Genx Notes

FTP

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in Glossary

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is a standard network protocol used for transferring files between a client and a server over a TCP-based network, such as the internet. FTP is commonly used to upload, download, or manage files on a remote server.

Key Features of FTP:

  1. Client-Server Model: FTP operates on a client-server architecture. The client initiates a file transfer, and the server responds.
  2. Control and Data Connections: FTP uses two separate channels:
  • Control connection (Port 21): Used for sending commands and receiving responses between the client and the server.
  • Data connection (Port 20 or dynamically assigned ports): Used for transferring file data.
  1. Authentication: FTP often requires a username and password for access. However, there is also anonymous FTP, where users can log in using “anonymous” as the username for public access.
  2. Active vs. Passive Mode:
  • Active Mode: The client opens a port and waits for the server to connect for data transfer.
  • Passive Mode: The server opens a port, and the client connects to that port for data transfer, useful when clients are behind firewalls or NAT.
  1. Transfer Modes:
  • ASCII Mode: Text files are transferred, with line-ending conversions if necessary.
  • Binary Mode: Files are transferred as-is, without any conversion (ideal for non-text files like images, videos, etc.).

Common Uses of FTP:

  • Website Maintenance: Web developers use FTP to upload files to a web server.
  • File Sharing: FTP can be used to share large files between users.
  • Backup and File Syncing: It can be used to back up data or synchronize files across systems.

Security Concerns:

FTP by itself is not secure because the data, including sensitive information like usernames and passwords, is transmitted in plain text. For secure file transfers, other protocols like FTPS (FTP Secure) or SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) are preferred. These protocols encrypt the data during transmission.

FTP Clients:

To use FTP, you need an FTP client, which is software designed to facilitate file transfers over FTP. Some popular FTP clients include:

  • FileZilla
  • Cyberduck
  • WinSCP

In summary, FTP is a fundamental protocol for transferring files over a network, but it is important to consider security implications when using it.

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