Anonymous FTP
By Pauline M. Berry
The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) makes it possible to move a file from one
computer to another, even f each computer has a different operating system and
file storage format. Files can be data, programs, text, or anything else that
can be stored on-line. Users are normally required to log into both the
computers (the local host and the remote host) before transfer can take place.
This ensures a direct connection and that the user has the appropriate
permissions to perform this transfer. File transfer using FTP across the
Internet is very reliable because it establishes a direct connection between
the two machines involved and doesn't rely on intermediate machines making
copies of the file.
Thus, to perform a normal ftp transfer the user must have a user-id on both
machines and must be aware of the current passwords. If this is the case then
ftping a file or files is straight forward:
- log in to the local host
- invoke the ftp program : ftp "remote-host"
- Once connected log in with the username and password
- Issue commands to copy or send files, e.g. get "filename"
- When finished quit from remote host and logout of local host
However, many host provide a special username called anonymous for the
retrieval of files from their system which they wish to share. This username
doesn't require a password (although it usually asks for you e-mail address to
keep records straight). If someone logs in as anonymous then they get
restricted access to the remote host and can only pull files from the shared
repository to their local host. Files can only be copied from the anonymous ftp
repository not deposited there.
FTP repositories are used to provide RFCs, FYIs, free software and a wealth of
information world-wide.
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