FTP Upload Access denied Error 550

So I create a service that uploads files from our server to one of our clients ftp servers. It is a simple process of checking a folder for any files, if there are files, upload them and then move them to a processed folder.

Now the application ran like a machine on my development PC, so I was confident it would work on our server! But alas... it didn't! All it kept shouting at me, as if to mock my lack of ability, was FTP Upload Access denied Error 550.. no such file...

With my ego deflated and questioning my ability to write code that just worked, I verified that the clients server I was uploading to in fact was allowing access, I resorted to digging in my work server to find out what stupid setting was causing me to question my career choice...

Finally I found yet again some obscure setting in my firewall that was blocking ftp connections from connecting to my server. Seems my server was the tease in this instance, asking for a connection from my clients server, and when it responded, dying it access... (some hidden life lessons on relationships there me thinks...)

So if you are developing an app that is requiring ftp access, and it works on your desktop environment but not a production server that has been locked down beyond belief, try checking your firewall settings. Chances are there is some obscure setting, enabled by default, thereby disabling ftp uploads to your server.

Windows Task Scheduler not running executable correctly

I recently had an encounter with the Windows Task Scheduler where it was not running my executable correctly, yet it was saying the task completed successfully.

Now the Windows Task Scheduler has been a source of incredible automation power. It allows me to quickly create tasks that I can run on my server or desktop ranging from database processing apps that help optimize searches to simple file ftp uploading services.