Using anonymous FTP

brianjbishop · June 2014

I was previously able to upload files to my FTP server using a username/password set up in the Camera Settings:Motion Capture:Server Settings window. I am now using an anonymous FTP and cannot get the files to upload. I am using username "anonymous" with no entry in the password field. This is how I log in with filezilla or Terminal, but securityspy cannot seem to upload the files.

Can securityspy work with an anonymous FTP?

(I am using an old cisco media hub with FTP enabled. Foolishly I applied a firmware update, and now the device only supports anonymous FTP. Fixing that is an issue I'm working separately, but I'm not so concerned about it in my application.)

Ben · June 2014

To be honest we haven't come across this before as almost all FTP servers require username/password authentication! Hopefully it will be an easy fix though. Can you please check your log (open SecuritySpy and select "Open log" from the File menu), and tell me what errors are being reported for the FTP connection. Scroll down to the bottom of the log file to get the most recent entries.

brianjbishop · June 2014

Thanks for the prompt response, Ben. Yes, I now see why this hardware device was discontinued!

The log repeats this error, so I now see that we are getting to the server.

2014-06-01 0932-53: Error communicating with the FTP server "mediahubftp" 3.3,90033,230 230 Login successful.

Here's a look a shell session to view a manually-loaded jpg and dmg.

Bishop-old-iMac:~ bishop$ ftp
ftp> open 10.0.0.39
Connected to 10.0.0.39.
220 Welcome to FTP server for Cisco Media Hub.
Name (10.0.0.39:bishop): anonymous
230 Login successful.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
ftp> cd upload/backup
250 Directory successfully changed.
ftp> ls
229 Entering Extended Passive Mode (|||55720|)
150 Here comes the directory listing.
-rwxrwxrwx 1 ftp ftp 479210 Jun 01 09:46 2014-06-01 00-07-50 frontwalk.jpg
-rwxrwxrwx 1 ftp ftp 8104308 Jun 01 09:40 SecuritySpy.dmg
226 Directory send OK.
ftp>

The Camera Settings: Motion Capture: FTP Server Settings are:
Display name: mediahubftp
Server address: 10.0.0.39
Server path: backup
Username: anonymous
Password: [blank]

I've tried Server paths upload/backup and /upload/backup which also fail. Previously when the FTP required username/pwd, the Server path was simply backup (as above). I'm a bit concerned this is an FTP-side issue, but can't figure out why FileZilla can write files but not SecuritySpy.

Ben · June 2014

Thanks for the detailed information! I see what the problem is: after sending the username, SecuritySpy is expecting the server to ask for the password rather than to come back saying "Login successful", so this is what is generating the error and stopping the connection.

I've made some changes to SecuritySpy to make it recognise this situation, and I've sent you a link by email to a beta version of SecuritySpy for you to test. Please let me know if this resolves the problem.

brianjbishop · June 2014

I see now why your SW came so well recommended! Thanks for the help!

Issue solved. No new log.txt entries and FTP server is working. I expect I'll be adding more cameras later and upgrade to the multi-camera license. FYR - I use Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I Outdoor HD 3MP IP Bullet Security Camera 4mm. 3MP is incredible resolution with strong nighttime IR. Best performance/price of the recent offerings.

One note - server path needed a leading forward-slash to find the right directory, but this may be just my FTP server SW. Without it, the login and upload would happen without an error, but the file never never showed on the FTP server. Not sure your side of the system could detect this failure though.

The updated Camera Settings: Motion Capture: FTP Server Settings are:
Display name: mediahubftp
Server address: 10.0.0.39
Server path: /upload/backup <--changed
Username: anonymous
Password: [blank]

Here's the successful shell response now:
Bishop-old-iMac:~ bishop$ ftp
ftp> open 10.0.0.39
Connected to 10.0.0.39.
220 Welcome to FTP server for Cisco Media Hub.
Name (10.0.0.39:bishop): anonymous
230 Login successful.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
ftp> cd upload/backup
250 Directory successfully changed.
ftp> ls
229 Entering Extended Passive Mode (|||49206|)
150 Here comes the directory listing.
-rwxrwxrwx 1 ftp ftp 6717596 Jun 02 20:54 2014-06-02_20-54-26_MD_frontwalk.mov
-rwxrwxrwx 1 ftp ftp 4691986 Jun 02 21:00 2014-06-02_21-00-41_MD_frontwalk.mov
-rwxrwxrwx 1 ftp ftp 462505 Jun 02 21:00 2014-06-02_21-00-41_frontwalk.jpg
-rwxrwxrwx 1 ftp ftp 446323 Jun 02 21:00 2014-06-02_21-00-42_frontwalk.jpg
-rwxrwxrwx 1 ftp ftp 454948 Jun 02 21:00 2014-06-02_21-00-43_frontwalk.jpg
-rwxrwxrwx 1 ftp ftp 468966 Jun 02 21:00 2014-06-02_21-00-44_frontwalk.jpg
-rwxrwxrwx 1 ftp ftp 8104308 Jun 01 09:53 SecuritySpy.dmg
-rwxrwxrwx 1 ftp ftp 33929409 Jun 01 10:30 vlc-2.1.4.dmg
226 Directory send OK.

Thanks again.

Ben · June 2014

Great to hear it's now working!

Adding a forward slash character indicates that the path is a full path from the server's root directory (see SecuritySpy user manual - FTP Server Settings). If you weren't adding a forward slash character before and there were no errors with the upload, then it sounds like the file was uploaded successfully - just not to the place you expected!

All the best.

Using anonymous FTP

Comments

Categories