Ftp install problem .. help

Is anyone else having problems adding packages to an installation via ftp ? I've successfully installed SuSE8.0 via ftp on two occasion however whenever I try to add freeswan or other packeges I get unable to find file or connection errors. I've tried several ftp mirrors, and even downloaded the entire source to my local ftp server. I am at a complete loss. Also the isntallation was a minimal install with apache, ftp and a few other server specific items. What has me really confused is my other server which I have updated in the past isnt' working. YOU however does work on both.