If I start a -vanilla xemacs 21.2 and then attempt to 'List & Install' the packages from the Tools menu, I get the following backtrace: Signaling: (wrong-type-argument stringp nil) expand-file-name(nil) package-get-update-base(nil t) package-get-require-base(t) #<compiled-function nil "...(137)" [pui-info-buffer pui-menu buffer-read-only sep-string start outbuf package-get-require-base t get-buffer-create "===============================================================================\n" nil message "Creating package list ..." sit-for 0 buffer-disable-undo erase-buffer kill-all-local-variables use-local-map list-packages-mode "Packages" "\nWarning: No download sites specified. Package index may be out of date.\n If you intend to install packages, specify download sites first.\n\n" " Latest Installed\n Package name Vers. Vers. Description\n" " Latest\n Package name Vers. Description\n" mapcar #<compiled-function ... "...(204)" ... 10> sort copy-sequence #<compiled-function ... "...(10)" ... 3> documentation set-buffer-modified-p pop-to-buffer delete-other-windows featurep menubar set-buffer-menubar add-submenu clear-message pui-display-keymap major-mode mode-name truncate-lines pa! ck! age-get-remote pui-list-verbose package-get-base pui-selected-packages pui-deleted-packages current-menubar mode-popup-menu] 6 ("/usr/local/xemacs-21.2-2001-01-25/lib/xemacs-21.2-b42/lisp/package-ui.elc" . 13405) nil>() call-interactively(pui-list-packages) If I select a download site (e.g. xemacs.org), I then get the following backtrace when I try to List & Install: Signaling: (ftp-error "FTP Error: DIR failed: 500 Illegal PORT command.") signal(ftp-error ("FTP Error: DIR failed: 500 Illegal PORT command.")) efs-error("ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" "DIR failed: 500 Illegal PORT command.") #<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host-type listing-type host user temp-file path switches file lsargs noparse parse noerror msg nowait cont) "...(286)" [get-buffer efs-ftp-process-buffer host user buff saved-buff (...) ascii efs-process-client-altered-xfer-type (...) result efs-ls-dumb-check host-type unknown listing-type unix:unknown line file path lsargs msg noparse noerror nowait cont listing-result efs-call-cont nil efs-error "DIR failed: " efs-ftp-path temp-file efs-add-file-entry efs-host-type efs-gateway-host fundamental-mode jka-compr-enabled efs-verbose default-major-mode get-buffer-create efs-data-buffer-name erase-buffer file-readable-p sleep-for efs-retry-time insert-file-contents format "list data file %s not readable" parse efs-set-files ...] 13>(failed "500 Illegal PORT command." "" unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t! n! il nil) apply(#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host-type listing-type host user temp-file path switches file lsargs noparse parse noerror msg nowait cont) "...(286)" [get-buffer efs-ftp-process-buffer host user buff saved-buff (...) ascii efs-process-client-altered-xfer-type (...) result efs-ls-dumb-check host-type unknown listing-type unix:unknown line file path lsargs msg noparse noerror nowait cont listing-result efs-call-cont nil efs-error "DIR failed: " efs-ftp-path temp-file efs-add-file-entry efs-host-type efs-gateway-host fundamental-mode jka-compr-enabled efs-verbose default-major-mode get-buffer-create efs-data-buffer-name erase-buffer file-readable-p sleep-for efs-retry-time insert-file-contents format "list data file %s not readable" parse efs-set-files ...] 13> (failed "500 Illegal PORT command." "" unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse ! t ! nil t nil nil)) efs-call-cont((#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host-type listing-type host user temp-file path switches file lsargs noparse parse noerror msg nowait cont) "...(286)" [get-buffer efs-ftp-process-buffer host user buff saved-buff ... ascii efs-process-client-altered-xfer-type ... result efs-ls-dumb-check host-type unknown listing-type unix:unknown line file path lsargs msg noparse noerror nowait cont listing-result efs-call-cont nil efs-error "DIR failed: " efs-ftp-path temp-file efs-add-file-entry efs-host-type efs-gateway-host fundamental-mode jka-compr-enabled efs-verbose default-major-mode get-buffer-create efs-data-buffer-name erase-buffer file-readable-p sleep-for efs-retry-time insert-file-contents format "list data file %s not readable" parse efs-set-files ...] 13> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil) failed "500 Illeg! al! PORT command." "") #<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host user proc cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait noretry) "...(199)" [noretry result fatal efs-send-cmd host user cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait t 1 retry afsc-result afsc-line 2 afsc-cont-lines failed (append rename put) quote stor match-data case-fold-search cfs buff match-data (...) nil string-match efs-write-protect-msgs line efs-write-recover efs-host-type cont-lines efs-call-cont] 12>(failed "500 Illegal PORT command." "" "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" #<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> (dir "" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "-al") "Listing /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host-type listing-type host user temp-file path switches file lsargs noparse parse noerror msg nowait cont) "...