For file transfer protocol (FTP) communication, clients open a TCP-based control channel on port 21. For active FTP, a second data channel is initiated from the server to the client through port 21. NSX Advanced Load Balancer only supports passive FTP, in which the client initiates the data channel through a high port negotiated with the server.

Passive FTP

NSX Advanced Load Balancer supports passive FTP using the following configuration:

A Note on High Availability

Exactly one SE in an SE group may deliver the FTP service at any given time. Virtual service scale-out to two or more SEs is not supported with NSX Advanced Load Balancer FTP. Therefore, legacy active/standby and 1+M elastic HA are supported. Active/active elastic HA is not.

The virtual settings configuration is as follows:

Application Profile

L4

TCP/UDP Profile

TCP Proxy

Service Ports

Set to Advanced through the NSX Advanced Load Balancer UI

Port

21

Virtual Service Settings:

Application Profile: L4

TCP/UDP Profile: TCP-proxy

Service Ports: Set to Advanced through the NSX Advanced Load Balancer UI

Port: 21

Port: 1024-65534

Pool Settings:

Load Balance Algorithm: Least Connections

Persistence: Client IP

Health Monitor: TCP

Health Monitor Port: 21

Port Translation: Deactivated

Active FTP

Active FTP is not supported. NSX Advanced Load Balancer recommends the use of passive FTP as a workaround.

> ftp  ftp.test.com
Connected to ftp.test.com.
ftp.test.com FTP server ready.
Name (test:user): anonymous
Password required for anonymous.
Password: ******
User anonymous logged in.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
ftp> passive
Passive mode on.