Hi, I'm hoping this is just because I'm on A49, but I have a user that wants to be able to upload a very large archive to me using FTP. However, every time he (or I) try, it appears the data connection closes and cannot be reopened without a full reconnection. I tried cutting out the middleman and using ncftpput, which provides this error:

ncftpput: Could not change to directory Uploads: server said: Directory change failed

Not much help there. I'm trying to place a simple text file into /Uploads, which has Anonymous enabled, as is enabled under the FTP service.

Anyone have a similar experience or know of any issues using the FTP server in A49? Even while logging in with my user account, I could sometimes get to /Uploads, but in all cases, a 'ls' would close the data connection.

Thanks!

|08---|07|16
|15Brian Davidson |09(|10Winzlo|09)|07|16
|11Sysop, |14The Down|09-|14Lo BBS|07|16

... Great minds think alike; small minds run together

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: The Down-Lo BBS * bbs.winzlo.com (21:3/245)

On 25 Jun 2026, Brian Davidson said the following...

Hi, I'm hoping this is just because I'm on A49, but I have a user that wants to be able to upload a very large archive to me using FTP.
However, every time he (or I) try, it appears the data connection closes and cannot be reopened without a full reconnection. I tried cutting out the middleman and using ncftpput, which provides this error:

ncftpput: Could not change to directory Uploads: server said: Directory change failed

Permissions. 99% of the time in Linux when something doesn't want to work, it's permissions, almost guaranteed.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/12 (Linux/64)
* Origin: throwbackbbs.com -\- meriden, ct -\- (21:1/114)

Permissions. 99% of the time in Linux when something doesn't want to
work, it's permissions, almost guaranteed.

+1



|07p|15AULIE|1142|07o
|08.........

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbs>>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)

Permissions. 99% of the time in Linux when something doesn't want to
work, it's permissions, almost guaranteed.

Normally I'd agree, but in this case, the directory is still owned by the same user as the rest of the contents under /mystic. Permissions are 775, so I could see how anonymous FTP could have a problem, but not authenticated FTP. And even that seems a stretch based on the existing permissions.

I'm hesitant to open that directory to 777, since I do not permit anonymous access within the FTP service itself, nor the file area.

Puzzling... Thanks for the suggestions though!

|08---|07|16
|15Brian Davidson |09(|10Winzlo|09)|07|16
|11Sysop, |14The Down|09-|14Lo BBS|07|16

... That's not a bug, it's an undocumented feature

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: The Down-Lo BBS * bbs.winzlo.com (21:3/245)

Re: Re: Mystiic FTP server issue
By: Brian Davidson to maskreet on Fri Jun 26 2026 09:29 am

Howdy,

I'm hesitant to open that directory to 777, since I do not permit anonymous access within the FTP service itself, nor the file area.

Do it temporarily to proove that it is (or not) related to permissions.

Before you get too far, the author of Mystic has been AWOL a long time, so you might want to evaluate if it is the right BBS for what you want to do...

That said, many folks do use it, and it supports their environment.



...ëîåï
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

Do it temporarily to proove that it is (or not) related to permissions.

777 permissions still permitting anonymous FTP into /Uploads.

I did capture the log output of the attempt, this might give someone else a clue:

+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP > Connect on slot 1/256 (10.1.0.158)
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-HostName bbs.winzlo.com
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-S: 220 Mystic FTP server ready
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-C: USER Data: anonymous
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-S: 331 User name okay, need password.
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-C: PASS
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-S: 230 User logged in, proceed.
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-Logged in as Anonymous
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-C: PWD Data:
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-S: 250 Working directory is now "/"
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-C: FEAT Data:
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-S: 502 Command not implemented.
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-C: HELP Data: SITE
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-S: 502 Command not implemented.
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-C: CLNT Data: NcFTP 3.2.6 linux-x86_64-glibc2.35
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:49 FTP 1-S: 502 Command not implemented.
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:53 FTP 1-C: CWD Data: Uploads
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:53 FTP 1-S: 550 Directory change failed
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:53 FTP 1-C: CWD Data: Uploads
+ 2026.06.27 00:00:53 FTP 1-S: 550 Directory change failed
+ 2026.06.27 00:01:00 FTP 1-C: QUIT Data:
+ 2026.06.27 00:01:00 FTP 1-S: 221 Goodbye
+ 2026.06.27 00:01:00 FTP 1-Connection closed

Before you get too far, the author of Mystic has been AWOL a long time,
so you might want to evaluate if it is the right BBS for what you want
to do...

That said, many folks do use it, and it supports their environment.

I'm well aware of James Coyle being MIA. We really need him, he had ideas that made this software something special for both Sysops as well as users. Synchronet is my only other Linux-based option that is in the same league,and
I found it much easier to understand and code MPL than I do JavaScript. Matter of taste, otherwise they're relatively neck and neck feature-wise, with Synchronet edging out slightly with its pre-existing door collection and full E-mail support from within the BBS. Neither of those matter to me, and I can get the result of what I envision my BBS to be better by using Mystic.

That said, I do have a Synchronet system running in parallel, but only because I evaluated it before Mystic. If we should ever get the unfortunate news that James is never returning, or passes without handing over development to another individual, then I will reconsider my position, but not before. :) I'm stubborn like that.

|08---|07|16
|15Brian Davidson |09(|10Winzlo|09)|07|16
|11Sysop, |14The Down|09-|14Lo BBS|07|16

... If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Linux/64)
* Origin: The Down-Lo BBS * bbs.winzlo.com (21:3/245)