FTP 120 Service Ready Soon vs 331 Username OK, Need Password
FTP 120 (Service Ready Soon) is a 1xx Positive Preliminary response, while 331 (Username OK, Need Password) is a 3xx Positive Intermediate 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, 331 means that user name okay, need password. The server recognized the username and is waiting for the corresponding password to complete authentication.
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
User name okay, need password. The server recognized the username and is waiting for the corresponding password to complete authentication.
When You See It
After sending the USER command with a valid username. The server is prompting for the PASS command.
How to Fix
Send the PASS command with the correct password. If you get 530 after PASS, the password is wrong — verify your credentials.
Key Differences
120 is a 1xx Positive Preliminary response, while 331 is a 3xx Positive Intermediate 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 331: User name okay, need password. The server recognized the username and is waiting for the corresponding password to complete authentication.
You encounter 120 when when connecting to an FTP server that is starting up or temporarily busy with maintenance tasks.
You encounter 331 when after sending the USER command with a valid username. The server is prompting for the PASS command.
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 331 (Username OK, Need Password): Send the PASS command with the correct password. If you get 530 after PASS, the password is wrong — verify your credentials.