I was developing Drupal in my MacBook with XAMPP server setup. I was tweaking with a different distribution and that needed an important security update. I was trying to update and there came the need for an FTP connection to the localhost.
Apple has disabled the FTP Server in Mac OS X Mountain Lion. Here is the little tweak that helped me to start the disabled FTP Server in order to get the job done.
Start the FTP:
sudo -s launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist
Verify the FTP is working by issueing this command
ftp localhost
Stop the FTP:
sudo launchctl stop com.apple.ftpd
Start the FTP again:
sudo launchctl start com.apple.ftpd
When the update prompts FTP credentials – provide machine username and password. This gets the job done.
Though FTP usage is discouraged due to it’s security vulnerabilities – this was the easiest way of tackling Drupal issue in local environment.
If you are seriously considering a secure FTP server in your Mac, check the PureFTPd Manager from the following link:
http://jeanmatthieu.free.fr/pureftpd/
Edit:
I encountered the same issue with WordPress development in MAMP Server setup. Easiest solution was to set the proper permission to the wordpress directory. Apache runs as the user _www:
sudo chown -R _www:_www wordpress_directory
Also this will work
sudo chgrp -R _www wordpress_directory/
Same technique could work for Drupal issue as well.
