File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

What is File Transfer Protocol?

The File Transfer Protocol is a standard communication protocol (or set of rules) that transfers computer files from a server to a client on a computer network. FTP is built on a client-server model architecture using separate control and data connections between the client and the server. Simply, it refers to how two parties (servers, computers, websites) can securely share files. 

FTP is a commonly used protocol for transferring files over the internet. It uses a client-server architecture, which means that you need an FTP server to share files using this protocol. You will need to use an FTP server to upload your website’s files onto the internet to make your website. Many different FTP servers are available, JSCAPE, GoAnywhere, FileZilla and others. Once you have installed and configured your FTP server, you can begin sharing files with others.

What are the types of FTPs?

  • Anonymous FTP: This is the simplest type of FTP. Anyone can log into the FTP server and download files. However, they cannot upload any files onto the server.
  • Private FTP: This is the most secure type of FTP. Only authorized users can log in and access files.

How does file transfer protocol (FTP) work?

  1. The FTP client connects to the FTP server on selected port, on default it is port 21.
  2. The FTP server sends a welcome message to the FTP client.
  3. The FTP client sends a username and password to the FTP server.
  4. If the username and password are correct, the FTP server allows the FTP client to access the files on the server.
  5. The FTP client can download or upload files from/to the FTP server.
  6. When the FTP client is finished, it sends a “quit” command to the FTP server.
  7. The FTP server terminates the connection.

What are the benefits of using FTP?

There are many benefits of using FTP, including:

  • It is a simple and easy-to-use protocol.
  • It is a prevalent protocol, so many FTP clients and servers are available.

What is needed to set up an FTP connection?

If you want to set up FTP, you will need the following:

  • an FTP server
  • an FTP client
  • a network disk to install the FTP server software
  • a computer to install the FTP client software

What is an FTP client?

An FTP client is a program that allows you to connect to an FTP server and transfer files. Some popular FTP clients include FileZilla, ForkLift, WinSCP, and Cyberduck.

What is an FTP server?

An FTP server is a program that allows you to share files with others over the internet. Some popular FTP servers include FileZilla Server, vsftpd, and proFTPd.

What is a trivial file transfer protocol?

Trivial file transfer protocol (TFTP) is a simplified version of FTP that is often used for transferring small files or booting computers over a network. TFTP uses very little bandwidth and can be run on systems with limited resources, making it ideal for use in embedded systems. However, because it is less secure than FTP, it is not recommended for use with sensitive data.