Access - FTP connection and Issues

To enable FTP service is easy on N1T1.

[File Sharing Service] -> [File Server] -> enable FTP server.

You will need to enable the FTP folder sharing at [User Account] -> [Folder] and chose the target folder to enable the service.

There are many ways to access FTP, including using the Windows file manager, which is to connect the FTP using native browser. However, there will be many issues if using this kind of connection method. The best way is still using FTP software such as Filezilla.

Here I would like to share the issues I found about FTP service.

They might not be a problem from N1T1, but users still get confused easily when using NAS.

Issue 1. Character Encoding display between Windows SMB (My Network Places) and FTP.

If we enable a folder for both [Windows] and [FTP] options under [User Account] -> [Folder], we will found a character encoding problem. When storing a file name other than English through My Networks Places, the file name will not be displayed correctly when you access the folder through FTP, no matter which FTP software you use. The same issue happens if you do it in a reverse way (store under FTP, browse by My Network Places).

Solution (WinXP User as example)

1. Go to NAS [System] -> [Language], change the client language to UTF-8.

2. Use Filezilla [Site] -> [Site Manager]. Edit the FTP info and go to the tab page [Charset] and check [Force UTF-8]

3. Never use Windows native FTP connection method again.

Issue 2. Remote access and FTP

N1T1 has a great feature that is to access NAS out of your home network.

[System] -> [Network] -> [Remote access (DDNS)], enable DDNS, UPnP prot forwarding and setup your own domain name and password. Complete above setting will allow you to access to your NAS when out of the home network. But now here comes another problem, access to FTP within home network suddenly has been blocked.

Solution (using Filezilla)

Edit the site manager and select the Transfer Mode to Active.