10.2.4. File Transfer Protocol
10.2.4.1. FTP servers
On a Linux system, an FTP server is typically run from xinetd , using the WU-ftpd server, although the FTP server may be configured as a stand-alone server on systems with heavy FTP traffic. See the exercises.
Other FTP servers include among others Ncftpd and Proftpd .
Most Linux distributions contain the anonftp package, which sets up an anonymous FTP server tree and accompanying configuration files.
10.2.4.2. FTP clients
Most Linux distributions include ncftp , an improved version of the common UNIX ftp command, which you may also know from the Windows command line. The ncftp program offers extra features such as a nicer and more comprehensible user interface, file name completion, append and resume functions, bookmarking, session management and more:
thomas:~> ncftp blob
NcFTP 3.0.3 (April 15, 2001) by Mike Gleason (ncftp@ncftp.com).
Connecting to blob...
blob.some.net FTP server (Version wu-2.6.1-20) ready.
Logging in...
Guest login ok, access restrictions apply.
Logged in to blob.
ncftp / > help
Commands may be abbreviated. 'help showall' shows hidden and
unsupported commands.
'help <command>' gives a brief description of <command>.
ascii cat help lpage open quote site
bgget cd jobs lpwd page rename type
bgput chmod lcd lrename pdir rhelp umask
bgstart close lchmod lrm pls rm version
binary debug lls lrmdir put rmdir
bookmark dir lmkdir ls pwd set
bookmarks get lookup mkdir quit show
ncftp / >
Excellent help with lot of examples can be found in the man pages. And again, a number of GUI applications are available.
FTP is insecure!
Don't use the File Transfer Protocol for non-anonymous login unless you know what you are doing. Your user name and password might be captured by malevolent fellow network users! Use secure FTP instead; the sftp program comes with the Secure SHell suite, see Section 10.3.4 .
* License
