ProFTP stopped working in July, something with Delay Module

Webmin
1
SYSTEM INFORMATION
OS type and version Debian 12 Linux 6.1.0-32-amd64 on x86_64
Webmin version 2.402
Note. This > Linux 6.1.0-32-amd64 > is not strictly true as I use a service to update the kernel with no reboot. This version number is never changed.

I’ve just discovered that the ProFTP server stopped running in mid-July. (It had been running fine for about 9 months previously. I cannot find how to fix. There appears to be two problems. One is the delay module not loading. I’ve turned that to Off.

I’ve goine back to the default ProFTP configuration with just the following added:

DelayEngine off

But when I try to start the server these are the messages I get, and it seems to be ignoring the “DelayEngine off”:

Aug 09 13:24:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: Checking syntax of configuration file
Aug 09 13:24:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd-resolved[1383225]: Using degraded feature set UDP instead of TCP for DNS server 1.1.1.1.
Aug 09 13:24:42 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd-resolved[1383225]: Using degraded feature set TCP instead of UDP for DNS server 1.0.0.1.
Aug 09 13:24:52 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd-resolved[1383225]: Using degraded feature set TCP instead of UDP for DNS server 8.8.8.8.
Aug 09 13:25:01 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com CRON[699906]: pam_unix(cron:session): session opened for user root(uid=0) by (uid=0)
Aug 09 13:25:01 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com CRON[699907]: (root) CMD (/etc/webmin/status/monitor.pl)
Aug 09 13:25:01 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com CRON[699906]: pam_unix(cron:session): session closed for user root
Aug 09 13:25:12 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com named[1404]: client @0x7f4d9b97c168 4.154.225.172#7316 (captnslounge.com): query ‘captnslounge.com/A/IN’ denied
Aug 09 13:25:54 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd-resolved[1383225]: Using degraded feature set TCP instead of UDP for DNS server 1.1.1.1.
Aug 09 13:26:04 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com named[1404]: client @0x7f4dc981a168 192.69.22.7#11460 (apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com): query ‘apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com/AAAA/IN’ denied
Aug 09 13:26:04 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd-resolved[1383225]: Using degraded feature set UDP instead of TCP for DNS server 1.0.0.1.
Aug 09 13:26:06 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com dhcpd[1376674]: uid lease 192.168.1.154 for client 04:c9:d9:10:9b:c4 is duplicate on 192.168.1.0/24
Aug 09 13:26:06 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com dhcpd[1376674]: DHCPDISCOVER from 04:c9:d9:10:9b:c4 via enp38s0
Aug 09 13:26:06 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com dhcpd[1376674]: DHCPOFFER on 192.168.1.66 to 04:c9:d9:10:9b:c4 via enp38s0
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: start-pre operation timed out. Terminating.
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: 2025-08-09 13:26:07,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: ProFTPD killed (signal 15)
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: 2025-08-09 13:26:07,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: mod_delay/0.8: unable to load DelayTable ‘/run/proftpd.delay’ (fd 3) into memory: Invalid argument
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: 2025-08-09 13:26:07,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: ProFTPD 1.3.8 standalone mode SHUTDOWN
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: Failed with result ‘timeout’.

Any thoughts on how I can get this working again?

Kind Regards, Nigel.

2

What is the output of these two commands?

systemctl start proftpd.socket
systemctl status proftpd.socket

3

Here is the full output … and thank you for helping.

root@apache-web-server:~# systemctl start proftpd.socket

Job failed. See “journalctl -xe” for details.

