The ftp file transfer protocol allows you to see the directory on the remote Unix machine, put a directory listing of the files on the remote machine into a file on the machine you are working on, and even delete files on the remote machine (useful if you find there is not room to upload that vital file.
Starting ftp
Running ftp involves signing into an account on the remote computer. This only works if the local and remote computers are netwroked. ftp attempts to log in on the remote machine using the same login ID you are currently using on the local machine. To disable automatic login, use the -n flag.
| % ftp hostname or | |
| % ftp | Start ftp with automatic login to hostname. |
| % open hostname |
| % ftp -n hostname or | |
| % ftp -n | Start ftp without automatic login. |
| % open hostname |
Usable flags are:
| -d | enable debugging on ftp itself. | |
| -g | disable file name globbing. | |
| -i | turn off interactive prompt during multiple file transfers. | |
| -n | disable automiatic login. | |
| -v | show all responses from remote server. |
| ftp> dir | more | Use more on the output from the ftp dir command. |
Simple file transfer
| ftp> send local-file remote-file | Send local-file to remote computer, where it will be called remote-file. If no remote-file is named, the file will have the local-file name on the remote system. |
| ftp> get remote-file local-file | Receive remote-file from remote computer, calling is given, call it remote-file in the current directory on the local machine. |
Other commands
| ! | Make a new shell on the local machine. |
| append local-file remote-file | Add local-file to the end of remote-file. |
| ascii | Set the file transfer type to network ASCII. (default) |
| bell | Ring the bell when each transfer is completed. |
| binary | Set the file transfer type to binary. |
| bye | End the remote login session; return to ftp> prompt. |
| cd remote-directory | Change directories on the remote machine. |
| close | End the remote login session; return to ftp> prompt. |
| delete remote-file | Delete a file on the remote machine. |
| debug debug-value | Turn debugging mode on and off. The integer debug-value controls the debugging level. |
| dir remote-directory local-file | Print directory listing to local-file (terminal, if no loacl-file specified). |
| form format | Change transfer from default file to format. |
| get remote-file local-file | Copy remote-file on the remote machine to local-file. |
| glob | set glob on/off. When enabled, filenames are processed for csh(1) metacharacters such as ? [ ] { }. |
| hash | Print a # for each block of 1024 bytes transferred. |
| help or help command | Give on-line explanations. |
| lcd directory | Change local working directory. |
| ls remote-directory local-file | Make a new shell on the local machine. |
| mdelete remote-files | Delete files on the remote machine. |
| mdir remote-files local-file | Print directory for multiple files. |
| mget remote-files | Copy several remote files to current local directory. |
| mkdir directory-name | Make a new directory on the remote machine. |
| mls remote-files local file | Do an ls on multiple files. |
| mode mode-name | Default mode is stream. |
| mput local-files | Transfer multiple local files to remote machine. |
| open hostname | Connect to hostname. |
| prompt | Enable/disable interactive prompting on mget and mput commands. |
| put local-file remote-file | Copy local-file to remote-file on the remote machine. |
| pwd | Give the current working directory on the remote machine. |
| quit | Same as bye. |
| quote arg1 arg2... | Send the arguments exactly as given to the remote ftp server. |
| recv remote-file local-file | Same as get. |
| remotehelp command-name | Online help on the remote machine. |
| rename fromfile tofile | Change a filename on the remote machine. |
| rmdir directory name | Delete a remote directory. |
| send local-file remote-file | Same as put. |
| sendport | Enable/disable use of PORT command. |
| status | Show current ftp status. |
| strct struct-name | Set file transfer structure. Default is stream. |
| tenex | Set the file transfer type to work with TENEX machines. |
| trace | Enable/disable packet tracing. |
| type type-name | Change transfer type. If none specified, show the current type. Default is network ASCII. |
| user username password account | Login to remote server. If account or password is needed and not supplied, you will be prompted. |
| verbose | Set verbose on/off. When on, all ftp responses are displayed. On is default. |
| ? | Same as help. |