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Geert_Hermans_3's avatar
Geert_Hermans_3
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Jun 23, 2010

Can we use host headers or something else to run multiple FTP sites on one IP?

Dear,

 

 

 

We want to run multiple FTP sites (eg: ftp://xyz.company.com ; ftp://aaa.company.com ) on only one IP address, that is assigned to the F5. Then send incoming connections towards ftp://xyz.company.com to pool a and ftp://aaa.company.com to pool b.

 

 

Can I use something to distinguish the different FTP sites? I was thinking about creating an iRule, but I ran into the following problem.

 

 

If I’m not mistaken the FTP protocol, specified by RFC 959, does not support the Host header. The Host header is specified in the HTTP RFC (2616), thus part of the HTTP protocol. HTTP and FTP are two totally different protocols, and a FTP client and server can only "talk" FTP.

 

 

So I think that the only way to run multiple FTP sites that need to be redirected to different pools is to use different IP address combinations.

 

 

Or am I mistaken? Do you see a way?

 

 

With kind regards,

 

 

Geert Hermans

 

1 Reply

  • Hi Geert,

     

     

    I think you're correct: FTP doesn't include anything which allows the client to tell the server what hostname was used to originate the request, so you'll need separate IP:ports for each FTP server (or virtual server).

     

     

    Aaron