root@apache-web-server:~# journalctl -xe
Aug 09 21:45:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.socket: Failed to listen on sockets: Input/output error
Aug 09 21:45:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.socket: Failed with result ‘resources’.
░░ Subject: Unit failed
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: Debian -- User Support
░░
░░ The unit proftpd.socket has entered the ‘failed’ state with result ‘resources’.
Aug 09 21:45:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Failed to listen on proftpd.socket - ProFTPD FTP Server Activation Socket.
░░ Subject: A start job for unit proftpd.socket has failed
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: Debian -- User Support
░░
░░ A start job for unit proftpd.socket has finished with a failure.
░░
░░ The job identifier is 86354866 and the job result is failed.
Aug 09 21:45:41 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[712298]: 8.44.158.149 - scrubbing scoreboard
Aug 09 21:45:41 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[712298]: 8.44.158.149 - ROOT PRIVS at scoreboard.c:1411
Aug 09 21:45:41 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[712298]: 8.44.158.149 - RELINQUISH PRIVS at scoreboard.c:1414
Aug 09 21:45:41 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[712298]: 8.44.158.149 - ROOT PRIVS at scoreboard.c:1455
Aug 09 21:45:41 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[712298]: 8.44.158.149 - RELINQUISH PRIVS at scoreboard.c:1564
Aug 09 21:45:41 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[712298]: 8.44.158.149 - finished scrubbing scoreboard
Aug 09 21:45:58 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com named[1404]: client @0x7f4dbaa21168 74.63.24.222#1341 (twin-peaks-video.com): query ‘Twin Peaks Video’ denied
Aug 09 21:45:58 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com named[1404]: client @0x7f4db401b168 74.63.24.222#55091 (apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com): query ‘apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com/AAAA/IN’ den>
lines 5458-5480/5480 (END)

root@apache-web-server:~# systemctl status proftpd.socket
× proftpd.socket - ProFTPD FTP Server Activation Socket
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.socket; disabled; preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: resources)
Listen: [::]:21 (Stream)
Accepted: 0; Connected: 0;
CPU: 630us

Aug 09 11:17:59 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Listening on proftpd.socket - ProFTPD FTP Server Activation Socket.
Aug 09 11:18:25 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.socket: Deactivated successfully.
Aug 09 11:18:25 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Closed proftpd.socket - ProFTPD FTP Server Activation Socket.
Aug 09 21:45:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com (sd-listen)[774487]: proftpd.socket: Failed to create listening socket ([::]:21): Address already in use
Aug 09 21:45:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.socket: Failed to receive listening socket ([::]:21): Input/output error
Aug 09 21:45:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.socket: Failed to listen on sockets: Input/output error
Aug 09 21:45:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.socket: Failed with result ‘resources’.
Aug 09 21:45:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Failed to listen on proftpd.socket - ProFTPD FTP Server Activation Socket.

4

Is it normally socket-activated on Debian? I thought we enabled it as an always-on service. I would expect trying to start/enable the socket-activated version would fail.

I think that’s expected behavior (unless something is different on Debian 12, that I don’t know about).

What about the postfix.service?

5

OK. Maybe my bad here. I got annoyed proftpd would start after updates (even though I’d turned it off) and forgot I renamed the binary with a ‘.bak’ extension so it wouldn’t be found and restarted. The .socket seems to still activate a IPV6 socket though so when I ran the commands it seemed to succeed.

It isn’t abnormal for me to test things before I make recommendations. That also gives me code to cut and paste here if they work the way I expect them too. I just didn’t realize I’d sabotaged myself here. ‘Tab’ filled in the socket so that’s what I went with. I still haven’t take a deeper dive into systemctl so I just assumed it was correct when it appeared to start. Again, sorry for the confusion. :frowning:

 t@main:~# systemctl status proftpd.socket
● proftpd.socket - ProFTPD FTP Server Activation Socket
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.socket; disabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: active (listening) since Sun 2025-08-10 10:18:11 EDT; 10s ago
     Listen: [::]:21 (Stream)
   Accepted: 0; Connected: 0;
      Tasks: 0 (limit: 19031)
     Memory: 4.0K
        CPU: 2ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/proftpd.socket

Aug 10 10:18:11 main.cisnetadmin.com systemd[1]: Listening on ProFTPD FTP Server Activation Socket.
root@main:~# netstat -ap |grep ftp
tcp6       0      0 [::]:ftp                [::]:*                  LISTEN      1/systemd       

t@main:~# service proftpd start
Job for proftpd.service failed because the control process exited with error code.
See "systemctl status proftpd.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details.
6

You can certainly use socket activation. You may even want to if you rarely use FTP. It’s just not the default in a Virtualmin system (but maybe it should be, since FTP use has been in decline for decades).

7

This is a Webmin question so the OP probably needs to be looking more at the distro side.

8

Not sure what you mean by “OP probably needs to be looking more at the distro side.”. I thought that the bug had been found and was caused by a web/virtualmin update.

