Unable to connect to a Plesk for Windows Server via FTP which is connected to a domain (Active Directory)

Symptoms

• An FTP user cannot login with a correct username and password. The following error message appears in

  • Windows command-line FTP client:

    C:\> ftp 203.0.113.2
    Connected to 203.0.113.2.
    220 Microsoft FTP Service
    User (203.0.113.2:(none)): john_doe
    331 Password required
    Password:
    530-User cannot log in.
    Win32 error: The user name or password is incorrect.
    Error details: An error occurred during the authentication process.
    530 End
    Login failed.

    OR

    C:\> Access denied

  • FileZilla:

    PLESK_INFO: Response: 530 User cannot log in.
    Error: Critical error: Could not connect to server

Cause

When Windows Server is connected to a domain (Active Directory), an FTP user is treated as a domain user.

Resolution

Use the "hostname\FTP login" pair as a username for FTP connections:

1. Find a server hostname:

   C:\> hostname
   WIN-PLESK-SERVER

2. Use this hostname together with an FTP login as a username. For example:

   C:\> ftp 203.0.113.2
   Connected to 203.0.113.2.
   220 Microsoft FTP Service
   User (203.0.113.2:(none)): WIN-PLESK-SERVER\john_doe
   331 Password required
   Password:
   230 User logged in.
   ftp> ls
   200 PORT command successful.

   Alternatively, use the "Active Directory domain name_\FTP login_" pair:

   C:\> ftp **203.0.113.2
   **Connected to 203.0.113.2.
   220 Microsoft FTP Service
   User (203.0.113.2:(none)): pleskserver\john_doe