Active vs. Passive Mode FTP

Normally when Robo-FTP connects to an FTP site, the FTP site establishes the data connection to your PC (the client). The data connection is a pathway over which the files that you send and receive are transferred. This is referred to as active mode FTP.

In some cases, however, it may be necessary for Robo-FTP to establish the data connection. This is referred to as passive mode FTP.

You may find that passive mode is required if Robo-FTP is being used behind some types of router-based firewalls or a proxy server.

Robo-FTP defaults to active mode FTP. If you find that you are able to logon to an FTP site but are not able to list server directories, or send or receive files, you may need to set Robo-FTP for passive mode operation.

Passive mode may be selected when configuring an FTP site or by using the /pasv option on the FTPLOGON script command.