(286)" [get-buffer efs-ftp-process-buffer host user buff saved-buff ... ascii efs-process-client-altered-xfer-type ... result efs-ls-dumb-check host-type unknown listing-t! yp! e unix:unknown line file path lsargs msg noparse noerror nowait cont listing-result efs-call-cont nil efs-error "DIR failed: " efs-ftp-path temp-file efs-add-file-entry efs-host-type efs-gateway-host fundamental-mode jka-compr-enabled efs-verbose default-major-mode get-buffer-create efs-data-buffer-name erase-buffer file-readable-p sleep-for efs-retry-time insert-file-contents format "list data file %s not readable" parse efs-set-files ...] 13> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil) nil nil) apply(#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host user proc cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait noretry) "...(199)" [noretry result fatal efs-send-cmd host user cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait t 1 retry afsc-result afsc-line 2 afsc-cont-lines failed (append rename put) quote stor match-data case-fold-search cfs buff match-data (...) nil string-match efs-write-protect-msgs line efs-write-recover efs-host-type cont-lines efs-call-cont] 12> (failed "500 Illegal PORT command." "" "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" #<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> (dir "" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "-al") "Listing /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function ... "...(286)" ... 13> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil) nil nil)) efs-call-cont((#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host user proc cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait noretry) "...(199)" [noretry result fatal efs-send-cmd host user cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait t 1 retry afsc-result afsc-line 2 afsc-cont-lines failed ... quote stor match-data case-fold-search cfs buff match-data ... nil string-match efs-write-protect-msgs line efs-write-recover efs-host-type cont-lines efs-call-cont] 12> "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" #<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> (dir "" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "-al") "Listing /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function ... "...(286)" ... 13> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil) nil nil) failed "500 Illegal PORT command." "") efs-process-filter(#<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> "500 Illegal PORT command.\n") accept-process-output(#<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run>) byte-code("..." [efs-process-busy efs-process-nowait process-status proc (run open) accept-process-output] 2) efs-raw-send-cmd(#<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> "ls \"-al\" /tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "Listing /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host user proc cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait noretry) "...(199)" [noretry result fatal efs-send-cmd host user cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait t 1 retry afsc-result afsc-line 2 afsc-cont-lines failed ... quote stor match-data case-fold-search cfs buff match-data ... nil string-match efs-write-protect-msgs line efs-write-recover efs-host-type cont-lines efs-call-cont] 12> "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" #<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> (dir "" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "-al") "Listing /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function ... "...(286)" ... 13> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil! t! nil nil) nil nil) nil) efs-send-cmd("ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" (dir "" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "-al") "Listing /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host-type listing-type host user temp-file path switches file lsargs noparse parse noerror msg nowait cont) "...(286)" [get-buffer efs-ftp-process-buffer host user buff saved-buff ... ascii efs-process-client-altered-xfer-type ... result efs-ls-dumb-check host-type unknown listing-type unix:unknown line file path lsargs msg noparse noerror nowait cont listing-result efs-call-cont nil efs-error "DIR failed: " efs-ftp-path temp-file efs-add-file-entry efs-host-type efs-gateway-host fundamental-mode jka-compr-enabled efs-verbose default-major-mode get-buffer-create efs-data-buffer-name erase-buffer file-readable-p sleep-for efs-retry-time insert-file-contents format "list data file %s not readable" parse efs-set-files ...] 13> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" ! "/! pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil) nil) #<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host-type listing-type host user temp temp-file path switches file lsargs noparse parse noerror msg nowait cont nlist) "...