FTP


FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. FTP has been in existence for over twenty years and is still quite a useful utility. FTP is a basic "bare-bones" method for transfering documents from one server to another. It is available on most platforms and works very fast. If you have access to the Internet, you have access to FTP. FTP sites can be accessed through a web browser by replacing the HTTP:// protocol with the FTP:// protocol in the location window. Most systems also come equiped with a command line FTP interface. There are also FTP programs that have a GUI interface. One such program is Cute FTP.

FTP in Windows

To start and FTP session in Windows open a DOS session. If you are on-line or a network, type FTP hostname at the prompt.Warning! For some reason not yet clear to me, using FTP in Windows can lock or crash the system.
Example:
C:\WINDOWS> ftp univax.host.com
If you are not on-line DOS will attempt to make a connection through your ISP. If you are behind a firewall you may be blocked from using FTP or have to negotiate with the firewall. Talk to your sysadim.
Even if your connection is denied, you will be at a prompt that looks like this:
ftp>

FTP in Unix/Linux

To start and FTP session in a Unix/Linux system get to the command line. If your system is not set to boot to XWindows, you will already be at the command line(if you are using Linux and I have to explain this to you, you're in a lot of trouble). Type FTP hostname at the prompt.
Example:
mylinux% ftp univax.host.com

Even if your connection is denied, you will be at a prompt that looks like this:
ftp>

FTP in other Systems

For VAX OpenVMS, refer to your site manuals as the specifications my vary.
I have never used FTP on a Macintosh, so I will not pretend to be an expert.

Using FTP

After typing FTP hostname you will either get a "connection refused", "host unknown" or you will get a login script like this one:
Connected to Univax.host.com
For Userid enter "anonymous"
Userid: anonymous
Password: user@host.com
If you are accessing a host that allows public use or Anonymous FTP There should be instructions for logging on. Typically, the user name will be "anonymous" or "guest". The password convention varies, but it is considered polite to use your email address so the admins can keep track of who is accessing the host. Sometimes, you can skip the password by hitting enter at that field. If you are not sure, email the admins at the site for instructions. If you are using FTP to access a secured host, you will need a user account and password.
If your connection was refused or you made a mistake on login script, you may make a new connection from within the FTP shell. Oddly enough the command is not "connect." To get a connection once in the FTP shell enter open. Example:
ftp> open univax.host.com

FTP Commands

The first thing you should do at the ftp> prompt is type help if you have never used FTP before. The help command will reveal all the FTP commands. Typing ftp> help command name will reveal specs about the command. Example:
ftp> help quit
quit closes and exits the process

List of commands:
ascii Switch to ascii mode. Ascii mode is the default mode and used for transferring text files
binary Switch to binary mode. For transferring binary files like .ZIP files, .Z files and the like
cd Change the directory on the remote computer
dir/ls List the files in the current directory on the remote computer
get Copy a file from the remote computer to yours
hash Puts a '#' on the screen for every of bytes transferred.
help Gives help on the use of commands within the ftp program
lcd Change the directory on your computer (the 'l' is for local)
lpwd Shows the present working directory (pwd) on your computer (the 'l' is for local). Note: this may not work on all machines. On a Unix machine, try !pwd if lwpd doesn't work.
mget Copy multiple files from the remote computer to yours
pwd Shows the present working directory (pwd) on the remote computer