I use FTP (a lot) as a means of posting my photographs to my galleries. Both jAlbum and Website X5 Pro use it as the only means of posting to a site.

9

Why would you think that? (To be clear, it is definitely not related to a Webmin/Virtualmin update. I’m just confused why you think it’s been found to be that.)

10

OK. This is the first mention of Virtualmin. I was thinking Webmin only until now. Webmin basically just does an interface for what the distro offers. So I’m thinking ‘distro broke it’ at that point.

Virtualmin will make other changes.

I’m on 11. Basically my problem was the exact opposite of yours. I couldn’t keep it from restarting after some updates.

11

I’m sorry. I read this and thought that the renamed file to .bak caused this issue for me.

12

I just did a quick check. You can start proftpd with a debug level. 1 through 10, 10 giving the most detailed output.
/usr/sbin/proftpd -d 10

13

Here are the results …

/usr/sbin/proftpd -d 10
2025-08-11 10:37:30,378 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: using PCRE2 10.42
2025-08-11 10:37:30,380 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: using TCP receive buffer size of 131072 bytes
2025-08-11 10:37:30,380 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: using TCP send buffer size of 16384 bytes
2025-08-11 10:37:30,380 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: using ‘en_US.UTF-8’ locale based on LANG=en_US.UTF-8 environment variable
2025-08-11 10:37:30,380 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: using ‘UTF-8’ as local charset for UTF-8 conversion
2025-08-11 10:37:30,380 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at mod_core.c:384
2025-08-11 10:37:30,380 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_core.c:386
2025-08-11 10:37:30,380 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at mod_core.c:393
2025-08-11 10:37:30,380 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at parser.c:1207
2025-08-11 10:37:30,380 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_ctrls_admin.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,381 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_ctrls_admin’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_ctrls_admin.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,381 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_radius.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,381 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_radius’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_radius.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,381 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_quotatab.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,381 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_quotatab’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_quotatab.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,381 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_quotatab_file.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,381 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_quotatab_file’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_quotatab_file.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,381 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_quotatab_radius.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,381 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_quotatab_radius’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_quotatab_radius.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,381 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_rewrite.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_rewrite’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_rewrite.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_load.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_load’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_load.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_ban.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_ban’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_ban.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_wrap2.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_wrap2’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_wrap2.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_wrap2_file.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_wrap2_file’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_wrap2_file.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_dynmasq.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_dynmasq’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_dynmasq.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_exec.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_exec’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_exec.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_shaper.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_shaper’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_shaper.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,382 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_ratio.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_ratio’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_ratio.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_site_misc.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_site_misc’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_site_misc.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_facl.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_facl’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_facl.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_unique_id.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_unique_id’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_unique_id.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_copy.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_copy’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_copy.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_deflate.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_deflate’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_deflate.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_deflate/0.6: using zlib 1.2.13
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_ifversion.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_ifversion’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_ifversion.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_memcache.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,383 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_memcache’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_memcache.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_memcache/0.1: using libmemcached-1.1.4
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_readme.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_readme’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_readme.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_ifsession.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_ifsession’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_ifsession.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at parser.c:1210
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_core.c:396
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: disabling runtime support for IPv6 connections
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : skipping ‘mod_ident.c’ section at line 13
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: DenyFilter: compiling regex ‘*.*/’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : using ‘mod_dynmasq.c’ section at line 60
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: retrieved UID 121 for user ‘proftpd’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: retrieved GID 65534 for group ‘nogroup’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : using ‘mod_quotatab.c’ section at line 109
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : using ‘mod_ratio.c’ section at line 113
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : using ‘mod_delay.c’ section at line 121
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : using ‘mod_ctrls.c’ section at line 125
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at mod_ctrls.c:112
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_ctrls.c:115
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : using ‘mod_ctrls_admin.c’ section at line 133
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at mod_core.c:384
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_core.c:386
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at mod_core.c:393
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at parser.c:1207
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : skipping ‘mod_sftp.c’ section at line 9
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: warning: handling possibly truncated configuration data at line 103 of ‘/etc/proftpd/sftp.conf’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at parser.c:1210
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_core.c:396
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at mod_core.c:384
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_core.c:386
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at mod_core.c:393
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at parser.c:1348
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : using ‘!!mod_tls.c’ section at line 10
2025-08-11 10:37:30,384 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_tls.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,385 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_tls’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_tls.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,385 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_tls/2.9.2: using OpenSSL 3.0.15 3 Sep 2024
