FTP 120 Service Ready Soon vs 212 Directory Status
FTP 120 (Service Ready Soon) is a 1xx Positive Preliminary response, while 212 (Directory Status) is a 2xx Positive Completion response. 120 indicates that the service will be ready in a certain number of minutes. The server is not yet available but expects to be shortly. In contrast, 212 means that directory status reply. The server provides information about the current directory or a specified directory.
Description
The service will be ready in a certain number of minutes. The server is not yet available but expects to be shortly.
When You See It
When connecting to an FTP server that is starting up or temporarily busy with maintenance tasks.
How to Fix
Wait the indicated number of minutes and try connecting again. If the server never becomes ready, contact the server administrator.
Description
Directory status reply. The server provides information about the current directory or a specified directory.
When You See It
After issuing the STAT command on a directory, the server returns the directory listing or status information.
How to Fix
No fix needed — this is an informational response showing directory contents or status.
Key Differences
120 is a 1xx Positive Preliminary response, while 212 is a 2xx Positive Completion response.
FTP 120: The service will be ready in a certain number of minutes. The server is not yet available but expects to be shortly.
FTP 212: Directory status reply. The server provides information about the current directory or a specified directory.
You encounter 120 when when connecting to an FTP server that is starting up or temporarily busy with maintenance tasks.
You encounter 212 when after issuing the STAT command on a directory, the server returns the directory listing or status information.
When to Use Which
For 120 (Service Ready Soon): Wait the indicated number of minutes and try connecting again. If the server never becomes ready, contact the server administrator. For 212 (Directory Status): No fix needed — this is an informational response showing directory contents or status.