File Transfer Protocol

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) allows hosts to transfer data among dissimilar hosts, as well as files between two foreign hosts indirectly.

FTP provides for such tasks as listing remote directories, changing the current remote directory, creating and removing remote directories, and transferring multiple files in a single request. FTP keeps the transport secure by passing user and account passwords to the foreign host. Although FTP is designed primarily to be used by applications, it also allows interactive user-oriented sessions.

FTP uses reliable stream delivery (TCP/IP) to send the files and uses a Telnet connection to transfer commands and replies. FTP also understands several basic file formats including NETASCII, IMAGE, and Local 8.

TCP/IP implements FTP in the ftp user command and the ftpd server command and does not provide an applications programming interface (API) to this protocol.

When creating anonymous ftp users and directories please be sure that the home directory for users ftp and anonymous (for example, /u/ftp) is owned by root and does not allow write permissions (for example, dr-xr-xr-x). The script /usr/samples/tcpip/anon.ftp can be used to create these accounts, files and directories.