How do I determine whether my camera uses FTPS instead of plain-text FTP for username / password? - CameraFTP Cloud Surveillance Service Support Forum

YPHwDn5KhgZR5vbV
(1 posts)

I'm using a Thingino (https://thingino.com/) camera due to its open-source nature. It has the option to configure FTP, but only the server name (or IP address) / port / username / password can be configured. I configured the port to be 21 (standard FTP) and it works fine. How can I possibly check whether sending the username / password as well as data upload are using FTPS (FTP over TLS)? Is this something that can be checked in the logs of either the client or server?

When I test the FTP connection and run netstat on the camera, I briefly see a connection to ftp.cameraftp.com:16504 (or other high range TCP port) that very rapidly goes in TIME_WAIT phase. Image is saved

I also tried to use port 22 in the hope the camera will use SFTP, but all it does it seems the server accepts (even multiple) incoming TCP connection that transition from the ACTIVE to TIME_WAIT state. Image is NOT saved

Thanks in advance,

7/13/2025 7:48:14 AM

CameraFTPSupport
(352 posts)

Sorry we are not familiar with Thingino. Just searched online, it seems it supports FTP, though it is unclear whether it supports FTPS and SFTP. Based on your information, it does not seem it supports SFTP. SFTP (SSH FTP) is a different protocol from FTP, though with the similar file transferring purpose. FTPS is much easier to support if it already supports FTP. Anyway, when you configure an IP camera to upload to CameraFTP cloud, you can use a unique FTP password associated with a specific Camera License. If the camera's FTP configuration page does not have a field for the FTP folder/path, then you must use the FTP password and not your CameraFTP account password.

>>> When I test the FTP connection and run netstat on the camera, I briefly see a connection to ftp.cameraftp.com:16504

The FTP protocol is different from many other network protocols in that one “FTP connection” may include “2 TCP connections”. One is the Command Channel (Connection), the other is the Data Channel.

The command connection is used for sending/receiving FTP commands. The Data channel is used for sending/receiving data such as file contents or folder/file lists. When using FTP in Passive mode, the FTP client (camera) will initially connect to Port 21 for the command connection, then when it needs to upload a file, it will establish a new Data connection at a random port number. So what you see is normal; and it applies to both FTP and FTPS.

There are other upload options, for example:

(1) If your camera supports SMTP (email), you can configure it to upload files using SMTP/email.

(2) If your camera supports RTSP - it seems Thingino does support RTSP. Thus you can use CameraFTP VSS software running on a PC as a powerful NVR. VSS can connect to your camera's RTSP video stream, displaying the live video on your PC screen, while uploading footage to CameraFTP cloud using FTPS.

(3) Use an old phone, tablet or webcam as an IP security camera. Just install CameraFTP Mobile Security Camera app for iOS or Android, or install CameraFTP VSS software on your PC. These apps support FTPS.

7/13/2025 11:42:13 PM