[lug] Re: ftp problem

D. Stimits stimits at idcomm.com
Tue Feb 12 14:38:30 MST 2002


Sean Reifschneider wrote:
> 
> On Tue, Feb 12, 2002 at 01:06:06PM -0500, John Karns wrote:
> >This ftp server will require the ability to do a reverse-DNS lookup to see
> >where you are connecting from. If you get refused a connection because of
> >this then I cannot help you, the problem is at your end, contact your ISP.
> 
> That may indeed be the case, and ideally you should have a reverse DNS
> entry for your machine (in particular, IRC servers tend to be pretty pissy
> if they can't do a reverse lookup).  However, I don't understand why somone
> would set up an FTP server to require this...  In fact, I don't really
> understand why *ANYONE* relies on reverse information.  Personally, I think
> the whole paranoid reverse/forward lookup like done with tcpwrappers is
> silly...

I think some ISP's don't provide reverse lookup just to save some money.
Whether or not it is a good security measure is somewhat irrelevant, if
you pay for the ISP, the ISP should give you the service.

D. Stimits, stimits at idcomm.com

> 
> I can understand why you would do it if you rely on the reverse name for
> authentication, but I don't think that's a strong method of authentication
> anyway...
> 
> Sean
> --
>  "We just wanted to give the band a little more thrust than most other bands."
>          - Donald Fagen's reply to why they chose the name 'Steely Dan'
> Sean Reifschneider, Inimitably Superfluous <jafo at tummy.com>
> tummy.com - Linux Consulting since 1995. Qmail, KRUD, Firewalls, Python
> _______________________________________________
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