FTP failure to timeout

[Hitesh Rawal]

We have an overnight job that attempts to FTP a file back to our DEC VAX.

The get command is issued, and although it is retrieving the file, it has hung about 3/4 of the way through on the last two nights.

Unfortunately, the FTP does not timeout and we are therefore unable to trap the error. Killing the FTP and rebsubmitting results in the file being retrieved as expected, but we don't want to do this manually every night!

We believe that the issue is down to the network or possibly the file being accessed by another process, but cannot prove this.

Can ftp be configured to timeout? Is this done at our end or at the destination end or both?

Another suggestion is to set a logical flag on completion of the ftp and have a sub-process that checks this flag periodically. Failure to set the flag after say 30 mins results in an abort.

Personally I would prefer to set up the ftp to timeout.

Regards,

[Ian Miller.]

which version of tcpip?
I have seen enabling keepalive help in some cases like this.

[labadie_1]

what gives
$ ucx sh version
$ sh cpu
$ sh sys/noproc
If you are at ucx V4, check you have the last Eco, and post the output of
$ ucx sh comm/mem
$ ucx sh serv ftp/ful
$ mc authorize sh ucx$ftp

[Hitesh Rawal]

Thanks for the quick response.

We are on version 4.1 - ECO 9 (OpenVMS 6.2)

Attached is a file ucx.txt, with the information as requested.

Regards,

[labadie_1]

You have the Eco 9, there is an Eco 10 at the old australian site, see
http://ftp.support.compaq.com.au/pub/ecoinfo/ecoinfo/705.htm

You should anyway apply it, and take a trace of a hung FTP transfer to analyze later

[labadie_1]

For analyzing, ethereal is your friend
http://www.ethereal.com

and see
How to run an IP trace using TCPIP Services for OpenVMS
at
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/askkcs/hpcg/1_0_2985185_2748042.html

[labadie_1]

the following may help too


[TCP/IP] How to Analyze large TCPtraces by Selecting Specific Events

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/asktima/communications/CHAMP_SRC030312000373.html

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

gerard,

I wouldn't install the eco kit like that. There is no clear trace that it will solve the problem while it may introduce new problems.

Use TCPIPTRACE I would say ...

Wim

[Volker Halle]

As Ian said in his reply, try to enable KEEPALIVE:

$ DEFINE/JOB UCX$FTP_KEEPALIVE TRUE in the FTP client job

$ UCX SET SERVICE FTP/SOCKET_OPTIONS=KEEPALIVE on the FTP server. May need to stop and start FTP service.

Reference:

http://www.sysworks.com.au/disk$axpdocjun022/network/tcpip42/manage/6526pro_008.html

Volker.

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

Also check "ucx help set prot" for the timeout setting (drop and probe).

Wim