(103)" [result noerror cont efs-call-cont nil efs-error host user format "CWD %s failed: " line efs-send-cmd nlist dir file-name-nondirectory path temp lsargs msg t "Listing %s" efs-relativize-filename file #<compiled-function ... "...(286)" ... 13> host-type listing-type temp-file switches noparse parse nowait] 22>(nil "250 CWD command successful." "" unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" ("/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" . "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN") "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil nil) apply(#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host-type listing-type host user temp temp-file path switches file lsargs noparse parse noerror msg nowait cont nlist) "...(103)" [result noerror cont efs-call-cont nil efs-error host user format "CWD %s failed: " line efs-send-cmd nlist dir file-name-nondirectory path temp lsargs msg t "Listing %s" efs-relativize-filename file #<compiled-function ... "...(286)" ... 13> host-type listing-type temp-file switches noparse parse nowait] 22> (nil "250 CWD command successful." "" unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" ("/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" . "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN") "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil nil)) efs-call-cont((#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host-type listing-type host user temp temp-file path switches file lsargs noparse parse noerror msg nowait cont nlist) "...(103)" [result noerror cont efs-call-cont nil efs-error host user format "CWD %s failed: " line efs-send-cmd nlist dir file-name-nondirectory path temp lsargs msg t "Listing %s" efs-relativize-filename file #<compiled-function ... "...(286)" ... 13> host-type listing-type temp-file switches noparse parse nowait] 22> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" ("/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" . "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN") "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil nil) nil "250 CWD command successful." "") #<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host user proc cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait noretry) "...(199)" [noretry result fatal efs-send-cmd host user cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait t 1 retry afsc-result afsc-line 2 afsc-cont-lines failed (append rename put) quote stor match-data case-fold-search cfs buff match-data (...) nil string-match efs-write-protect-msgs line efs-write-recover efs-host-type cont-lines efs-call-cont] 12>(nil "250 CWD command successful." "" "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" #<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> (cwd "/pub/xemacs/packages/") "CWD'ing to /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host-type listing-type host user temp temp-file path switches file lsargs noparse parse noerror msg nowait cont nlist) "...(103)" [result noerror cont efs-call-cont nil efs-error host user format "CWD %s failed: " line efs-send-cmd nlist dir file-name-nondirectory path temp lsargs msg t! "! Listing %s" efs-relativize-filename file #<compiled-function ... "...(286)" ... 13> host-type listing-type temp-file switches noparse parse nowait] 22> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" ("/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" . "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN") "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil nil) nil nil) apply(#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host user proc cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait noretry) "...(199)" [noretry result fatal efs-send-cmd host user cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait t 1 retry afsc-result afsc-line 2 afsc-cont-lines failed (append rename put) quote stor match-data case-fold-search cfs buff match-data (...) nil string-match efs-write-protect-msgs line efs-write-recover efs-host-type cont-lines efs-call-cont] 12> (nil "250 CWD command successful." "" "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" #<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> (cwd "/pub/xemacs/packages/") "CWD'ing to /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function ... "...(103)" ... 22> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" ("/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" . "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN") "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil nil) nil nil)) efs-call-cont((#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host user proc cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait noretry) "...(199)" [noretry result fatal efs-send-cmd host user cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait t 1 retry afsc-result afsc-line 2 afsc-cont-lines failed ... quote stor match-data case-fold-search cfs buff match-data ... nil string-match efs-write-protect-msgs line efs-write-recover efs-host-type cont-lines efs-call-cont] 12> "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" #<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> (cwd "/pub/xemacs/packages/") "CWD'ing to /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function ... "...