Active and Passive Modes in FTP

The Passive property controls whether data connections for uploads/downloads are established in Active or Passive mode. To use Active mode, set the Passive property = False. This is the default. To use Passive mode, set the Passive property = True.

About Passive/Active Modes:

Active Mode:
The FTP client chooses a port number and sends a “PORT” command to the FTP server. The FTP client then listens at the chosen port and the FTP server issues a connect request to establish the connection. The data connection is outgoing from the FTP server, and incoming to the FTP client.

Passive Mode:
The FTP client sends a PASV command to the FTP server. The FTP server chooses a port number and sends it in the PASV response. The FTP server then listens at that port for the incoming connect request from the FTP client. The data connection is incoming to the FTP server, and outgoing from the FTP client.

Download: Chilkat .NET Assemblies

Dim ftp As New Chilkat.Ftp2()

Dim success As Boolean

'  Any string unlocks the component for the 1st 30-days.
success = ftp.UnlockComponent("Anything for 30-day trial")
If (success <> true) Then
    TextBox1.Text = TextBox1.Text & ftp.LastErrorText & vbCrLf
    Exit Sub
End If


ftp.Hostname = "ftp.secureftp-test.com"
ftp.Username = "test"
ftp.Password = "test"

'  Connect and login to the FTP server.
success = ftp.Connect()
If (success <> true) Then
    MsgBox(ftp.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


'  To use Passive mode:
ftp.Passive = true

'  or...
'  To use Active mode:
ftp.Passive = false

'  ...