Centos 6, stock installation, no additional repos added. vsftp works fine in regular mode, going to ssl I got issues. I get as far as 'directory listing' and it dies. It times out and disconnects. file: /etc/sysconfig/iptables-config added: IPTABLES_MODULES="ip_conntrack_ftp" (without this line, ftp normally fails, afraid it may be causing issues with the ssl) iptables -A INPUT -m state --state NEW -m tcp -p tcp --dport 21 -j ACCEPT again, normal ftp fine. vsftp file below are the additional commands I entered to get ssl/tls up and running. pam_service_name=vsftpd userlist_enable=YES tcp_wrappers=YES ssl_enable=YES implicit_ssl=yes <--- tried with and without this and the port 21 below listen_port=21 <-- see above allow_anon_ssl=NO force_local_data_ssl=NO <-- set this to yes so I can still test normal functions force_local_logins_ssl=NO ssl_tlsv1=YES ssl_sslv2=NO ssl_sslv3=NO rsa_cert_file=/etc/pki/tls/certs/vsftpd.pem ssl_ciphers=HIGH <-- this was added as I was using filezilla and it wanted different ciphers. without this it would have a tls fatal error, adding this absolved that issue. Now I have tried playing with the settings and in all cases when it can connect it dies at directory listing. Implicit ssl wants 990, but the listen_port directive can tell it to go to 21. Again, full connect, changes folders, dies at trying to display contents of initial folder. I have redone the pem a few times and even moved it in and out of the vsftpd folder just for kicks, no joy. I tried opening port 990 and that made no difference at all (even changing listen_port or leaving it commented out) so, cannot figure what is up. Most online notes are for non-centos 6 and/or generally follow this same set of commands. Most of the debug threads about this issue deal with plain connections and not tls/ssl. I can find no solution yet, has anyone out there secured their vsftp server and wanna throw me a bone? Only this and two other things prevent me from throwing out a nice video tutorial of how to go from a stock install to a fully armed and operational webserver, ssl everywhere, etc.... all nighter and no where with this one. At least not yet.