(103)" ... 22> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" ("/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" . "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN") "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil nil) nil nil) nil "250 CWD command successful." "") efs-process-filter(#<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> "250 CWD command successful.\n") accept-process-output(#<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run>) byte-code("..." [efs-process-busy efs-process-nowait process-status proc (run open) accept-process-output] 2) efs-raw-send-cmd(#<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> "quote cwd /pub/xemacs/packages/" "CWD'ing to /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host user proc cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait noretry) "...(199)" [noretry result fatal efs-send-cmd host user cmd msg pre-cont cont nowait t 1 retry afsc-result afsc-line 2 afsc-cont-lines failed ... quote stor match-data case-fold-search cfs buff match-data ... nil string-match efs-write-protect-msgs line efs-write-recover efs-host-type cont-lines efs-call-cont] 12> "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" #<process "*ftp anonymous(a)ftp.xemacs.org*&quot; pid 5994 state:run> (cwd "/pub/xemacs/packages/") "CWD'ing to /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function ... "...(103)" ... 22> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" ("/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" . "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN") "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" &quot;/anonymous(a)ftp.xem! ac! s.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil nil) nil nil) nil) efs-send-cmd("ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" (cwd "/pub/xemacs/packages/") "CWD'ing to /anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" nil (#<compiled-function (result line cont-lines host-type listing-type host user temp temp-file path switches file lsargs noparse parse noerror msg nowait cont nlist) "...(103)" [result noerror cont efs-call-cont nil efs-error host user format "CWD %s failed: " line efs-send-cmd nlist dir file-name-nondirectory path temp lsargs msg t "Listing %s" efs-relativize-filename file #<compiled-function ... "...(286)" ... 13> host-type listing-type temp-file switches noparse parse nowait] 22> unix unix:unknown "ftp.xemacs.org" "anonymous" ("/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" . "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN") "/tmp/acs/efsbdBKvN" "/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" parse t nil t nil nil nil) nil) efs-ls("/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/" "-al" t parse nil) efs-get-files("/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/") efs-get-file-entry("/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/package-index.LATEST.pgp") #<compiled-function (path) "...(7)" [efs-get-file-entry path t] 2>("/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/package-index.LATEST.pgp") apply(#<compiled-function (path) "...(7)" [efs-get-file-entry path t] 2> "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/package-index.LATEST.pgp") efs-internal-file-exists-p(unix "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/package-index.LATEST.pgp") efs-file-exists-p("/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/package-index.LATEST.pgp") apply(efs-file-exists-p "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/package-index.LATEST.pgp") efs-file-handler-function(file-exists-p "/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:/pub/xemacs/packages/package-index.LATEST.pgp") file-exists-p("/anonymous＠ftp.xemacs.org:pub/xemacs/packages/package-index.LATEST.pgp") package-get-locate-file("package-index.LATEST.pgp" t nil) package-get-locate-index-file(nil) package-get-update-base(nil t) package-get-require-base(t) #<compiled-function nil "...(137)" [pui-info-buffer pui-menu buffer-read-only sep-string start outbuf package-get-require-base t get-buffer-create "===============================================================================\n" nil message "Creating package list ..." sit-for 0 buffer-disable-undo erase-buffer kill-all-local-variables use-local-map list-packages-mode "Packages" "\nWarning: No download sites specified. Package index may be out of date.\n If you intend to install packages, specify download sites first.\n\n" " Latest Installed\n Package name Vers. Vers. Description\n" " Latest\n Package name Vers. Description\n" mapcar #<compiled-function ... "...(204)" ... 10> sort copy-sequence #<compiled-function ... "...(10)" ... 3> documentation set-buffer-modified-p pop-to-buffer delete-other-windows featurep menubar set-buffer-menubar add-submenu clear-message pui-display-keymap major-mode mode-name truncate-lines pa! ck! age-get-remote pui-list-verbose package-get-base pui-selected-packages pui-deleted-packages current-menubar mode-popup-menu] 6 ("/usr/local/xemacs-21.2-2001-01-25/lib/xemacs-21.2-b42/lisp/package-ui.elc" . 13405) nil>() call-interactively(pui-list-packages) Everything seems to work fine in a 21.1 XEmacs. - vin