VSFTPD cap_set_proc and dead but subsys locked errors and solution

by nixCraft on August 16, 2006 · 8 comments· Last updated August 16, 2006

VSFTPD is the one of the easiest and secure FTP server out there. However today it bumps back with two errors.

#1: 500 OOPS: cap_set_proc error

After successful user login vsftpd will display an error:
$ ftp ftpserver.xyz.com

Output:

Connected to ftpserver.xyz.com.
220 (vsFTPd 2.0.5)
Name (localhost:vivek): vivek
331 Please specify the password.
Password:
230 Login successful.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
ftp> ls
500 OOPS: cap_set_proc
ftp: bind: Address already in use

cap_set_proc is POSIX capability manipulation on processes function (related to filesystems but I am not sure). After searching bit I found the solution. You need to load the standard Linux capabilities security module:
# modprobe capability

#2: vsftpd dead but subsys locked error

This is another error - one of my clients was receiving while starting vsftpd. There was already ftp server running and address 21 was bind to this ftp server. So vsftpd dead but subsys locked error was generated. xinetd was configured to run wu-ftpd (quite old ftp software). Solution was simple I had removed the wu-ftpd.

You should follow me on twitter here or grab rss feed to keep track of new changes.

Featured Articles:

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

1 patrick August 16, 2006 at 7:31 pm: Great troubleshooting tip, it will come handy some day.
Do you know how to limit user to their home directories? What I want is user should not able to visit /root or /tmp directory or all other directory.
TIA
Reply
2 Planet Malaysia August 18, 2006 at 1:59 am: After edit vsftpd.conf file, I have subsys locked error before.
Reply
3 sure October 5, 2006 at 12:29 pm: #2: vsftpd dead but subsys locked error
how to clear these problume
Reply
4 Sandeep Sharma April 21, 2009 at 1:50 pm: If we are getting this error “vsftpd dead but subsys locked ” then
then follow the followid steps: –
netstat -tupnla |grep “:21″
output like
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:21 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 3876/xinetd
kill -9 3876
then restart ftp service
/etc/init.d/vsftpd restart and
service xinetd restart
It will solve your problem.
Reply
5 chandan May 15, 2009 at 6:49 am: Please disabled ftp_port=20 in vsftpd.conf file
and get rid of problems
Reply
6 Mukesh Maurya August 4, 2009 at 10:33 am: I am facing problem in vsftp server. I’m working on RHEL4 server. the vsftpd service was working fine but now suddenly I found
that it is not working. Whenever I restart or stop the service I’m getting following messages.
1. Service vsftpd status
Vsftpd dead but subsys locked
2. Service vsftpd stop
Shutting Down vsftpd: [Failed]
3. Service vsftpd start
Starting vsftpd for vsftpd: [ok]
4.Service vsftpd status
Vsftpd dead but subsys locked
Kindly suggest….what can be done so that the vsftpd service work properly
Regards,
Mukesh
Reply
7 Dszabolcs September 29, 2009 at 12:41 pm: Hi
I exactly have the issue related above.
PLS help.
Thank you
Reply
8 Tolbert September 27, 2010 at 5:02 pm: I am totally facing the same problem as Mukesh Maurya,anybody assist gone through forums nothing…..
Reply