Download takes long to complete (99.9%) and Internet Explorer timeout

[nvetro]

I think my 2 issues are related. I am running Solaris x86 with the newest compile of proftpd. When using an ftp client application I can upload and download fine in both passive and active mode but when downloading when the status bar reaches 99.9% it will stay there for a few minutes before it will fully complete...this causes issues in internet explorer, it will timeout.

Using the standard built in FTP server with solaris it is blazing fast...uploads and downloads complete quickly in both ftp clients, and IE. This is NOT a network issue as my standard built in ftp works flawlessly. The reason I want to use proftpd is to easily chroot users.

I am testing on an 11mb file....what would cause proftpd to download fine and fast, but once it reaches 99.9% it will hang there for a bit in an ftp client and then complete and/or timeout in IE after its been sitting at 99.9%? It is not a active/passive issue

Any ideas? Thanks!

[castaglia]

You might try using the TimeoutLinger directive in your proftpd.conf:

  http://www.proftpd.org/docs/directives/linked/config_ref_TimeoutLinger.html

For example:

  TimeoutLinger 5

Some FTP clients handle the closing of their data transfer connections _very_ badly, hence why proftpd uses "lingering closes".

[nvetro]

Thanks for the quick reply, I tried that setting with no luck, this is the log from the FTP client, it looks like the ftp client is actually timing out and reconnecting to finish..any ideas?

Response:   250 CWD command successful
Command:   TYPE I
Response:   200 Type set to I
Command:   PASV
Response:   227 Entering Passive Mode (numbers).
Command:   RETR student.tar.gz
Response:   150 Opening BINARY mode data connection for student.tar.gz (12642781 bytes)

DOWNLOAD REACHES 99.99%

Error:   Connection timed out
Status:   Resolving address of <FQDN>
Status:   Connecting to <IPADDRESS>:21...
Status:   Connection established, waiting for welcome message...
Response:   220 FTP Server
Command:   USER username
Response:   331 Password required for username
Command:   PASS **
Response:   230 User username logged in
Status:   Connected
Status:   Starting download of /student.tar.gz
Command:   CWD /
Response:   250 CWD command successful
Command:   TYPE I
Response:   200 Type set to I
Command:   PASV
Response:   227 Entering Passive Mode (numbers).
Command:   REST 12642140
Response:   350 Restarting at 12642140. Send STORE or RETRIEVE to initiate transfer
Command:   RETR student.tar.gz
Response:   150 Opening BINARY mode data connection for student.tar.gz (641 bytes)
Response:   226 Transfer complete
Status:   File transfer successful

[nvetro]

UPDATE: Looks like it has to do with files larger then 616k....smaller files it downloads fine and completes 100% quickly.

[nvetro]

nevermind, was a fluke i guess.

[nvetro]

hmm.....am i missing a simple directive? I am lost.

[nvetro]

Sorry unsure how to edit a reply....it looks like its downloading 99%....then timing out....disconnecting, then reconnecting, and downloading the last few bytes....solaris version of ftp does not have an issue.....it does it with different file sizes also so its not a network equipment timeout set.

[nvetro]

It would appear i have fixed it by adding the following directive to the proftpd.conf:

UseSendfile off

odd, anyone know why that is?

[castaglia]

The sendfile() function is implemented differently on different platforms; Solaris is not known for having a good/stable sendfile implementation.

[castaglia]

Which version of Solaris are you using?  What does `uname -a' show?

[nvetro]

OpenSolaris x86 Build 91...its Solaris 10 x86 with some new additions, uname shows 5.11 so solaris 11, but its not offical from Sun, its an open source community release. You can base any sendfile issues off Solaris 10 x86 im sure those issues ported over :-)

Are sendfile issues known in Solaris 10 x86? What does sendfile actually do, and what are the solaris specific issues?