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How To Enable Passive FTP Transfer Mode in Microsoft IIS Server When Windows Firewall is On?

Problem:

When you turn on Windows firewall in Microsoft Windows Server 2008/2003, FTP will only works in “Active Transfer Mode” but NOT “Passive Transfer Mode”. Some FTP clients do need passive transfer mode if they are behind a firewall. Some FTP publish services like blogger.com can only support passive ftp transfer mode as well.

Solution:

You can enable passive ftp transfer mode in Microsoft IIS server. Please follow these steps.

a. Enable direct metabase edit

Step 1: Open Start > Programs > Administrative Tools > Internet Information Service (IIS) Manager.
Step 2: Right click “ServerName (local computer)” and choose “Properties”.
Step 3: Check on “Direct Direct MetaBase Edit” and click “OK”.

b. Add PassivePortRange

Step 1: Open C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetsrv\MetaBase.xml with NotePad or other editors.
Step 2: Add a new line ‘PassivePortRange=”5001-5008″‘ in “IisFtpService” section.

c. Disable direct metabase edit and re-start iis

C:\>iisreset

d. Open firewall ports

Step 1: Open Start > Settings > Control Panel > Firewall.
Step 2: Add the TCP ports 5001-5008 to the firewall exception list.

e. Test

Now you should be able to connect to ftp server with passive transfer mode.

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