PQ73778: FTP REPLY 250 TEXT MISLEADING FOR CD TO HOME DIRECTORY

APAR status

• Closed as fixed if next.

Error description

• A remote FTP client issues a CWD (change working directory)
  request without a name specified (implying a return to the home
  directory).  The response returned in all (successful) cases is
  
     250 HFS directory %s is the current working directory
  
  where %s is replaced by the name of the home directory.  When
  home for a user is a conventional MVS data set (which is the
  default case when STARTDIRECTORY has not been specified), this
  response text is inappropriate and potentially misleading.
  
  NOTE:  Most line mode FTP clients will not accept a CD command
     without a value specified, so the resultant CWD request will
     not be sent.  However several GUI FTP clients will send
     this request (especially at initial logon), but most of these
     users will not see the actual response text.
  

Local fix

• Ignore the 'HFS directory' part of the message.  The name
  substituted in the message will be one of the following forms:
    HLQ.   -  Conventional MVS data set
    /path  -  HFS directory
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: All users of the IBM Communications Server   *
  *                 for z/OS Version 1 Release 4 IP: FTP Server  *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: When an FTP client issues a CD (change  *
  *                      working directory) without any          *
  *                      parameters, the response is incorrect   *
  *                      if the home directory and               *
  *                      start directory are MVS.                *
  *                      The response returned in all cases is:  *
  *                                                              *
  *                      250 HFS directory %s is the current     *
  *                          working directory                   *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  The response to CD in this case should be:
  250 "HLQ" is the working directory name prefix
  +-------------------------------------------------------------+
  + Please check our Communications Server for OS/390 homepages +
  + for common networking tips and fixes.  The URL for these    +
  + homepages can be found in Informational APAR II11334.       +
  +-------------------------------------------------------------+
  

Problem conclusion

Temporary fix

Comments

• This APAR is being closed FIN (Fixed If Next) with concurrence
  from the submitting customer. This means that a fix to this
  APAR is expected to be delivered from IBM in a release (if any)
  to be available within the next 18 months.
  
  This problem will be tracked as PTR MV28235 by Communications
  Server for z/OS Development.
  
  PTR28235   PTR 28235
  

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

Applicable component levels

• R140 PSN

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