FTP speeds are incredibly slow

P

PlymWS

Verified User
Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
6
I've noticed that the speed of my FTP server, proftpd, is incredibly slow. I have speed tested my connection to the internet and my connection to the server and they are all at normal speeds. I have also tested my server to Easynews and that gives full 100MBit throughput.

When I try and use the ftp on my server however I am only getting 100k/sec when I should be getting a lot higher. My tests have concluded the problem is with the ftp daemon so what can be done to increase speeds ? Also can I uninstall the proftpd program and use proftpd-mysql instead as this gives me greater control over users ?
 
Add this to /etc/proftpd.conf

<IfModule mod_delay.c>
DelayEngine off
IdentLookups off
UseReverseDNS off
</IfModule>

Then type

/sbin/service proftpd restart
 
Last edited:
chatwizrd said:
Add this to /etc/proftpd.conf

<IfModule mod_delay.c>
DelayEngine off
IdentLookups off
UseReverseDNS off
</IfModule>

Then type

/sbin/service proftpd restart
Click to expand...

This only helps with the initial connection, not the connection speed during a transfer.

Our FTP speeds suck as well. Our speed is less than the origional posters. Try 88kbs max. That really sucks. I expect much faster upload than 88kbs to a Dual Operton box.
 
Yeah, that did nothing to the speeds. I have completely removed iptables ( apt-get remove iptables ) but I'm still getting slow speeds over FTP. If I transfer over http I get full speed so there is a problem somewhere in the ftp setup.

I tried removeing proftpd and installing proftpd-mysql instead but couldn't login as DA started the old daemon !!!

Also, if I alter the name of the server ( ServerName ) in /etc/proftpd.conf it doesn't appear when I login. This has always been the config file I've used before but it doesn't appear to be the one this time. Any ideas ?
 
This is why i hate proftpd. A better alternative is pure-ftp. Its much faster and on inital connect it blazingly fast.

DA needs to offer pure-ftpd as proftpd sucks not too mention its security issues.
 
Is it possible to remove proftpd from DA and install another FTP program ? Or would this 'break' DA ?
 
PlymWS said:
I have completely removed iptables ( apt-get remove iptables )
Click to expand...
So now you have no firewall at all. I'd recommend reinstalling it and managing it properly (use either kiss or apf+bfd.
but I'm still getting slow speeds over FTP. If I transfer over http I get full speed so there is a problem somewhere in the ftp setup.
Click to expand...
Or perhaps in a mismatch between the duplex settings in the NIC in the server and the router; this is most commonly the problem, especially if both are set to auto negotiate.
I tried removeing proftpd and installing proftpd-mysql instead but couldn't login as DA started the old daemon !!!
Click to expand...
Not a good idea; see below.
Also, if I alter the name of the server ( ServerName ) in /etc/proftpd.conf it doesn't appear when I login. This has always been the config file I've used before but it doesn't appear to be the one this time. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
My guess is you've got some confusion between old and new ProFTPd installs. I'd uninstall both and reinstall the one specific to DA. Note that this may very well overwrite your DA-specific settings; be sure to make backups of all your DA-specific proftpd configuration files first. Especiall look at:

proftpd.conf
proftpd.passwd
proftpd.vhosts.conf
pucky said:
This is why i hate proftpd. A better alternative is pure-ftp. Its much faster and on inital connect it blazingly fast.
Click to expand...
Interesting personal opinion.
PlymWS said:
Is it possible to remove proftpd from DA and install another FTP program ? Or would this 'break' DA ?
Click to expand...
It would break DA.

Jeff
 
I just uploaded a 99MB file. It did seem to take a while, and...

When I was finished, my ftp client told me:
102839660 bytes sent in 1.9e+03 seconds (53 Kbytes/s)
Click to expand...

But ...

53 Kbytes per second is (after tcp/ip overhead) roughly 530 kbits per second.

And considering that my maximum upstream from my DSL provider is 768 kbits per second, that's not really all that slow.

Or is it?

Jeff
 
Hello,

I just did a test, downloaded from this server to my local computer. Speed: 564Kbytes/second. Not to shabby. We use the stock settings that we include with the install. Uploads are limited by my local ISP, which I hit dead on: 120Kbytes/sec.

Why do they differ.. we may have a different proftpd compile, but I want you to test the download speed from ftp vs the download speed from apache. They should be roughly similar. We don't impose any speed restrictions on the install, other than network traffic, I couldn't say for sure what the difference would be.

Also, try running proftpd on a different port for tests to see if that does anything. Also try different connection methods in your client: PASV vs PORT.

Another thing to try... if you DO want to try pure-ftp.. you would probably have great difficulty setting it up to work with our configuration, but if you want to set it up with a few custom users and run it on a different port, see if you notice any speed differences.

John
 
There is no problem with proftp.

Remember speed is limited to your upload speed and ISP router or even all routers speed in the way including your server max BW.

Some sysctl config can limit this too.
 
I have a funny problem where my server will never upload past 370KB/s on ftpd. I dont know what causes it but I havent found a way around it yet. However if I logout and back in on port mode it will upload at full speed.

:/
 
xemaps said:
There is no problem with proftp.

Remember speed is limited to your upload speed and ISP router or even all routers speed in the way including your server max BW.

Some sysctl config can limit this too.
Click to expand...

I understand this. By my maths my 100mBit server connection should allow 12 MB/sec FTP connections to it. As my home connection is 4 MBit, I should get about 480k/sec. 90 k/sec doesn't really do it for me. I have heard the Pleak installation of Proftpd works better so I think I will ditch DA. tbh I haven't found the DA panel particularly good and as I can get Plesk from my peovider for $5 less I think I'll try that instead.
 
While DA doesnt have the best control panel in the world at least it beats the nagging dragging control panel of Plesk and Cpanel. Sure, improvements can be made to DA's Cp if the support staff would listen instead of ignoring everyone but i think its the best solution. Go with Plesk. You will hate it so much after about 6 months youll wonder why you ever went that route.
 
LOL. I couldnt stand plesk after using it for 5 mins. It is totally unorganized... a total mess if you ask me.
 
Plesk, like DA, uses proftpd. So go ahead and use it ... but just long enough to copy the config file.

Learn from it :) .

Remember though, that you can't just copy it over.

Anyone want to know why we're no longer Plesk Gold Partner? Sorry, you'll have to sign a non-disclosure first ;) .

Note that Plesk is MUCH more expensive than DA to data centers; I don't know why anyone would put it onto a dedicated server for less.

Unless of course it's only a 30-domain license.

Jeff
 
pucky said:
While DA doesnt have the best control panel in the world
Click to expand...
Who does? At least in your opinion?
Sure, improvements can be made to DA's Cp if the support staff would listen instead of ignoring everyone but i think its the best solution.
Click to expand...
Please let us know which of the suggestions under Feedback & Feature Requests are being ignored, and post in their threads to bring them to DA staff attention again.

Jeff
 
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