Resolving the "Too Many FTP Connections" Error
This article addresses a common issue where the server rejects a new File Transfer Protocol connection because the maximum limit for open connections for a single user has been exceeded. This typically happens when transferring a large number of files, as each concurrent file transfer can maintain its own connection thread.
Identifying the Issue
The cPanel server enforces a security and performance limit on the number of simultaneous FTP connections an account can have open. If you are uploading or downloading numerous files, especially through an application that utilizes multiple threads, you may reach this threshold and receive a connection rejection error message from the server.
Solution: Resetting FTP Connections
- If you encounter this error after performing extensive file operations, the easiest solution is to perform a hard reset on your FTP connections.
- Completely close your FTP client application (such as FileZilla, Cyberduck, or similar software). Ensure the program is fully shut down and not running in the background.
- Wait approximately thirty seconds to allow the server to automatically terminate any lingering, inactive connections that were not properly closed by the application.
- Restart your FTP client application and attempt to re-initiate the connection to your server. This process should clear the previous connection queue and allow you to proceed with your transfers.
Preventative Measures
To prevent this issue from recurring, check the settings within your FTP client. Many applications allow you to set a limit on the number of simultaneous connections (transfer threads) used. Reducing this limit to a number such as four or fewer can prevent you from exceeding the server's limit during large batch transfers.