2025-08-11 10:37:30,385 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at ../modules/mod_tls.c:14879
2025-08-11 10:37:30,387 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_tls/2.9.2: certificate ‘/etc/ssl/certs/proftpd.crt’: expired on Dec 12 18:10:48 2023 GMT
2025-08-11 10:37:30,387 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at ../modules/mod_tls.c:14882
2025-08-11 10:37:30,387 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at ../modules/mod_tls.c:14904
2025-08-11 10:37:30,388 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at ../modules/mod_tls.c:14948
2025-08-11 10:37:30,388 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : skipping ‘mod_tls_shmcache.c’ section at line 21
2025-08-11 10:37:30,388 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: : using ‘!!mod_sftp.c’ section at line 26
2025-08-11 10:37:30,388 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loading ‘mod_sftp.c’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_dso/0.5: loaded module ‘mod_sftp’ (from ‘/usr/lib/proftpd/mod_sftp.so’, last modified on Sat Nov 30 15:32:48 2024)
2025-08-11 10:37:30,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_sftp/1.1.1: using OpenSSL 3.0.15 3 Sep 2024
2025-08-11 10:37:30,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: mod_sftp/1.1.1: using libsodium-1.0.18
2025-08-11 10:37:30,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at mod_sftp.c:1504
2025-08-11 10:37:30,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_sftp.c:1507
2025-08-11 10:37:30,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at mod_sftp.c:1504
2025-08-11 10:37:30,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_sftp.c:1507
2025-08-11 10:37:30,461 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at parser.c:1351
2025-08-11 10:37:30,461 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_core.c:396
2025-08-11 10:37:30,461 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: warning: handling possibly truncated configuration data at line 212 of ‘/etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf’
2025-08-11 10:37:30,461 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: ROOT PRIVS at ../modules/mod_tls.c:13619
2025-08-11 10:37:30,462 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: RELINQUISH PRIVS at ../modules/mod_tls.c:13657
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209]: notice: unable to resolve ‘008-044-158-149.v4.mynextlight.net’ as IPv4 address: Host name lookup failure
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149:
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: Config for Apache Web:
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: DeferWelcome
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: DefaultServer
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: ShowSymlinks
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TimeoutNoTransfer
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TimeoutStalled
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TimeoutIdle
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: DisplayLogin
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: DisplayChdir
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: ListOptions
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: DenyFilter
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: Port
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: UserID
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: UserName
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: GroupID
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: GroupName
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: Umask
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: DirUmask
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: AllowOverwrite
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TransferLog
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: SystemLog
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: QuotaEngine
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: Ratios
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: DelayEngine
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: DefaultRoot
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TLSEngine
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TLSRequired
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TLSRSACertificateFile
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TLSRSACertificateKeyFile
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TLSOptions
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TLSVerifyClient
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TLSLog
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: TLSCACertificateFile
2025-08-11 10:38:16,364 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: PassivePorts
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149:
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: Config for Apache Web:
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: SFTPEngine
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: SFTPLog
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: Port
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: SFTPHostKey
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: SFTPHostKey
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: SFTPAuthorizedUserKeys
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: SFTPCompression
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: MaxLoginAttempts
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: AllowOverwrite
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: PassivePorts
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: ROOT PRIVS at keys.c:815
2025-08-11 10:40:15,116 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: RELINQUISH PRIVS at keys.c:818
2025-08-11 10:40:15,120 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: ROOT PRIVS at keys.c:815
2025-08-11 10:40:15,120 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: RELINQUISH PRIVS at keys.c:818
2025-08-11 10:40:15,121 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_tls/2.9.2: generating initial TLS session ticket key
2025-08-11 10:40:15,121 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: ROOT PRIVS at ../modules/mod_tls.c:6548
2025-08-11 10:40:15,121 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: RELINQUISH PRIVS at ../modules/mod_tls.c:6551
2025-08-11 10:40:15,121 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_tls/2.9.2: scheduling new TLS session ticket key every 3600 secs
2025-08-11 10:40:15,121 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: ROOT PRIVS at ../modules/mod_tls.c:3629
2025-08-11 10:40:15,121 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: RELINQUISH PRIVS at ../modules/mod_tls.c:3632
2025-08-11 10:40:15,180 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_facl/0.6: registered ‘facl’ FS
2025-08-11 10:40:15,180 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: binding to text domain ‘proftpd’ using locale path ‘/usr/share/locale’
2025-08-11 10:40:15,180 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: using locale files in ‘/usr/share/locale’
2025-08-11 10:40:15,181 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: skipping possible language ‘zh_CN’: not supported by setlocale(3); see locale -a' 2025-08-11 10:40:15,181 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: skipping possible language 'zh_TW': not supported by setlocale(3); see locale -a’
2025-08-11 10:40:15,181 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: skipping possible language ‘es_ES’: not supported by setlocale(3); see locale -a' 2025-08-11 10:40:15,181 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: skipping possible language 'bg_BG': not supported by setlocale(3); see locale -a’
2025-08-11 10:40:15,181 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: skipping possible language ‘fr_FR’: not supported by setlocale(3); see locale -a' 2025-08-11 10:40:15,181 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: skipping possible language 'it_IT': not supported by setlocale(3); see locale -a’
2025-08-11 10:40:15,181 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: skipping possible language ‘ja_JP’: not supported by setlocale(3); see locale -a' 2025-08-11 10:40:15,181 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: skipping possible language 'ko_KR': not supported by setlocale(3); see locale -a’
2025-08-11 10:40:15,181 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: skipping possible language ‘ru_RU’: not supported by setlocale(3); see `locale -a’
2025-08-11 10:40:15,181 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: mod_lang/1.1: added the following supported languages: en_US.UTF-8, en_US
2025-08-11 10:40:15,182 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: ROOT PRIVS at mod_delay.c:583
2025-08-11 10:40:15,182 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_delay.c:586
2025-08-11 10:40:15,182 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: ROOT PRIVS at mod_log.c:864
2025-08-11 10:40:15,182 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_log.c:867
2025-08-11 10:40:15,182 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: ROOT PRIVS at mod_rlimit.c:554
2025-08-11 10:40:15,182 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: RELINQUISH PRIVS at mod_rlimit.c:557
2025-08-11 10:40:15,182 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: set core resource limits for daemon
2025-08-11 10:40:15,182 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: ignoring supplemental groups for non-root UID 121
2025-08-11 10:40:15,182 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1043209] 8.44.158.149: SETUP PRIVS at main.c:2796
root@apache-web-server:~#

