Okay, you were on the right track with the passwd file. Here is your issue:
https://kb.netapp.com/support/index?page=content&id=2011031&actp=LIST_RECENT&viewlocale=en_US&searchid=1329871738158
I was confused because apparently ifyou have FCP or ISCSI licensed, you get partial CIFS functionality per below.
https://kb.netapp.com/support/index?page=content&id=2012847&actp=LIST_RECENT&viewlocale=en_US&searchid=1329870988100
You need to add passwd entries into the /etc/passwd file to get FTP access. The trick is generating the password. Aborzenkov listed the most likely solution, which is to use CIFS passwd. Since you don't have CIFS, you can't use that. Another option (and probably your ONLY option) is below:
https://kb.netapp.com/support/index?page=content&id=1011368&actp=search&viewlocale=en_US&searchid=1329871738158
Specifically, near the bottom:
For UNIX operating systems, a normal UNIX crypt(3) password entry can be used
in the NetApp filer's /etc/passwd
file. This can be done using the
filer's wrfile
command to rewrite the /etc/passwd file. Note that
without an NFS or CIFS license, the only way to manage /etc
files
would be through telnet (wrfile/rdfile) or FTP.
I would do this:
Add a new passwd entry in the file for your FTP user.
Generate the password using the crypt function from one of your linux/unix workstations in your environment.
Make sure FTP is enabled:
options ftpd.enable on
And I think you should be set.