RFC 1635 (rfc1635) - Page 1 of 13
How to Use Anonymous FTP
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group P. Deutsch
Request for Comments: 1635 A. Emtage
FYI: 24 Bunyip
Category: Informational A. Marine
NASA NAIC
May 1994
How to Use Anonymous FTP
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. This memo
does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of
this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
This document provides information for the novice Internet user about
using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). It explains what FTP is,
what anonymous FTP is, and what an anonymous FTP archive site is. It
shows a sample anonymous FTP session. It also discusses common ways
files are packaged for efficient storage and transmission.
Acknowledgements
This document is the result of work done in the Internet Anonymous
FTP Archives (IAFA) working group of the IETF. Special thanks are
due to Mark Baushke (Cisco), John Curran (BBN), Aydin Edguer (CWRU),
Rafal Maszkowski (Onsala Space Observatory), Marsha Perrott
(PREPnet), Bob Peterson (Texas Instruments), Nathan Torkington
(Victoria University of Wellington), and Stephen Tihor (NYU) for
excellent comments and contributions.
What is FTP?
FTP refers to the File Transfer Protocol [1], one of the protocols
within the TCP/IP protocol suite used on the Internet. The File
Transfer Protocol makes it possible to transfer files from one
computer (or host) on the Internet to another. There are many FTP
implementations built on the specification of the FTP protocol. A
user of an FTP program must log in to both hosts in order to transfer
a file from one to the other.
It is common for a user with files on more than one host to use the
FTP program to transfer files from one host to another. In this
case, the user has an account on both hosts involved, so he has
passwords for both hosts.
IAFA Working Group