14

I see nothing in there that indicates it didn’t start. Just one warning and a notice. Nothing that says ‘fatal’?

What does the output from this command say?
service proftpd status

15

Screenshots at the end showing a confused system.

service proftpd status
× proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.service; enabled; preset: enab>
Active: failed (Result: timeout) since Sat 2025-08-09 13:26:07 MDT; 1 day >
Duration: 6d 23h 59min 54.518s
Docs: man:proftpd(8)
Process: 699905 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/proftpd --configtest -c $CONFIG_FILE>
CPU: 10ms

Aug 09 13:24:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Starting pro>
Aug 09 13:24:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: Checkin>
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.serv>
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: 2025-08>
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: 2025-08>
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: 2025-08>
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.serv>
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Failed to st>
lines 1-16/16 (END)
× proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: timeout) since Sat 2025-08-09 13:26:07 MDT; 1 day 21h ago
Duration: 6d 23h 59min 54.518s
Docs: man:proftpd(8)
Process: 699905 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/proftpd --configtest -c $CONFIG_FILE $OPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
CPU: 10ms

Aug 09 13:24:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Starting proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server…
Aug 09 13:24:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: Checking syntax of configuration file
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: start-pre operation timed out. Terminating.
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: 2025-08-09 13:26:07,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[6>
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: 2025-08-09 13:26:07,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[6>
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[699905]: 2025-08-09 13:26:07,389 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[6>
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: Failed with result ‘timeout’.
Aug 09 13:26:07 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Failed to start proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server.
~

I did find this very strange thing. Screencaps 1 and 2 show the system thinks ProFTP is stopped, screencap 3 shows that it is in fact running.

