> Source: [sk97749](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk97749)

# sk97749 - Gaia backup via FTP / TFTP fails with "file transfer failed" error

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Solution ID | sk97749 |
| Date Created | 2013-12-16 |
| Last Modified | 2016-08-05 |
| Technical Level | Advanced |
| Products | Security Gateway, Security Management Server |
| Versions | R82.10, R82, R81.20, R82.10, R82, R81.20, R82.x, R82.20 |
| OS | Gaia |

## Symptoms

- * Gaia backup via FTP / TFTP (configured either in Gaia Portal, or in Clish) fails with "`file transfer failed`" error.  

* /var/log/messages file shows:

  ```
  
  xpand[PID]: backup: before wrapper_start_action. 
  xpand[PID]: state->action=1,  state->storage_type=ftp,  state->s_file_name=(null),  state->remote_server_addr=W.X.Y.Z,   state->remote_user_name=User_Name, 
  xpand[PID]: wrapper_start_action: Started !!!!!!!
  .............
  xpand[PID]: BACKUP operation started. 
  .............
  xpand[PID]: BACKUP operation failed. Details: Failed to transfer the package to the remote server: W.X.Y.Z
  xpand[PID]: Creating status file. failure has occured 
  .............
  ipstcl2: check_special_char: The value of the key jPassword contained special character
  ipstcl2: Special characters found
  ipstcl2: regStrCmp: Match found of the string msg at pattern msg (0,3)
  ipstcl2: check_special_char: The key msg is allowed to have special character at it's value 
  ```

## Cause

FTP / TFTP password contains at least one of the illegal characters:

* \< - less than
* \> - greater than
* \& - ampersand
* ; - semi-colon

## Solution

This solution requires authentication. Please log in to view the full solution.

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