FTP Issues Fix: Pure-FTP GnuTLS Error -110

Introduction

If you are using a Pure-FTPd server with the FileZilla client, you may encounter this error message:

GnuTLS error -110 in gnutls_record_recv: The TLS connection was non-properly terminated.

This is one of the most common FTP issues beginners face. Don’t worry — this guide will explain what it means and provide simple steps to fix it.

What Causes This FTP Problem?

This error usually happens because the TLS connection method in FileZilla is incompatible with Pure-FTPd. It’s a known bug and has been reported officially: Ubuntu Pure-FTPd Bug Report

In simple words: your FTP client (FileZilla) and your FTP server (Pure-FTPd) are not “speaking the same TLS language.”

2 Easy Ways to Resolve GnuTLS Error -110 in FTP

Solution 1: Upgrade Pure-FTPd to Fix the Bug

The easiest way to solve this ftp problem is to upgrade Pure-FTPd to version 1.0.47 or above.

Step 1. Download Required Packages (Ubuntu 18.04 example)

wget https://repo.mysql.com/apt/ubuntu/pool/mysql-8.0/m/mysql-community/mysql-common_8.0.21-1ubuntu18.04_amd64.deb
wget https://repo.mysql.com/apt/ubuntu/pool/mysql-8.0/m/mysql-community/libmysqlclient21_8.0.21-1ubuntu18.04_amd64.deb
wget http://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/ubuntu/pool/universe/p/pure-ftpd/pure-ftpd-common_1.0.49-4_all.deb
wget http://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/ubuntu/pool/universe/p/pure-ftpd/pure-ftpd-mysql_1.0.49-4_amd64.deb

(If you are not using Ubuntu 18.04, please download the matching packages for your version.)

Step 2. Install the Packages

dpkg -i xxx.deb xxx.deb xxx.deb xxx.deb

Step 3. Restart Pure-FTPd

systemctl restart pure-ftpd-mysql

Solution 2: Use an Older Version of FileZilla

If upgrading the server feels too complicated, you can also resolve this FTP issue by using an earlier version of FileZilla (older than version 3.40.0).

Recommended stable versions:

• FileZilla Client v3.28.0 (Win64)
• FileZilla Client v3.25.2 (Win64)

Conclusion

This FTP problem is caused by a known compatibility issue between Pure-FTPd and newer FileZilla versions. The best way to solve it is by upgrading Pure-FTPd. If that’s not possible, simply switch to an older FileZilla client.

With these steps, you now know the basics of FTP server troubleshooting. Even as a beginner, you can fix this error without deep technical skills.