# FTP ERROR: Failed to retrieve directory listing

**URL:** <https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/ftp-error-failed-to-retrieve-directory-listing/2937>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Tags:** upload\
**Created:** [February 7, 2020, 8:44am UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/ftp-error-failed-to-retrieve-directory-listing/2937 "2020-02-07T08:44:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jsscbwng](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/help.galaxyproject.org/jsscbwng/32/902_2.png) [@jsscbwng](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/jsscbwng)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2020, 8:44am UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/ftp-error-failed-to-retrieve-directory-listing/2937/1 "2020-02-07T08:44:22Z")

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Hi,  
I am trying to upload using the FTP server but I cannot proceed because of this kind of error: **Failed to retrieve directory listing**. Prior to that error, there is this response: **425 Unable to build data connection: Operation not permitted**. Is there any way I can do to solve these errors?  
I am really hoping for your immediate response on this matter.  
Thank you.

Best,  
Jessica

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**Author:** ![jennaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/help.galaxyproject.org/jennaj/32/27_2.png) [@jennaj](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/jennaj)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/ftp-error-failed-to-retrieve-directory-listing/2937/2 "2020-02-07T18:30:52Z")

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Hello @jsscbwng

Few questions:

1. Are you working at a public Galaxy server? Which (URL)?
2. Have you transferred data via FTP to this server successfully before, or is this your first try?

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jennaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/help.galaxyproject.org/jennaj/32/27_2.png) [@jennaj](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/jennaj)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/ftp-error-failed-to-retrieve-directory-listing/2937/3 "2020-02-07T19:04:37Z")

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Update:

Testing at a few public Galaxy servers:

1. [usegalaxy.org](http://usegalaxy.org) – up and running
2. [usegalaxy.eu](http://usegalaxy.eu) – appears to be problematic. The FTP server URL to use for this server is still “[ftp://galaxy.uni-freiburg.de](ftp://galaxy.uni-freiburg.de)”. See this prior Q&A for details: [UseGalaxy.eu FTP Server](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/usegalaxy-eu-ftp-server/369)

I asked at the [usegalaxy.eu](http://usegalaxy.eu) Gitter chat if there are any known issues. Due to the time difference, they may not reply immediately (here or there): [https://gitter.im/usegalaxy-eu/Lobby?at=5e3daf471d23aa47aafe5ac8](https://gitter.im/usegalaxy-eu/Lobby?at=5e3daf471d23aa47aafe5ac8)

**If the server [usegalaxy.eu](http://usegalaxy.eu) is not where you are having trouble, please clarify the server URL where you are working.**

_Notes_

1. Many public Galaxy servers, including any of the usegalaxy.\* public servers, will accept “locally browsed” files that are over 2 GB in size in the `Upload` tool now. The success depends somewhat on the data size (per file) and your internet connection speed.
2. Data can be publically somewhere else and the URL(s) pasted into the `Upload` tool.
3. FTP is more robust, but if unavailable for some reason, options 1 & 2 above are the alternatives.

FAQ: [Loading Data](https://galaxyproject.org/support/loading-data/) \> [https://galaxyproject.org/ftp-upload/](https://galaxyproject.org/ftp-upload/)

- The FTP client `Filezilla` will work best when using all default settings. A secure connection is still established. Be sure to accept the pop-up certificates. These can appear multiple times, once for the original connection then often once per file.