RFC 1440 (rfc1440) - Page 1 of 9
SIFT/UFT: Sender-Initiated/Unsolicited File Transfer
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group R. Troth
Request for Comments: 1440 Rice University
July 1993
SIFT/UFT: Sender-Initiated/Unsolicited File Transfer
Status of this Memo
This memo defines an Experimental Protocol for the Internet
community. It does not specify an Internet standard. Discussion and
suggestions for improvement are requested. Please refer to the
current edition of the "IAB Official Protocol Standards" for the
standardization state and status of this protocol. Distribution of
this memo is unlimited.
1. Introduction
This document describes a Sender-Initiated File Transfer (SIFT)
protocol, also commonly called Unsolicited File Transfer (UFT)
protocol. The acronyms SIFT and UFT are synonymous throughout this
document. The term "unsolicited" does not imply that the file is
unwanted, but that the receiver did not initiate the transaction.
Sender-Initiated File Transfer contrasts with other file transfer
methods in that the sender need not have an account or any
registration on the target host system, and the receiving user may
have less steps to take to retrieve the file(s) sent. Unlike
traditional file transfer, UFT lends itself handily to background or
deferred operation, though it may be carried out immediately, even
interactively.
2. Rationale
In certain non-IP networks, notably NJE based networks such as
BITNET, it is possible to send a file to another user outside of the
realm of "mail". The effect is that the file sent is not perceived
as correspondence and not processed by a mail user agent. This
convenient service is missed in the standard TCP/IP suite. The
author maintains that traditional electronic mail is not suited to
non-correspondence file transfer. There should be a means of sending
non-mail, analogous to the sending of parcels rather than surface
mail. Several groups and individuals have shown an interest in this
type of service.
Troth
