type: ps -ef|grep vsftp to see if it is running, should come back with two lines if it is. One will be the vsftpd process the other will be the grep. If it is not running, then su to root: type: /etc/rc.d/init.d/vsftpd start if it errors out you will see the reason for the failure.
http://www.unix.com/unix-dummies-questions-answers/35601-vsftp-problems.html

