what you need with it.

Joe

--Joe

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Marty

I used to use something very like this to get updates via FTP from a well-known firm whose name contained the letters “N”, “A” and “I”. Since FTP does not give an errorlevel (other than zero) you have to check after the FTP whether it worked, using a different method (say a new file gets downloaded, or whatever unique event fits your situation). If it didn’t work, wait a bit and go back to the start of the FTP, and try again, and again, for however many times you think is sensible.

I never got the problem you mention, but I did get a situation when only the second FTP would work (some bit of uselessness in DNS, perhaps, or maybe the server took a little time to wake up).

If it’s of any interest I’ll look out my BATch file when I get back to work tomorrow, and post it as an attachment, for your amusement…!

John

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In reply to both Joe and John…
Joe,
The automatic updates are released about once a week, and if you ftp (or manually download) you can get updates about once a day. Hence I’m trying to use this method to get the more frequent updates. In a perfect world, I’d like to query the server for updates quite regularly – without downloading anything unless necessary.
I’ll have a look at the ftp tool. My problem is not the functionality rather the possible reliability of the windows ftp client (if it is actually a client problem). For that matter running from W2000 seemed *more* stable (but not perfect) so I might rearrange my setup to download from W2000 and then transfer the defintion to the server once I’ve got it.

John,
I had come to the conclusion that if the ftp failed, I’d schedule a retry in a few minutes. The batch file I am using has grown rather large with it’s error checking so adding a retry or two will be no problem at all. Actually I’ve written the new version but not yet implemented it. Again I was hoping to hear if someone else had seen a similar problem, because if the server is simply refusing to talk to me then a retry won’t really help.
I don’t want my retries to compromise the next “normal” definition check, so I’ll probably only allow one; we’ll see how the creature responds!

Thanks all
Marty

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In reply to both Joe and John…
Joe,
The automatic updates are released about once a week, and if you ftp (or manually download) you can get updates about once a day. Hence I’m trying to use this method to get the more frequent updates. In a perfect world, I’d like to query the server for updates quite regularly – without downloading anything unless necessary.
I’ll have a look at the ftp tool. My problem is not the functionality rather the possible reliability of the windows ftp client (if it is actually a client problem). For that matter running from W2000 seemed *more* stable (but not perfect) so I might rearrange my setup to download from W2000 and then transfer the defintion to the server once I’ve got it.

John,
I had come to the conclusion that if the ftp failed, I’d schedule a retry in a few minutes. The batch file I am using has grown rather large with it’s error checking so adding a retry or two will be no problem at all. Actually I’ve written the new version but not yet implemented it. Again I was hoping to hear if someone else had seen a similar problem, because if the server is simply refusing to talk to me then a retry won’t really help.
I don’t want my retries to compromise the next “normal” definition check, so I’ll probably only allow one; we’ll see how the creature responds!

Thanks all
Marty

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