FTP problems/Router Problem

If your FTP connection timed out without connecting, check your FTP settings to make sure you have specified the correct host or IP address.

To avoid getting timed out during long file transfers using FTP, turn on hashing by entering at the ftp> prompt:

       hash

FTP will then write a "#" for every packet transferred and thus prevent timing out the session while the file transfer is in progress.

You can set the time out for different kind of connections (TCP, UDP and so on). If you don't know what kind of connection your application uses then start by trying with TCP.

The reason for the time out is that the router uses NAT (Network Address Translation). When a PC on the network wants to go "out on the Internet" the router will remember which PC it was to insure that the data requested by the PC (for example a web page) will be send to the right PC.

To prevent the list (NAT table) from becoming too big, the router will automatically delete table entries that have existed for a cretin amount of time (Usually 60 seconds). 

Now, some applications like ICQ, IRC and FTP are typically not being used for a longer period of time without closing the program. Therefore you need to increase the timeout value.

For example:

SET NAT TIMEOUT TCP NEGOTIATION 300

SET NAT TIMEOUT UDP 300

This command will set the time out on TCP- and UDP connections to 300 seconds (5 minutes). 

If you don't have too many users on the router then set the UDP time out value higher, for example to 3600 (an hour).