Using FTP

This section describes a typical FTP session.

To start an FTP session and connect to an FTP server

Start a command prompt and type the following information:

ftp IPaddress

where IPaddress is a valid IP address. Then press Enter.

Note To test TCP/IP on your computer, you can always use the IP address 127.0.0.1. This address is known as the loopback address for your computer. The loopback address uses loopback drivers to reroute outgoing packets back to the source computer. By going through the loopback drivers, the packets can bypass the network adapter card completely and be returned directly to the computer that is performing the test.

When you are prompted to log on with a user name, log on as Anonymous.
When prompted for a password, press enter. An ftp> prompt appears.

At the ftp> prompt, you can enter FTP commands. Some of the common FTP commands are described in Table 1.9. (For a complete list of FTP client commands, see Appendix A, "TCP/IP Utilities Reference," of the Windows NT Server Resource Kit Networking Guide.)

Table 1.9 Common FTP Commands

Command	Purpose
bye	Ends the FTP session with the remote computer and exits FTP.
delete	Deletes files on the remote computer; requires appropriate permissions.
dir	Lists the remote directory's files and subdirectories.
get	Copies a remote file to your computer.
help	Displays descriptions for FTP commands.
open	Connects to the specified FTP server.
put	Copies a file from your computer to the remote computer; requires appropriate permissions.
mkdir	Creates a directory on the remote computer, requires appropriate permissions.
!	Returns you to the Microsoft MS-DOS® shell. FTP is still active; type exit to return to the >ftp prompt.
!command	Executes an MS-DOS command on the local computer from the FTP session.

For example, to copy a file from the server computer, type the following command at the >ftp prompt.

get filename

This command copies the specified file from the server to the client.

After you enter a command, you receive a series of return codes from the FTP server on a number of lines. The return codes let you know the status of each command. Table 1.10 shows some of the common return codes listed in RFC 640. Information in italics is supplied by the server. (A complete list of return codes in RFC 640 can be found at http://andrew2.andrew.cmu.edu/rfc/rfc640.html.)

Table 1.10 FTP Server Return Codes

Code	Meaning
119	Terminal not available, will try mailbox.
120	Service ready in nnn minutes.
125	Data connection already open; transfer starting.
225	Data connection open; no transfer in progress.
150	File status okay; about to open data connection.
151	User not local; will forward to user@host.
152	User unknown; mail will be forwarded by the operator.
250	Requested file action okay, completed.
200	Command okay.
211	System status, or system help reply.
212	Directory status.
213	File status.
214	Help message.
220	Service ready for new user.
221	Service closing Telnet connection.
226	Closing data connection; requested file action successful (for example, file transfer or file abort).
227	Entering passive mode.
230	User logged in; proceed.
331	User name okay; need password.
332	Need account for login.
350	Requested file action pending further information.
450	Requested file action not taken: file unavailable (for example, file busy).
421	Service not available, closing Telnet connection. This can be a reply to any command if the service must shut down.
425	Cannot open data connection.
426	Connection closed; transfer aborted.
530	Not logged in.
532	Need account for storing files.
550	Requested action not taken.