ftp_error.rb

# This works on Ruby 1.8.7 but doesn't work on Ruby 1.8.6 (See backtrace further down)

require 'net/ftp'
require 'fileutils'

URL = 'XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX'
username = 'XXXXXXXXXX'
passwd = "XXXXXXXXX"
directory = '/out/archive/'

Net::FTP.open(URL) do |ftp|
  ftp.debug_mode = true
  #ftp.passive = true
  #ftp.binary = false
  ftp.login(username,passwd)
  ftp.chdir(directory)
  ftp.list do |line|
    filename = line.split(' ').last
    localfile = filename
    puts "get #{filename} => #{line}"
    ftp.get(filename, localfile)
  end
  ftp.close
  puts "Finished successfuly"
end

# Works as expected on Ruby 1.8.7
#  
# Returns following error on Ruby 1.8.6:
#  
# /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:211:in `readline': end of file reached (EOFError)
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:211:in `getline'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:221:in `getmultiline'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:235:in `getresp'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:251:in `voidresp'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:274:in `voidcmd'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/monitor.rb:242:in `synchronize'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:272:in `voidcmd'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:287:in `sendport'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:295:in `makeport'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:326:in `transfercmd'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:420:in `retrlines'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/monitor.rb:242:in `synchronize'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:418:in `retrlines'
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:624:in `list'
#   from ftp.rb:19
#   from /usr/local/lib/ruby/1.8/net/ftp.rb:115:in `open'
#   from ftp.rb:13

ftp_works.rb

# This works both with Ruby 1.8.6 and 1.8.7

require 'net/ftp'
require 'fileutils'

URL = 'XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX'
username = 'XXXXXXXXXX'
passwd = "XXXXXXXXX"
directory = '/out/archive/'

Net::FTP.open(URL) do |ftp|
  ftp.debug_mode = true
  ftp.passive = true
  #ftp.binary = false
  ftp.login(username,passwd)
  ftp.chdir(directory)
  list = ftp.list
  for line in list
    filename = line.split(' ').last
    localfile = filename
    puts "get #{filename} => #{line}"
    ftp.get(filename, localfile)
  end
  ftp.close
  puts "Finished successfuly"
end

You just saved my afternoon thanks!