Test FTP server

[thomascanty]

I just installed EE and upgraded it to 2.01. Everything looks fine, except for one red flag I get when running the "Install check" routine:

15. ERROR: unable to connect to test ftp server ftp.funet.fi (server not responding in 5 seconds)
server: ftp.funet.fi
port: 21
errno: 110
errstr: Connection timed out
timeout: 5

Is this serious? Why would I need to be able to connect to ftp.funet.fi anyway? That isn't my server. I do have my FTP server configured and working properly.

[Pekka]

I picked funet.fi as a server that is public and most likely open 24/7. The test shows if ftp connection is possible in your php/server, so doing it for localhost makes no sense. They might have a temporary maintenance break or reboot, I just tested and it replies ok for my EE 2.

If the test fails all the time and your ftp server in EE works, then it must be a firewall setting for extenal connect.

[thomascanty]

A firewall would make sense. I'm at work, and the firewall here blocks a lot of things. I just tunneled into my home computer via logmein.com and tried from there, and I'm still getting the same error. Apparently it's something on my host, then.

I don't understand the need for an external ftp server, though. I don't really need to be able to connect to that server in order to run EE, do I?

[wkitty42]

I picked funet.fi as a server that is public and most likely open 24/7. The test shows if ftp connection is possible in your php/server, so doing it for localhost makes no sense.
to reiterate, the test is to see if ftp is possible from within your server. you have to know if you can ftp from your server to anywhere else for eE to work properly. eE ftps the photos to the proper directories... you can have photos stored on other servers and eE must be able to ftp the photos to those servers, too...

is that a better explanation?

[Pekka]

You may use multiple servers if you want to load balance image serving and bandwith, or distribute content for space/speed reasons.

If you do not need those features you can keep using localhost ftp and http.

[thomascanty]

Got it! Thanks.

At this time space, speed and bandwidth are not a concern for me, so all I need is localhost. If my needs change in the future, I'll follow up with my host on the external FTP access issue. But for now, EE appears to be working just as I need it to.