Very Computer

When anonymous ftp occurs, it "chroot"s to the anonymous
ftp directory.  There is usually a skeleton /etc  /bin /lib
directory structure off of the ftp dir with just enough files to
give ftp it's basic command set.  If these get blown away, or if
the permissions are wrong, they won't work.

Try NON-Anonymous ftp to the server, if that works, then
what is described above is probably the problem.

see:   grep ftp /etc/passwd

This should show the home directory used by anonymous FTP.  You do not
need a shell, and should specify a shell that does not function or just
exits doing nothing.

Now at the rooted ftp directory ~/

   ~/bin/ls            This should be a copy of the "ls" program
   ~/etc/passwd        This should be a pruned copy of /etc/passwd
                        so as not to disclose sensitive information such
as
                        hashed passswords.  Remove all password content.
   ~/etc/group         This should be a pruned copy of /etc/group
                        so as not to disclose sensitive information.

If the ls program  needs dynamic libraries from the system, those
libraries
should also be copied to ~/ in an appropriate subddirectory.  

Once this is done, make sure that protections are such that user 'ftp'
cannot modify the contents of these copied system files, but has
read/execute
access where necessary.

This should solve your 'ls'/'dir' problem.

- Steve Hathaway