Proftp, ISPConfig and the Perfect Debian Setup

From LinuxServerTech

When you follow the "Perfect Debian Setup" and install ISPConfig, there is an error that will end up giving you a 421 Idle Timeout (300 seconds): closing control connection. error when transferring large files, and will also cause a very long delay when connecting. The incorrect instructions is at http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect_setup_debian_etch_p6, which tells you to put the DefaultRoot, IdentLookups and ServerIdent lines in. These actually need to be inside a <global></global> block, as follows:

<Global>
 DefaultRoot ~
 IdentLookups off
 ServerIdent on "FTP Server ready."
</Global>

Discussion - ISPConfig adds a file, /etc/proftpd_ispconfig.conf, and <include>s it in the /etc/proftpd.conf file, customizing each IP for the server. Unless commands are placed in the <global> block, they will not affect any <virtual> blocks.

See http://www.howtoforge.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-6447.html for a full explanation.

Additionally, if you change anything else, but most especially Timeouts, they are not global. The following is what I use on my system.

<Global>
 DefaultRoot ~
 IdentLookups off
 ServerIdent on "FTP Server ready."
 TimeoutNoTransfer              600
 TimeoutStalled                  600
 TimeoutIdle                     1200
</Global>