Homebrew Misc N3DS FTPD Suddenly does not connect. Timeout.

[swiftkick]

Hello. So essentially, when I try to use the FTPD Homebrew app, it will say "Started Server at [IP]:<port>", but when I try to connect through filezilla or any other program it timesout, as if there just isn't even a server to connect to.

For some years I have used this without issue, and a week ago it was just fine. But now it just does not work. I've tried looking into my network firewalls and settings, I've also tried to use my phone's hotspot which has worked in the past. Still nothing.

At this point I'd have just taken the SD card out, but I am using a New 3ds, and the screws for the back faceplate are stripped to hell. I just cannot unscrew it.

I would send error logs, but there just isn't anything to show. Other than a "Connection timeout". What could the problem be? My network seems to be fine, but maybe there is something I'm just totally missing. It feels like my 3ds FTPD app is just not actually doing what it says it's doing. And it's still confusing me with it not working on even the hotspot anymore.

Thank you.

 

[Kwyjor]

Well, there's no point in looking for flaws in your network if even using your phone as a hotspot doesn't work.

Are you sure you were connecting your 3DS to the phone hotspot? The best way to be sure would be to shut off your wifi router entirely. And then make sure that your Mac can connect to your hotspot, and that an FTP client on your phone can connect to an FTP server on your Mac, just to rule out problems there. (I'm not sure what the best FTP server for this purpose would be on a Mac, but they seem to be simpler than HTTP servers; I like smallftpd for Windows.)

 

[swiftkick]

Well, there's no point in looking for flaws in your network if even using your phone as a hotspot doesn't work.

Are you sure you were connecting your 3DS to the phone hotspot? The best way to be sure would be to shut off your wifi router entirely. And then make sure that your Mac can connect to your hotspot, and that an FTP client on your phone can connect to an FTP server on your Mac, just to rule out problems there. (I'm not sure what the best FTP server for this purpose would be on a Mac, but they seem to be simpler than HTTP servers; I like smallftpd for Windows.)

This is a really good idea. I've been going around all morning trying to find a way to make a proper FTP server on my Mac. I don't think I've been successful in actually doing it, and I can't tell if it's because I'm not actually making a server or if it just doesn't work at all.

If it doesn't work at all, then it must mean my Mac itself has problems with FTP in general, but that doesn't explain why my phone is unable to connect to the 3ds then. Unless it's an all around Apple issue.

I have a really weird set up because my Windows machine is only able to get internet through an ethernet cable, so I can't really do local FTP stuff (unless I'm actually wrong about that).

I think at this point, while I'll still keep trying, I'm just going to have to get the screws on my 3ds removed by a shop, and buy some replacement screws.

I do have ONE Windows computer that my family uses for work (it's not really a computer I mess with). I was allowed to use it to try and hook up to my 3ds, and that still didn't work. Though that wasn't using my phone's hotspot.

Thank you guys for the help, seriously. I'm sorry I couldn't really be of much help myself with my computer illiteracy. I'll keep tinkering around though.

 

[Kwyjor]

I've been going around all morning trying to find a way to make a proper FTP server on my Mac.

Literally the first Google hit is https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quickftp-server/id1451646819?mt=12 ?

I have a really weird set up because my Windows machine is only able to get internet through an ethernet cable

If it's on the same network as your wireless router, it doesn't really matter if it's connected by ethernet or by wifi.

I think at this point, while I'll still keep trying, I'm just going to have to get the screws on my 3ds removed by a shop, and buy some replacement screws.

The rubber band trick is popular, if you haven't tried that already.

 

[swiftkick]

Literally the first Google hit is https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quickftp-server/id1451646819?mt=12 ?

uUUURRGG!! I don't know HOW I didn't see this. Seriously, what the hell.

But damn. I tried this again. I turned off my Wifi and only connected to my hotspot, then used my phone's app to connect.

Unlike trying to connect to the 3ds (which gave a continuous loading screen until it timed out), this directly gives me a message saying "Failed to connect to server or proxy".

If it's on the same network as your wireless router, it doesn't really matter if it's connected by ethernet or by wifi.

Ah yes I get you. I should have clarified, I mean't in regards to my hotspot. I can't have my windows connect to my hotspot itself since it can only use ethernet. I've tried connecting my windows to my 3ds when they were both on the same network and it still did not work.

The rubber band trick is popular, if you haven't tried that already.

Yeeah, I've tried that. The screws are just REALLY damaged. My dumbass thought you had to screw it on SUPER tight for some reason, which just wore these things out so much so that the top grooves are essentially big circles now.

 

[Kwyjor]

But damn. I tried this again. I turned off my Wifi and only connected to my hotspot, then used my phone's app to connect.

Unlike trying to connect to the 3ds (which gave a continuous loading screen until it timed out), this directly gives me a message saying "Failed to connect to server or proxy".

What port are you using? You could try using a higher number, like "2020" – but I think you'd have to edit the ftpd configuration on your 3DS to do that, and I guess you can't do that if you can't access the SD card. (You could, perhaps, use microSD management to access the SD card instead, but that might just cause more headaches.)

 

[swiftkick]

What port are you using? You could try using a higher number, like "2020" – but I think you'd have to edit the ftpd configuration on your 3DS to do that, and I guess you can't do that if you can't access the SD card. (You could, perhaps, use microSD management to access the SD card instead, but that might just cause more headaches.)

The application for the 3DS allows you to change the port, and it's default is 5000. Also, I would LOVE to use the microSD management system, but it requireds Windows 7/8 from what I've seen. I still triple checked by doing all the steps. Doesn't work on my Mac either.