Image_1
Image_1931×266 82.2 KB

Image2
Image2928×460 82.2 KB

Image3
Image3931×293 72.2 KB

16

Maybe checking it from the command line bypassed some of the configuration options. Kill the process and try:

service proftpd start
service proftpd status
17

root@apache-web-server:~# service proftpd start

Job for proftpd.service failed because a timeout was exceeded.
See “systemctl status proftpd.service” and “journalctl -xeu proftpd.service” for details.
root@apache-web-server:~#
root@apache-web-server:~# systemctl status proftpd.service
× proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: timeout) since Mon 2025-08-11 12:35:08 MDT; 27s ago
Duration: 6d 23h 59min 54.518s
Docs: man:proftpd(8)
Process: 1064945 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/proftpd --configtest -c $CONFIG_FILE $OPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
CPU: 13ms

Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: Checking syntax of configuration file
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,992 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,994 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:33:38 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:38,069 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: start-pre operation timed out. Terminating.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: Failed with result ‘timeout’.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Failed to start proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server.
…skipping…
× proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: timeout) since Mon 2025-08-11 12:35:08 MDT; 27s ago
Duration: 6d 23h 59min 54.518s
Docs: man:proftpd(8)
Process: 1064945 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/proftpd --configtest -c $CONFIG_FILE $OPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
CPU: 13ms

Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: Checking syntax of configuration file
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,992 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,994 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:33:38 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:38,069 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: start-pre operation timed out. Terminating.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: Failed with result ‘timeout’.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Failed to start proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server.
~
~
~
~
~
…skipping…
× proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: timeout) since Mon 2025-08-11 12:35:08 MDT; 27s ago
Duration: 6d 23h 59min 54.518s
Docs: man:proftpd(8)
Process: 1064945 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/proftpd --configtest -c $CONFIG_FILE $OPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
CPU: 13ms

Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: Checking syntax of configuration file
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,992 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,994 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:33:38 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:38,069 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: start-pre operation timed out. Terminating.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: Failed with result ‘timeout’.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Failed to start proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server.
~
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~
~
~
Tab stops: eu proftpd.service"
× proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: timeout) since Mon 2025-08-11 12:35:08 MDT; 27s ago
Duration: 6d 23h 59min 54.518s
Docs: man:proftpd(8)
Process: 1064945 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/proftpd --configtest -c $CONFIG_FILE $OPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
CPU: 13ms

Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: Checking syntax of configuration file
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,992 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: warning: handling possibly truncated configuration data at line 103 of '/etc/proftpd>
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,994 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: mod_tls/2.9.2: certificate ‘/etc/ssl/certs/proftpd.crt’: expired on Dec 12 18:10:48 >
Aug 11 12:33:38 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:38,069 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: warning: handling possibly truncated configuration data at line 212 of '/etc/proftpd>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: start-pre operation timed out. Terminating.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: ProFTPD killed (signal 15)
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: mod_delay/0.8: unable to load DelayTable ‘/run/proftpd.delay’ (fd 3) into memory: In>
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: ProFTPD 1.3.8 standalone mode SHUTDOWN
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: Failed with result ‘timeout’.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Failed to start proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server.
~
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lines 1-18/18 (END)
× proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: timeout) since Mon 2025-08-11 12:35:08 MDT; 27s ago
Duration: 6d 23h 59min 54.518s
Docs: man:proftpd(8)
Process: 1064945 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/proftpd --configtest -c $CONFIG_FILE $OPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
CPU: 13ms

Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: Checking syntax of configuration file
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,992 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: warning: handling possibly truncated configuration data at line 103 of ‘/etc/proftpd/sftp.conf’
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,994 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: mod_tls/2.9.2: certificate ‘/etc/ssl/certs/proftpd.crt’: expired on Dec 12 18:10:48 2023 GMT
Aug 11 12:33:38 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:38,069 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: warning: handling possibly truncated configuration data at line 212 of ‘/etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf’
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: start-pre operation timed out. Terminating.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: ProFTPD killed (signal 15)
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: mod_delay/0.8: unable to load DelayTable ‘/run/proftpd.delay’ (fd 3) into memory: Invalid argument
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: ProFTPD 1.3.8 standalone mode SHUTDOWN
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: Failed with result ‘timeout’.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Failed to start proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server.
~
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~
~
~

root@apache-web-server:~# service proftpd status
× proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: timeout) since Mon 2025-08-11 12:35:08 MDT; 2min 2s ago
Duration: 6d 23h 59min 54.518s
Docs: man:proftpd(8)
Process: 1064945 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/proftpd --configtest -c $CONFIG_FILE $OPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
CPU: 13ms

Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: Checking syntax of configuration file
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,992 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: warning: handling possibly truncated configuration data at line 103 of ‘/etc/proftpd/sftp.conf’
Aug 11 12:33:37 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:37,994 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: mod_tls/2.9.2: certificate ‘/etc/ssl/certs/proftpd.crt’: expired on Dec 12 18:10:48 2023 GMT
Aug 11 12:33:38 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:33:38,069 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: warning: handling possibly truncated configuration data at line 212 of ‘/etc/proftpd/proftpd.conf’
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: start-pre operation timed out. Terminating.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: ProFTPD killed (signal 15)
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: mod_delay/0.8: unable to load DelayTable ‘/run/proftpd.delay’ (fd 3) into memory: Invalid argument
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: 2025-08-11 12:35:08,134 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com proftpd[1064945]: ProFTPD 1.3.8 standalone mode SHUTDOWN
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: Failed with result ‘timeout’.
Aug 11 12:35:08 apache-web-server.twin-peaks-video.com systemd[1]: Failed to start proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server.
root@apache-web-server:~#

18

I just re-enabled Proftpd on my system. On mine 211 is the last line of the file. (Look at the ‘edit config’ in the module)

image
image611×171 14.2 KB

This file is basically all commented out for me with the exception of:

<IfModule mod_sftp.c>
</IfModule>

You might try commenting out the Include to see if something in the conf.d directory (Just virtualmin file on mine) is causing a problem.

EDIT: Notice below it says my virtualmin configuration in conf.d is not parsed with an ‘operation not permitted’.

Since it ran using /usr/sbin/proftpd I’m thinking something in the configuration is broken. You didn’t enable jailkits at some point did you?

19

Well this is interesting. It was up and running in spite of registering “fatal”?

root@main:/var/log/proftpd# service proftpd status
● proftpd.service - ProFTPD FTP Server
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/proftpd.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: inactive (dead) since Mon 2025-08-11 16:52:01 EDT; 7min ago
    Process: 461764 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/proftpd --configtest -c $CONFIG_FILE (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
    Process: 461765 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/proftpd -c $CONFIG_FILE $OPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
   Main PID: 291983 (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
        CPU: 97ms

Aug 11 16:30:37 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461764]: 2025-08-11 16:30:37,641 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461764]: fatal: Did you mean: SFTPHostKey
Aug 11 16:30:37 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461764]: 2025-08-11 16:30:37,641 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461764]: error: unable to open parse file '/etc/proftpd/conf.d/virtualmin.conf': Operation not permitted
Aug 11 16:30:37 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461765]: 2025-08-11 16:30:37,719 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461765]: mod_memcache/0.1: compiled using libmemcached-1.0.18 headers, but linked to libmemcached-1.1.4 library
Aug 11 16:30:37 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461765]: 2025-08-11 16:30:37,729 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461765]: fatal: unknown configuration directive 'SFTPHostKeys' on line 51 of '/etc/proftpd/conf.d/virtualmin.conf'
Aug 11 16:30:37 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461765]: 2025-08-11 16:30:37,730 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461765]: fatal: Did you mean: SFTPHostKey
Aug 11 16:30:37 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461765]: 2025-08-11 16:30:37,730 main.cisnetadmin.com proftpd[461765]: error: unable to open parse file '/etc/proftpd/conf.d/virtualmin.conf': Operation not permitted
Aug 11 16:30:37 main.cisnetadmin.com systemd[1]: Started ProFTPD FTP Server.
Aug 11 16:52:01 main.cisnetadmin.com systemd[1]: Stopping ProFTPD FTP Server...
Aug 11 16:52:01 main.cisnetadmin.com systemd[1]: proftpd.service: Succeeded.
Aug 11 16:52:01 main.cisnetadmin.com systemd[1]: Stopped ProFTPD FTP Server.
root@main:/var/log/proftpd# ^C
20

Sorry about that. Here is my sftp.conf

Proftpd sample configuration for SFTP connections.

