File Transfer Protocol

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FTP or file transfer protocol is a commonly used protocol for exchanging files over any network that supports the TCP/IP protocol (such as the Internet or an intranet). There are two computers involved in an FTP transfer: a server and a client. The FTP server, running FTP server software, listens on the network for connection requests from other computers. The client computer, running FTP client software, initiates a connection to the server. Once connected, the client can do a number of file manipulation operations such as uploading files to the server, download files from the server, rename or delete files on the server and so on. Any software company or individual programmer is able to create FTP server or client software because the protocol is an open standard. Virtually every computer platform supports the FTP protocol. This allows any computer connected to a TCP/IP based network to manipulate files on another computer on that network regardless of which operating systems are involved (if the computers permit FTP access).

More information about FTP can be found in the Wikipedia article about FTP or in the documents linked below.

Technical Specifications

  • RFC 959 "FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL"
    This document describes the basic FTP protocol.
  • RFC 854 "TELNET PROTOCOL SPECIFICATION"
    The FTP protocol is implemented on top of Telnet which is specified in this document. Especially the specification of the NVT (Network Virtual Terminal) is of importance.

These tpoics are so confusing but this helped me get the job done.

Additional documents

  • RFC 2577 "FTP Security Considerations"
    This document discusses the security of the FTP protocol in general and considers things like FTP Bounce Attacks.

See also