FTP Proxy

TIBCO MFT Internet Server does not require any third party software to send to a remote system that is something other than the TIBCO MFT Internet Server. TIBCO MFT Internet Server has been enhanced with the capability to proxy TIBCO MFT Internet Server file transfers to FTP servers.

This converts HTTP data to FTP protocol in order to send data to an FTP server. This enables an TIBCO MFT Internet Server client to access data on many computers (nodes) within a customer site. Because almost all organizations have access to an FTP or Secure FTP server, this also allows TIBCO MFT Internet Server to push files to the client FTP servers.

The FTP proxy component of TIBCO MFT Internet Server allows file data to be proxied to and from servers that are not running a TIBCO MFT Platform Server responder. The following figure shows a high level overview of the FTP Proxy component, and how it coexists with TIBCO MFT Internet Server:

The FTP Proxy component provides functionality similar to the TIBCO MFT Platform Server proxy component:

  • File data to be transferred to/from the client does not have to reside on the Internet Server server.
  • File data to be transferred to/from the client does not have to reside in the DMZ.
  • File data is proxied using the FTP 959 specification.
  • File data can be proxied to any machine running an FTP Server.
  • File data can be proxied securely using an SSL connection to the FTP server.
  • Directory proxies are supported, but subdirectories are not supported. (Subdirectories are supported under a TIBCO MFT Platform Server directory proxy.

To configure TIBCO MFT Internet Server to proxy to an FTP server, create a node with the parameters listed in the following table, and then, create a file record and specify the newly created node for the Node Name parameter.

Parameter Description
Node Name The name of node.
IP Name The IP name/address of the FTP server.
IP Port The port number that the FTP server is listening for connections.
Node Type The node type is FTP.
Server Type The operating system of the FTP server (or operating system that the FTP server is emulating)
Data Connection Type The data connection type.

The following types are available:

  • PORT: often referred to as Active FTP. When Active FTP is used, the FTP server establishes the data connection back to the FTP client. When an FTP data connection is required, the FTP client sends the PORT command to the FTP server to tell the FTP server how to establish a connection back to the FTP client.

    PORT is the default type.

  • PASV: often referred to as Passive FTP. When Passive FTP is used, the FTP client establishes the data connection to the FTP server. When an FTP data connection is required, the FTP client sends the PASV command to the FTP server. The FTP server then responds with a PORT command to tell the FTP client how to establish a data connection to the FTP server.
  • EPRT: an extended version of the PORT command. When EPRT is used, the FTP server establishes the data connection back to the FTP client. When an FTP data connection is required, the FTP client sends the EPRT command to the FTP server to tell the FTP server how to establish a connection back to the FTP client.
  • EPSV: an extended version of the PASV command. Its main advantage is that it does not return an IP address in the response to the FTP client. When EPSV is used, the FTP client establishes the data connection to the FTP server. When an FTP data connection is required, the FTP client sends the EPSV command to the FTP server. The FTP server then responds with an EPSV command to tell the FTP client how to establish a data connection to the FTP server.
Note: You need to configure this parameter when the FTP Proxy component is having trouble transferring though a firewall.
Connection Security Type The connection security type when proxying to an FTP server.

The following types are available:

  • None: no encryption is used.
  • Explicit SSL: the FTP proxy connects to the FTP server’s unsecured port and then negotiates an SSL connection.
  • Implicit SSL: the FTP proxy makes an SSL connection to the FTP server’s secure port.