I'm not sure if I mentioned this, but I have tried to port forward a specific port to use, too. Just in case. Still zilch. I'm wondering if maybe my SD card is messed up in some way.

I'm not sure if this is against the rules to say so please feel free to like, remove this part of my message anyone reading with moderation powers, but I am trying to put a randomized Pokemon Y game on. It requires you to replaces files to get it working. I was able to actually convert it straight to a CIA file and then download it with FBI, but weirdly not all the pokemon were randomized. And when I tried the same CIA in an emulator, they were all randomized. I mention all of this because that was just, such a weird thing to happen that I wonder if theres something weird with the SD card itself? But I feel like if something was up with the SD card, it would have just made files corrupted and broken. Not like, somehow change pokemon in a pokemon game.

 

[Kwyjor]

The application for the 3DS allows you to change the port, and it's default is 5000.

To be clear, you're also using port 5000 with QuickFTP and the FTP client on your phone, right?

Also, I would LOVE to use the microSD management system, but it requireds Windows 7/8 from what I've seen.

People have reported success using muCommander. You'll need version 1.0 or older, specifically.
https://github.com/mucommander/mucommander/releases/tag/1.0.0-1

I'm not sure if I mentioned this, but I have tried to port forward a specific port to use, too. Just in case. Still zilch. I'm wondering if maybe my SD card is messed up in some way.

That is entirely possible; a failing SD card can cause all sorts of strange problems. But of course you'd have to get your SD card out in order to find out for sure.

 

[swiftkick]

To be clear, you're also using port 5000 with QuickFTP and the FTP client on your phone, right?

Yes.

People have reported success using muCommander. You'll need version 1.0 or older, specifically.

Just tried it out. Been trying to build it in my terminal but only get errors that I can't find much info about. A lot of things about being unable to find certain files, though I downloaded what they told me.

That is entirely possible; a failing SD card can cause all sorts of strange problems. But of course you'd have to get your SD card out in order to find out for sure.

Graaaaah, was afraid of that! Well, what could I do if that's the case? Could I move all my files onto another SD card and be fine? I don't know if there's a lot more you need to do.

 

[moon_rabbit]

Have you tried setting a username and password instead of anonymous?

If all attempts are unsuccessful, there may be a problem with the SD card or a problem with the router settings.

 

[swiftkick]

Have you tried setting a username and password instead of anonymous?

If all attempts are unsuccessful, there may be a problem with the SD card or a problem with the router settings.

Yeah I've tried. And after what Kwyjor said I think I'm gonna agree with them that it's probably not a router problem, especially after so much tinkering on my end.

Next week I'm gonna be going to an electronic shop to have the screws removed. It's just frustrating that I cannot do anything with my files until then.

 

[Kwyjor]

Just tried it out. Been trying to build it in my terminal but only get errors that I can't find much info about. A lot of things about being unable to find certain files, though I downloaded what they told me.

Oh dang, I didn't realize there was no binary! Perhaps you should inquire on their "Gitter channel", whatever that is.

 

[swiftkick]

Oh dang, I didn't realize there was no binary! Perhaps you should inquire on their "Gitter channel", whatever that is.

I'm not sure what that is either! Well, anyways thanks again for the help. I appreciate the suggestions and help even if we couldn't figure it out.

 

[Kwyjor]

Thought I should point out this new thread someone started that suggests 3DShell instead of FTPD.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/ftpd-server-does-not-work-neither-does-ftpiiu-on-aroma-on-wii-u.660592/

 

[signer-ink-beast]

I'll try this just in case. I've had similar problems in general with FTP servers. When connecting to your 3DS FTP server, are you making sure you're using the full address, including the port number at the end with your FTP client?

Something that looks similar to this. I'll use my own as an example.

192.168.0.13:5000

I find that if I don't specify the port number for whatever server, it never works. Even if it's the default port.

I also recommend double-checking that your FTP client is configured to connect to an unencrypted server. Some clients are configured to connect to encrypted one by default. IIRC, Filezilla does.

Last-ditch effort: have you tried rebooting your router and trying again? I once had a NetGear router that had an odd habit of breaking all communication between every device in my LAN at random. Error was always "cannot find server" for FTP (and other things, like web servers or SSH). Unplugging it and replugging it in would fix it.

If that isn't enough, you can even try restarting your modem (unless you are using those all-in-one modem and router things. That would mean you've restarted both of them already, because your router is both.).

Ah, the joys of networking. If none of that works, I'm at a loss, too, beyond far reaches and inqueries on your network setup at large, and troubleshooting that. Like seeing if your router's WiFi antenna is failing. That is pretty common, especially if your router has been in service for 5 years or longer. If you have multiple wireless devices connected, do they work without issues for Internet stuff in general? No connection loss? You don't see that issue across multiple wireless devices?

Finally, if you have multiple devices that can connect to your router via ethernet cable, do they work fine? And can they see and talk to each other?

 

[Kwyjor]

Last-ditch effort: have you tried rebooting your router and trying again? I once had a NetGear router that had an odd habit of breaking all communication between every device in my LAN at random. Error was always "cannot find server" for FTP (and other things, like web servers or SSH). Unplugging it and replugging it in would fix it.

If that isn't enough, you can even try restarting your modem (unless you are using those all-in-one modem and router things. That would mean you've restarted both of them already, because your router is both.).

Well, there's no point in looking for flaws in your network if even using your phone as a hotspot doesn't work.

 

[signer-ink-beast]

Oops, my bad. I suspect a hardware issue somewhere, OP. That's all I got.