Wednesday, September 14, 2016

FTP

  • FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol.
  • File Transfer protocol used for transferring files from one computer(Client) to another computer(Server) on a network.


  • File Transfer Protocol uses the TCP/IP protocol for enabling file transfer.
  • FTP follows the Client and Server architecture.
  • FTP uses the Control connection and Data connection between Client and Server.

SFTP :

  • SFTP means Secure File Transfer Protocol.
  • For secure transmission of files through internet FTP provides authentication.This type of FTP called as SFTP(Secure File Transferring Protocol).
  • In SFTP, after checking the users credentials username and password only allows to transfer files from one system to another system.

How FTP Works ?

  • Files can be transferred between two computers using FTP software. The user's computer is called the local host machine and is connected to the Internet. 
  • The second machine, called the remote host, is also running FTP software and connected to the Internet.
    • The local host machine connects to the remote host's IP address.
    • The user would enter a username/password (or use anonymous).
    • FTP software may have a GUI, allowing users to drag and drop files between the remote and local host. If not, a series of FTP commands are used to log in to the remote host and transfer files between the machines.

Active mode and Passive mode :

  • FTP uses the two channel between client and server.
                     1. Command channel.
                     2. Data channel.

 Command channel :

  • Command channel also called as Control channel.
  • Command channel is used to Establish the connection through the commands  and receiving the responses.

 Data channel :

  • Data Channel is used to transferring the files from one computer to another computer.

 Active mode :

  • In active mode, the client establishes the command channel . But the server establishes the data channel.

 Passive mode :

  • In passive mode, the client establishes both channels. In that case, the server tells the client which port should be used for the data channel.

FTP Commands :

  • FTP commands are helps to transfer files from one system to another system.
  • Following are the FTP commands :

Command
Description
! Preceding a command with the exclamation point will cause the command to execute on the local system instead of the remote system.
? Request assistance or information about the FTP commands. This command does not require a connection to a remote system.
Ascii (Note: this is the default mode for most FTP programs)
Bell Turns bell mode on / off. This command does not require a connection to a remote system.
Binary Set the file transfer mode to binary (Note: the binary mode transfers all eight bits per byte and must be used to transfer non-ASCII files).
Bye Exit the FTP environment (same as quit). This command does not require a connection to a remote system.
Cd Change directory on the remote system.
Close Terminate a session with another system.
Debug Sets debugging on/off. This command does not require a connection to a remote system.
Delete Delete (remove) a file in the current remote directory (same as rm in UNIX).
Dir Lists the contents of the remote directory.The asterisk (*) and the question mark (?) may be used as wild cards.
Help Request a list of all available FTP commands. This command does not require a connection to a remote system.
Lcd Change directory on your local system (same as CD in UNIX).
Mget Copy multiple files from the remote system to the local system.
Note: You will be prompted for a "y/n" response before copying each file.
Mkdir Make a new directory within the current remote directory.
Mput Copy multiple files from the local system to the remote system. (Note: You will be prompted for a "y/n" response before copying each file).
Open Open a connection with another system.
Put Copy a file from the local system to the remote system.
Quit Exit the FTP environment (same as "bye"). This command does not require a connection to a remote system.
Rmdir Remove (delete) a directory in the current remote directory.
Trace Toggles packet tracing. This command does not require a connection to a remote system.
Pwd Find out the pathname of the current directory on the remote system.

FTP Applications are :

  1. FileZilla.
  2. Cyberduck.
  3. FireFTP.
  4. WinSCP.
  5. Transmit.
  6. SmartFTP.
  7. Free FTP.
  8. FOFF.
  9. FlashXP.
  10. And FTP.

Uses Of FTP:

  • FTP is the one of the fastest way to transfers a large files compared to HTTP.
  • It's also efficient because you don't need to complete many operations to get the entire file or files transferred.
  • FTP provides the security to the files.
  • FTP allows you to transfer the multiple files and multiple directories.
  • FTP provides the schedule to transfer the files.Means you can set time to transfer.