RFC 1068 (rfc1068) - Page 3 of 27


Background File Transfer Program (BFTP)



Alternative Format: Original Text Document



RFC 1068                                                     August 1988


   user interface language for BFTP, a description of the program
   organization, and sample execution scripts.

2. Background File Transfer Program

   2.1 General Model

      In the present BFTP design, its user interface program and its FTC
      daemon program must execute on the same host, which we call the
      BFTP control host.

      Through the user interface program, a BFTP user will supply all of
      the parameters needed to transfer a file from source host S to
      destination host D, where S and D may be different from the BFTP
      control host.  These parameters include:

      o    S and D host names,

      o    login names and passwords on S and D hosts, and

      o    S and D file names (and optionally, directories).


      The user may also specify a number of optional control parameters:

      *    Source file disposition -- Copy, move (i.e., copy and
           delete), or simply delete the source file.  The default is
           copy.

      *    Destination file operation -- Create/Replace, append to, or
           create a unique destination file.  The default is
           create/replace ("STOR").

      *    FTP Parameters -- Explicitly set any of the FTP type, mode,
           or structure parameters at S and D hosts.

      *    Multiple Transfers -- Enable "wildcard" matching to perform
           multiple transfers.

      *    Start Time -- Set the time of day for the first attempt of
           the transfer. The default is "now" (i.e., make the first
           attempt as soon as the request has been queued for the FTC
           daemon).


      Finally, the user specifies a mailbox to which a completion
      notification message will be sent, and "submits" the request to
      the FTC daemon queue.  The user can then exit the BFTP user



DeSchon & Braden