Having trouble connecting to an FTP server on a remote IIS6/2003 server. I'm prompted to connect and seem to pass authentication, but then I get the error:

"Unable to retrieve folder information from the server. Could not find a Web server at 'theserver' on port 21. Please check to make sure that the Web server name is valid and your proxy settings are set correctly. If you are sure that everything is correct, the Web server may be temporarily out of service."

Note that VWD says "web" and not "ftp" server...I assume that's a cosmetic error? What's weird is I was able to connect a short time ago, and then I got locked out by a setting on the ftp server. I then changed the ftp server's settings (Titan FTP) to give me appropriate access, but now I can't load the website.  Here's a snippet from the FTP log:

2008-03-07 22:23:15 0.0.0.0 0 476 - - - - - - - New incoming connection from IP address: [myRemoteIP], port: 48805, socket=1028/0x404
2008-03-07 22:23:15 0.0.0.0 0 476 - - - - - - - OnPostCreation(pBaseCxn=0x82a2880,socket=1028/0x404), sending 220 Welcome
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028  0 0 - RESPONSE: 220 Titan FTP Server 6.05.550 Ready.
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028  0 0 tech COMMAND: USER tech
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028  0 0 tech Trying to find user:tech
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 tech Found user "tech"
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 tech Checking to see if user "tech" can connect from "[myRemoteIP]"
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 tech User "tech" is permitted to connect from "[myRemoteIP]"
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 tech Check to see if the user's account has expired
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 tech returning 331 to request a password for this user
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 tech RESPONSE: 331 User name okay, need password.
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 - COMMAND: PASS <hidden>
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 - Checking to see if the user account is disabled.
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 - Checking to see if user "tech" can connect from "[myRemoteIP]"
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 - User "tech" may connect from "[myRemoteIP]"
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 - Checking secure connection settings, ConnectionIsSecure=0
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 - Verifying User Home Directory: C:\rootweb\
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 - RESPONSE: 230-Welcome tech from [myRemoteIP]. You are now logged in to the server.230 User logged in, proceed.
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 A COMMAND: TYPE A
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 A RESPONSE: 200 Type set to A.
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 - COMMAND: PASV
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 - Socket #1036 listening on Address/Port: [serverIP]:1901.
2008-03-07 22:23:15 [serverIP] 21 476 [myRemoteIP] 48805 1028 tech 0 0 - RESPONSE: 227 Entering Passive Mode (64,182,240,97,7,109).
2008-03-07 22:23:36 0.0.0.0 0 476 - - - - - - - Closed connection from IP address: [myRemoteIP], port: 48805

So, it seems VWD logs in, but then doesn't send a LIST to get the directory?

Have to tried connecting without using Passive Mode?

yep...tried both ways...and FWIW I'm able to open the same project in VWD 2005 without a problem!

(sorry about the cross-post this is my first post to this forum, and I've got too many windows open here.) 

I was having the same problem moments ago and found my fix.

Problem:
The "Copy Web Site" feature in VWD2008 was connecting to the remote web site.  The folder contents were listing normally.  The status on the local modified file would show "changed".  The remote file would show "unchanged".  When I hit upload I would be prompted; "Do you want to replace the file on the remote Web Site." I would hit yes.  I would get the error; ""Could not find a Web server....."  The local and remote sites would then both show a "new" status with question mark icons.

My Solution:
It turns out my router was blocking this connection.  My router is locked down for all non-standard outgoing connections.  It seems VWD2008 needs unrestricted outgoing permission to upload files.  I configured my router to allow all outgoing ports to my remote web site and the problem whet away.  (I didn't have to to this for VWD2005. And I don't like doing this now !!!! )

Here is my log file from VWD2008:
Copy from 'C:\Documents and Settings\[blah]\[blah]' to 'ftp://{blah]/App_Code started at 3/8/2008 12:01:55 PM.
            App_Code
            Copy file [blah].vb from source to remote Web site.
            Has error -- Unable to add 'App_Code/[blah].vb' to the Web site.  Could not find a Web server at '[blah]' on port 21. Please check to make sure that the Web server name is valid and your proxy settings are set correctly. If you are sure that everything is correct, the Web server may be temporarily out of service.

Copy from 'C:\Documents and Settings\[blah]\[blah]' to 'ftp://[blah]/App_Code' is finished. Completed at 3/8/2008 12:02:24 PM.

 Here is a partial log file from my router showing several failed attempts:
Sat, 2008-03-08 12:02:01 - TCP packet - Source: 192.168.0.5 - Destination: [blah] - [Deny access policy matched, dropping packet Src 1212 Dst 41554 from LAN]
Sat, 2008-03-08 12:07:12 - TCP packet - Source: 192.168.0.5 - Destination: [blah] - [Deny access policy matched, dropping packet Src 1298 Dst 41632 from LAN]
Sat, 2008-03-08 12:11:12 - TCP packet - Source: 192.168.0.5 - Destination: [blah] - [Deny access policy matched, dropping packet Src 1341 Dst 41739 from LAN]
Sat, 2008-03-08 12:13:54 - TCP packet - Source: 192.168.0.5 - Destination: [blah] - [Deny access policy matched, dropping packet Src 1380 Dst 41804 from LAN]
Sat, 2008-03-08 12:16:47 - TCP packet - Source: 192.168.0.5 - Destination: [blah] - [Deny access policy matched, dropping packet Src 1451 Dst 41850 from LAN]

 Hope this helps.

Mark

Thanks for that suggestion, but I don't have any ACLs on my router or any firewall between my desktop and the remote server. What's really odd is that VWD 2005 can connect fine, but VWD2008 cannot...are there any settable preferences in the FTP connections other than passive/not passive that could account for the two apps behaving differently?

Hmm, you don't appear to be the only one with FTP issues...

http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=325383

You may want to consider opening a new connect issue with Microsoft. It's generally a slow process, but perhaps they can give you an answer. Just make sure to keep up with the issue.

What kind of FTP client are you trying to connect to (IIS?) What version is it?

vcsjones:

What kind of FTP client are you trying to connect to (IIS?) What version is it?

Huh? I'm using the VWD ftp connection of course! 

It really makes no sense to me...I'm able to connect from some computers but not others...and I'm able to connect in 2005 but not 2008...it must be something other than VWD2008 itself...

Sorry, I meant what kind of FTP server.

 Titan FTP