topic Re: Slow FTP transfers in Operating System - OpenVMS

Slow FTP transfers

SmokeyBob — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 17:22:03 GMT

I am trying to FTP transfer an Oracle database export of 1.4GB and transfer speed stays around 9k.
The server is running DIGITAL TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS Alpha Version V5.0A on a AlphaServer ES40 running OpenVMS V7.1-2.
I am connected on an internal Ethernet network.
I can make multiple ftp connections to the server and they all run at the same speed, so I assume it is being limited on OpenVMS's side.
I have googled myself silly and cannot find documentation on checking or setting ftp connection speed limits.
I am sure there are other ways to accomplish this, and am open to suggestions. This seemed like a simple way to get a one time transfer from the system, but it takes several days to download and the server keeps disconnecting from the FTP client after several hours and then the transfer starts over. Appreciate any help I could get.

Thanks, Bob

Re: Slow FTP transfers

Steven Schweda — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 14:44:56 GMT

> I am trying to FTP transfer an Oracle database export of 1.4GB and
> transfer speed stays around 9k.

So, that's a single (binary) file? "9k" _what_? Bits or bytes? Per
second? Measured how? "Transfer" to/from what to what? How, exactly?
Which system is the FTP client, and which the FTP server? Actual
command(s)?

> The server is running DIGITAL TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS Alpha
> Version V5.0A on a AlphaServer ES40 running OpenVMS V7.1-2.

So, old. Not necessarily a problem.

> I am connected on an internal Ethernet network.

Interface speed?

SHOW DEVICE /FULL ethernet_device

I'd guess that "ethernet_device" would be something like EIA0 or EWA0.
For hints:

SHOW DEVICE E

> [...] so I assume it is being limited on OpenVMS's side.

Or the network connection to it? Have you looked at the hardware?
What does the relevant hub/switch/router say?

> [...] cannot find documentation on checking or setting ftp connection
> speed limits.

I can't recall ever seeing such a thing.

> [...] the server keeps disconnecting from the FTP client after several
> hours and then the transfer starts over.

"disconnecting"? Actual error message(s)? "then the transfer starts
over"? Who does that?

> Appreciate any help I could get.

You first? As usual, showing actual actions (commands) with their
actual results (error messages, ...) can be more helpful than vague
descriptions or interpretations. Copy+paste is your friend.

Re: Slow FTP transfers

SmokeyBob — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 23:03:21 GMT

Hi Steven,

Yes, it's a single binary file (1,406,042,112 bytes) created using Oracle's exp command. It's currently transferring at about 9.8 KiB/s and has been running for 26h:11m with no disconnections so far (fingers crossed). It still estimates 11h:49m remaining.

I increased the connection timeout in FileZilla from 30 seconds to 300 seconds. When previous disconnections occurred, the display simply showed "Connection closed by server." Filezilla would restart the transfer, I belive I set it to retry 20 times.

The file is being transferred to a Windows laptop running FileZilla Client. It's connected to the OpenVMS server using its IP address and SYSTEM credentials.

BRISTOL $ sh dev /full eia

Device EIA0:, device type i82559, is online, network device, device is a
template only.

Error count 0 Operations completed 0
Owner process "" Owner UIC [SYSTEM]
Owner process ID 00000000 Dev Prot S:RWPL,O:RWPL,G,W
Reference count 0 Default buffer size 512

Device EIA2:, device type i82559, is online, network device.

Error count 0 Operations completed 3
Owner process "DNS$ADVER" Owner UIC [1,3]
Owner process ID 0000020E Dev Prot S:RWPL,O:RWPL,G,W
Reference count 1 Default buffer size 1492

Device EIA3:, device type i82559, is online, network device.

Error count 0 Operations completed 3
Owner process "DNS$ADVER" Owner UIC [1,3]
Owner process ID 0000020E Dev Prot S:RWPL,O:RWPL,G,W
Reference count 1 Default buffer size 1492

Device EIA4:, device type i82559, is online, network device.

Error count 0 Operations completed 0
Owner process "" Owner UIC [SYSTEM]
Owner process ID 00000000 Dev Prot S:RWPL,O:RWPL,G,W
Reference count 1 Default buffer size 1492

Device EIA5:, device type i82559, is online, network device.

Error count 0 Operations completed 0
Owner process "" Owner UIC [SYSTEM]
Owner process ID 00000000 Dev Prot S:RWPL,O:RWPL,G,W
Reference count 1 Default buffer size 1492

Device EIA6:, device type i82559, is online, network device.

Error count 0 Operations completed 17888
Owner process "DTSS$CLERK" Owner UIC [1,3]
Owner process ID 00000213 Dev Prot S:RWPL,O:RWPL,G,W
Reference count 1 Default buffer size 1492

Device EIA7:, device type i82559, is online, network device.