Help with ftp/publishing problem

They have: 16 posts

Joined: Mar 2003

Hi
I have the following problem with my host:
i upload files via an ftp probgram(ws_ftp) and i can see them correctly on the remote site screen of the program. When i try to access files, i get 404. I asked site visitors and they said the same.
i contacted my host and they said they can't see the files inside the ftp dir.
then the host representative published a test file to my ftp. This was seen perfectly through http, but when i tried to see it on the ftp, i couldn't see the file.

So briefly it seems as if the drive i ftp to, is somehow different from the one that they ftp to, which is the one that is finally accessed through net. They said no, but this is how i could describe it at least.

Any ideas about what can be happening? Note that the problem started some 3 days ago, and last week they had moved sites to a new server. Can it be any relative?

Suzanne's picture

She has: 5,507 posts

Joined: Feb 2000

Sounds like they have moved the live directory and failed to move the internal link. Go back to the host and get them to confirm the host address, login information and get them to try to login from a system not in their office. Smiling

He has: 1,758 posts

Joined: Jul 2002

are u sure u have the correct ftp address?

does ur ftp program use an ftp cache?

They have: 16 posts

Joined: Mar 2003

I use ws_ftp pro, and also tried dreamweaver mx and Flash FXp to see if this fixes the problem. Not sure about ftp cache, but since i have never had such a problem i guess it should be all right.
And yes the address is right, i have beem using the same since september, it can't have changed in a minute

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

When you connect via ftp can you see all of your other files in there. Can you tell us what the directory structure looks like when you do ftp into it.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

He has: 1,758 posts

Joined: Jul 2002

i imagine your webspace provider may have a public html folder which is inside your web root.

for our clients they have to put the web files in a folder called "web" other companies use "public_html" and "web_docs"

Andy

They have: 16 posts

Joined: Mar 2003

My host puts files to be published under a foler named httpdocs. (under root there are also anon_ftp, cgi_bin, log etc, but the one that matters is httpdocs, for anything to be published online.
That's what you refer to as public_html or web or whatever, i guess.

Directory structure inside httpdocs is just normal. The only problem remains that whatever i upload the last few days, just won't show in http. And as i said, it seems that they can't see it when they access my ftp through their company computer. I was speaking with a guy they have in life support and he thought i was making fun of him, because he went to my ftp and he couldn't see the files i was refering to. I had to send him screenshots of my ftp client, and now i am still waiting for their response. But he didn't really appear clever enough, or aware of networks and similar stuff, and i am not that optimistic

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

Some times the folder is not an actual folder but a symlink (kind of a unix version of a Windows Shortcut). Probably what has happened is that the symlink is pointing to the wrong folder. That would be the best guess.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

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