## How to Report Bugs in NcFTP Client

Because each FTP server program has its own quirks and unique interpretation of the FTP protocol, most bugs in NcFTP Client are caused by an unexpected interaction with a particular type of server software. What helps us fix our own bugs or work-around server bugs is the actual FTP protocol dialogue that was exchanged, and we call this a FTP protocol trace.

NcFTP Client (the interactive `ncftp` program) automatically stores the trace in the file `$HOME/.ncftp/trace`. Simply run `ncftp`, recreate the problem, quit the program, and inspect the `$HOME/.ncftp/trace` file.

The other programs (`ncftpget`, `ncftpput`, etc.) have a special command-line option (`-d`) which saves the trace to a log file. For example, if your original command was:

`ncftpget ftp.freebsd.org . /pub/FreeBSD/README.TXT`

Then here is the same thing, with the trace information saved to `/tmp/ncftpget.log`:

`ncftpget -d /tmp/ncftpget.log ftp.freebsd.org . /pub/FreeBSD/README.TXT`

A sample `$HOME/.ncftp/trace` file follows. When sending us your bug report, please include a trace with your e-mail. This will help us diagnose the problem, and recreate the problem as closely as possible.

    SESSION STARTED at:  Wed Aug 27 14:18:41 2003
       Program Version:  NcFTP 3.1.6/102 Aug 25 2003, 08:04 PM
       Library Version:  LibNcFTP 3.1.6 (August 24, 2003)
            Process ID:  1174
              Platform:  linux-x86
              Hostname:  pc.example.com  (rc=3)
              Terminal:  vt100
    14:18:41  Fw: firewall.example.com  Type: 0  User: joseph  Pass: ********  Port: 21
    14:18:41  FwExceptions: .example.com,localhost,localdomain
    14:18:51  > o ftp.example.com

    14:18:51  Resolving ftp.example.com...
    14:18:51  Connecting to 172.16.75.25...
    14:18:51  LibNcFTP 3.1.6 (August 24, 2003) compiled for linux-x86
    14:18:51  Uname: Linux|pc|2.4.20|#2 SMP Mon Feb 17 15:36:45 CST 2003|i686
    14:18:51  Glibc: 2.2.4 (stable)
    14:18:51  Remote server is running wu-ftpd.
    14:18:51  Logging in...
    14:18:51  220: ftp.example.com FTP server (Version wu-2.6.1-18) ready.
    14:18:51  Connected to 172.16.75.25.
    14:18:51  Cmd: USER anonymous
    14:18:51  331: Guest login ok, send your complete e-mail address as password.
    14:18:51  Cmd: PASS joseph@example.com
    14:18:51  Logging in...
    14:18:51  230: Guest login ok, access restrictions apply.
    14:18:51  Cmd: PWD
    14:18:51  257: "/" is current directory.
    14:18:51  Logged in to 172.16.75.25 as anonymous.
    14:19:31  > get secretfile.txt

    14:19:31  Cmd: SIZE secretfile.txt
    14:19:31  550: secretfile.txt: No such file or directory.
    14:19:31  Cmd: PASV
    14:19:31  227: Entering Passive Mode (172,16,75,25,49,39)
    14:19:31  Cmd: RETR secretfile.txt
    14:19:31  550: secretfile.txt: No such file or directory.
    14:19:44  > quit

    14:19:46  Cmd: QUIT
    14:19:46  221: You have transferred 0 bytes in 0 files.
    14:19:46       Total traffic for this session was 1011 bytes in 0 transfers.
    14:19:46       Thank you for using the FTP service on ftp.example.com.
    SESSION ENDED at:    Wed Aug 27 14:19:46 2003