The FTP client uses configuration information in a SOCKS configuration data set or file to determine whether to access a given IPv4 FTP server directly or through a SOCKS server. The name of the SOCKS configuration data set or file is specified by coding the SOCKSCONFIGFILE statement in the client's FTP.DATA file. For more information about the SOCKSCONFIGFILE statement, see SOCKSCONFIGFILE (FTP client) statement.
You can code DIRECT or SOCKD statements in the SOCKSCONFIGFILE. A DIRECT statement instructs the FTP client to access the FTP server without using SOCKS. A SOCKD statement directs the client to use SOCKS protocols and the specified SOCKS server to access the FTP server.
You can include comments in the configuration file or data set. Comment lines should start with a semicolon (;) character. Any data on any line that follows a free-standing semicolon (a semicolon surrounded by at least one space on either side) is considered to be a comment.
The order of statements in the SOCKS configuration is important. The client searches the statements in the order they are coded in the SOCKSCONFIGFILE. The first statement that specifies the target FTP server is applied. Code statements that apply to specific FTP servers first, and a general statement for all other servers last.
The configuration information in the SOCKS configuration file consists of the statements in the following topics.