I know the difference between active and passive FTP (there's an excellent definition here: Active vs. Passive FTP), but what I want to know is: Is there a way to determine what is set up on the server you are on?

I have a monitoring client that we install at our customer sites; it send us server information and logs via FTP. As part of the set up, I have the installer run an FTP test - it makes a connection and transfers a file. The test assumes active FTP and sets a two minute timer; if the timer goes off, then it retries using passive (if both fail, then there's a whole different issue).

This seems slow -- there should be a way to determine before the test how FTP is configured. Does any one know a way?