Once enabled, you can even disable the sftpserver support of OpenSSH on port 22.

To do that, comment out the Subsystem sftp /usr/lib/openssh/sftp-server

line in /etc/ssh/sshd_config and restart the service.

#SFTPEngine on #Port 2222 #SFTPLog /var/log/proftpd/sftp.log # # Configure all host keys, using the same host key # files that OpenSSH uses. # #SFTPHostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key #SFTPHostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key #SFTPHostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key #SFTPHostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key #SFTPHostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key # # Preferred authentication method is by keys # #SFTPAuthMethods publickey # # This is available only if mod_sftp_pam is used # #SFTPAuthMethods keyboard-interactive # # Use either # ssh-keygen -e -f ~user/.ssh/id_rsa.pub >/etc/proftpd/authorized_keys/user # or # ssh-keygen -e -f ~user/.ssh/authorized_keys >/etc/proftpd/authorized_keys/user # to convert users public keys in RFC4716 format. # #SFTPAuthorizedUserKeys file:/etc/proftpd/authorized_keys/%u # # Enable compression # #SFTPCompression delayed 
    SFTPEngine on
    Port 2222
    SFTPLog /var/log/proftpd/sftp.log

    # Configure both the RSA and DSA host keys, using the same host key
    # files that OpenSSH uses.
    SFTPHostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
    SFTPHostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key
    #added
    SFTPHostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key
	SFTPHostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key
	SFTPHostKey /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ed25519_key

    SFTPAuthMethods publickey

    SFTPAuthorizedUserKeys file:/etc/proftpd/authorized_keys/%u

    # Enable compression
    # SFTPCompression delayed
    # SFTPCompression off

Match Group adult-sitemap.gallery-adult
# Chroot the connection into the specified directory
ChrootDirectory /home/%u
# Force the connection to use the built-in SFTP support
ForceCommand internal-sftp -d /soft-focus-imagining/domains/gallery-adult.soft-focus-imagining.com/public_html

Match Group gallery-sitemap.gallery
# Chroot the connection into the specified directory
ChrootDirectory /home/%u
# Force the connection to use the built-in SFTP support
ForceCommand internal-sftp -d /soft-focus-imagining/domains/gallery.soft-focus-imagining.com/public_html

Match Group savage@savage-van-sage.soft-focus-imagining.com
# Chroot the connection into the specified directory
ChrootDirectory /home/%u
# Force the connection to use the built-in SFTP support
ForceCommand internal-sftp -d /soft-focus-imagining/domains/savage-van-sage.soft-focus-imagining.com/public_html
# ForceCommand internal-sftp -d /soft-focus-imagining/domains/savage-van-sage.soft-focus-imagining.com/public_html/jAlbum_Savage

Match Group serendipity.soft-focus-imagining
# Chroot the connection into the specified directory
ChrootDirectory /home/%u
# Force the connection to use the built-in SFTP support
ForceCommand internal-sftp -d /soft-focus-imagining/domains/serendipity.soft-focus-imagining.com/public_html

Match Group nsaphoto-sitemap.nigel-aves-photography
# Chroot the connection into the specified directory
ChrootDirectory /home/%u
# Force the connection to use the built-in SFTP support
ForceCommand internal-sftp -d /nigel-aves-photography/public_html
# ForceCommand internal-sftp -d /nigel-aves-photography/public_html/jAlbum_Nigel_Aves_Photography

Match Group savage@savage-van-sage.soft-focus-imagining.com

# Chroot the connection into the specified directory

ChrootDirectory /home/%u

# Force the connection to use the built-in SFTP support

ForceCommand internal-sftp -d /soft-focus-imagining/domains/savage-van-sage.soft-focus-imagining.com/public_html

 #                 ForceCommand internal-sftp -d /soft-focus-imagining/domains/savage-van-sage.soft-focus-imagining.com/public_html/jAlbum_Savage