What Is FTP?

DEFINITION OF FTP

FTP
File Transfer Protocol, an internet protocol used to transfer files from one computer to another across the internet.

  • Common language for moving and sharing data on the internet
  • Platform/operating system independent; each operating system can speak FTP. Some nuances on different platforms, but very similar.
    • Windows 95 and Windows 3.1
    • Macintosh
    • Unix
    • VMS (like PLU's PEPPER)
    • VM (IBM mainframes)
  • Client/Server relationship established
  • File transfers can be bidirectional or two-way
    • Download - "GET" or move file from another computer to your computer
    • Upload - "PUT" or move file from your computer to another computer (if allowed)
  • Especially important for researchers since they can share data files across different operating systems and hardware platforms.

KINDS OF FTP INTERFACES

Three common kinds of interfaces:

FUNCTIONALITY OF FTP

Anonymous FTP
  • Allows you to access selected directories and or files on a remote computer without having a login name and password
Commands available for moving around in directories and displaying contents (see Basic FTP Commands for more information about commands for the command line interface)
  • List directories on both local and remote computers
  • Change directories on both local and remote computers
  • Create directories on local and remote computers (If allowed)
  • Rename files on local and remote computers (if allowed)
Transfer of files in two different modes:
  • Text or ASCII mode for transferring:
    • Text files (.TXT extension)
    • Postscript printer files (.PS extension)
  • Binary mode for transferring:
    • Executable programs that run on your computer
    • Program files (like Microsoft Word .DOC files)
    • Compressed files that are made smaller to reduce storage requirements and transfer more quickly across the network
    • Archived files containing a number of different files stored in the same archive file

Using FTP
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Maintained by: Layne Nordgren (nordgrle@plu.edu)
Last Update: 05/24/97