File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

• What is FTP and how do I use it?

  FTP is a standard means of transferring files from one location to another.
  There are two ways to begin a session.
  1. Execute  ftp
     A prompt will be displayed:  ftp>
     At this prompt enter the following:   open host  
     Where host is the name of the host to which you wish to connect.

  2. Execute  ftp host
     
  
  In either event, unless you encounter some type of error, you will now see something similar to the following:

  Connected to math.ucr.edu.
220 ProFTPD 1.2.0 Server (math.ucr.edu ProFTPD Server)
Name (math:login):

  Where login is your login on the originating host.
  Enter your login and Enter or just Enter to default to the login displayed.
  Next you will see something similar to:

  331 Password required for login.
Password:

  It indicates that you should enter your password.
  A stream of welcome messages generally greets you followed by the prompt   ftp>  
  Your initial location on the host will be your home directory.
  To end the session, enter   quit

  To see a listing of available commands, enter ?
  The most common commands are:
  

     cd          change remote working directory
     lcd         change local working directory
     dir         list contents of remote directory
     bin         set binary transfer type (for transferring binary files)
     ascii       set ascii transfer type (for transferring text files)
     hash        displays octothorpes for each buffer transferred
     get         receive file
     put         send one file
     mget/mput   used to receive/send multiple files
     !           escape to the shell, e.g.,  !pwd  identifies 
                 the local dir
     quit        end the session
  

  A common beginner's error is to forget to set the transfer type to binary prior to transferring binary files.

• So, what is anonymous FTP?

  Anonymous ftp is a means of making local files available to others who do not have a local account.
  It is initiated exactly as described above except that one logs in as ftp or anonymous with the password ftp or one's email address.
  Note:  files accessible via anonymous ftp are generally kept in specific directories on the host (not home directories).
  Most commands should be identical to those listed above.

• But I'm using MS Windows, now what?

  Windows comes with an ftp client. Select Start, Run and enter the command ftp.
  A popular graphical alternative is WsFTP