FTP into my Lan opens control & data ports but no data allowed through router

[ShamblesX]

Hi.

Been happily sending a daily FTP zip of my website's database (100Mb) to my local (home) server since 2012, via BT and then Virgin Media.

Since I switched to EE full fibre 500 in late July, no data has been reaching my local FTP server, though my local logs show the following, at each attempt:

2025-08-07 14:33:54 77.37.37.122 - 192.168.0.99 21 ControlChannelOpened - - 0 0 22961699-d93c-4ed1-aba9-400f731a00db -
2025-08-07 14:33:54 77.37.37.122 - 192.168.0.99 21 USER FTPmysql 331 0 0 22961699-d93c-4ed1-aba9-400f731a00db -
2025-08-07 14:33:54 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 PASS *** 230 0 0 22961699-d93c-4ed1-aba9-400f731a00db /
2025-08-07 14:33:54 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 PASV - 227 0 0 22961699-d93c-4ed1-aba9-400f731a00db -
2025-08-07 14:33:54 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 TYPE I 200 0 0 22961699-d93c-4ed1-aba9-400f731a00db -
2025-08-07 14:33:54 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 QUIT - 221 0 0 22961699-d93c-4ed1-aba9-400f731a00db -
2025-08-07 14:33:54 - SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 57849 DataChannelClosed - - 0 0 22961699-d93c-4ed1-aba9-400f731a00db -
2025-08-07 14:33:54 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 ControlChannelClosed - - 0 0 22961699-d93c-4ed1-aba9-400f731a00db -

So, the port (21) forwarding is ok, password is validated ok, passive mode is selected ok, type set to binary ok and the control & data channels are being opened, but no data is being allowed through the router, and the push mechanism (a small php script, using ftp_put) reports an error.

My local server is running Windows 2008 R2 and this setup has been great for 12-13 years but no longer works for me, since connection of the Smart Hub Plus.

I've read plenty of posts in this community but nothing seems quite relevant. I'm half hoping there's an issue with this router's hardware as the ethernet ports won't keep a connection to my TV, but that's the subject of another topic.

Grateful for any insights, or idea I've not yet thought of.

[XRaySpeX]

Is the local FTP Server Window's or your own? I presume the latter. If so, have your tried using Window's FTP Server?

In its log you show there is no corresponding DataChannelOpened . How's that?

[ShamblesX]

Thank you, XRaySpeX, for reading my issue and taking the time to respond.

I use the standard Windows FTP server and it's served (pardon my pun) me well for over a dozen years.

Good spot with the missing "channel opened" message. The last log before I switched providers had this:

2025-07-20 16:00:34 77.37.37.122 - 192.168.0.99 21 ControlChannelOpened - - 0 0 5ba1f6af-3eda-4b17-a70a-5e07faf3e3ae -
2025-07-20 16:00:34 77.37.37.122 - 192.168.0.99 21 USER FTPmysql 331 0 0 5ba1f6af-3eda-4b17-a70a-5e07faf3e3ae -
2025-07-20 16:00:34 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 PASS *** 230 0 0 5ba1f6af-3eda-4b17-a70a-5e07faf3e3ae /
2025-07-20 16:00:34 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 PASV - 227 0 0 5ba1f6af-3eda-4b17-a70a-5e07faf3e3ae -
2025-07-20 16:00:34 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 TYPE I 200 0 0 5ba1f6af-3eda-4b17-a70a-5e07faf3e3ae -
2025-07-20 16:00:34 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 63770 DataChannelOpened - - 0 0 5ba1f6af-3eda-4b17-a70a-5e07faf3e3ae -
2025-07-20 16:00:46 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 63770 DataChannelClosed - - 0 0 5ba1f6af-3eda-4b17-a70a-5e07faf3e3ae -
2025-07-20 16:00:46 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 STOR dump202507201700.gz 226 0 0 5ba1f6af-3eda-4b17-a70a-5e07faf3e3ae /dump202507201700.gz
2025-07-20 16:00:46 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 QUIT - 221 0 0 5ba1f6af-3eda-4b17-a70a-5e07faf3e3ae -
2025-07-20 16:00:46 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.0.99 21 ControlChannelClosed - - 0 0 5ba1f6af-3eda-4b17-a70a-5e07faf3e3ae -

Which does show the DataChannelOpened log, alongside a successful STOR message.

Now I've got a headache as it could be that the arbitrarily assigned data port/channel is not being opened after all (and Windows logs aren't showing why not), which reinforces my opinion that the router isn't permitting data by not permitting a "random" data port.

Hmmm.....  more head scratching required.

[Mustrum]

@ShamblesX  Have you changed the DHCP / IP range on the EE Hub?

The default on the EE hub is 192.168.1.x-254.

[ShamblesX]

Hi, yeah I use 192.168.0.100-253 as I have so many devices with static IPs in the range 192.168.0.1 - 192.168.0.99

As in the logs I posted, my main home server is statically allocated 192.168.0.99 with my gateway set to 192.168.0.1

Please don't tell me my FTP data ports can only be allocated if I use the issued/default hub range 😯

[Mustrum]

@ShamblesX   Sorry just checking.BT/EE routers do limit the available ip range so we’re it me unless you are using DV  you may be better with your own router if you are running non standard settings.

[ShamblesX]

I'll make some time tomorrow to temporarily revert [to defaults] the DHCP changes I've made to this router, just to rule out any limitations on IP ranging.

Thank you both for your responses. 

[ShamblesX]

Sadly, after I fully reconfigured my whole network (printers, TVs, 2 NVRs (4 cameras on each) and 4 WiFi access points) the result was "no change".

2025-08-08 15:05:48 77.37.37.122 - 192.168.1.99 21 ControlChannelOpened - - 0 0 21e19cb7-b4b5-4ad3-bfba-cac114f1f11f -
2025-08-08 15:05:48 77.37.37.122 - 192.168.1.99 21 USER FTPmysql 331 0 0 21e19cb7-b4b5-4ad3-bfba-cac114f1f11f -
2025-08-08 15:05:48 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.1.99 21 PASS *** 230 0 0 21e19cb7-b4b5-4ad3-bfba-cac114f1f11f /
2025-08-08 15:05:48 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.1.99 21 PASV - 227 0 0 21e19cb7-b4b5-4ad3-bfba-cac114f1f11f -
2025-08-08 15:05:48 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.1.99 21 TYPE I 200 0 0 21e19cb7-b4b5-4ad3-bfba-cac114f1f11f -
2025-08-08 15:05:51 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.1.99 21 QUIT - 221 0 0 21e19cb7-b4b5-4ad3-bfba-cac114f1f11f -
2025-08-08 15:05:51 - SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.1.99 61456 DataChannelClosed - - 0 0 21e19cb7-b4b5-4ad3-bfba-cac114f1f11f -
2025-08-08 15:05:51 77.37.37.122 SHAMBLESSERVER\FTPmysql 192.168.1.99 21 ControlChannelClosed - - 0 0 21e19cb7-b4b5-4ad3-bfba-cac114f1f11f -

Looks like a EE Hub [firmware?] issue, so maybe I'll get my own and see how far I get.

[bobpullen]

What hub are you using and is it any different without passive mode enabled?

[ShamblesX]

Hi,

As mentioned in my opening post I was sent a Smart Hub Plus.

I've been using Passive mode for ever with no issues, but I did do a test without passive, but my Windows FTP server rejected it, as I expected it to. 

I think I'm confined to purchasing a router to handle this, though I'm surprised I have to resort to that.