Linux ftp Command Summary with Examples

1. Purpose - Learn what ftp is for and how to find help.
2. Options - Review a few common options and arguments.
3. Examples - Walk through code examples with ftp.
4. A tip - Finish off with one more insight.

by Paul Alan Davis, CFA

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Examples of the Linux ftp Command

Beginner

Learn to automate the transfer of files at the Linux command line.

Video Tutorial

Videos can also be accessed from the Linux Essentials Playlist on YouTube.

Linux ftp Command Summary with Examples (3:29)

Video Script

The Command and Why You Need It

Our eighty-fourth word, or command to memorize is ftp from our category Communication.

ftp allows you to automate the transfer of files.

Common Linux ftp Options

Recall from the last two videos, we covered data transfer from the command line, and a new concept called Protocols and now we'll log in to a remote system using the ftp Protocol.

Before we start, it helps to think of commands as mini programs and most follow this structure: command -option(s) argument(s).

The ftp command has 9 options, and the argument is the hostname, entered like you would an http:// address in your browser, but here use ftp:// and the hostname and optionally a port number.

Unlike most commands, help is not available with double-dash --help. The -v option enters verbose mode showing statistics.

So why is ftp an important command? Well, most people access data sets through their browser manually but using ftp Protocol is a good way to automate transfers. And now you know how to do that.

Demonstration

Okay, the best way to embed this in your memory is by typing in your own terminal window.

Find this on your Mac using a program called Terminal. On Linux use Terminal or Konsole, and currently Microsoft is adding this functionality to Windows.

Here we go. We'll log in to a public US Library of Congress ftp server. The ftp Protocol predates http I mentioned earlier, which you use in your web browser. And some servers let you log in anonymously with no password, and that's what we're doing here.

And here, if this was a private system you could enter one of about 75 different commands, but many won't work because of security concerns, so I'll just show you a cd to the pub directory, to change directories.

And last, before we end up on a government watch list, let's type bye to close the ftp connection.

A Final Tip

Okay now you know how to use ftp. And you know the syntax for commands, options and arguments.

One last tip about the ftp command. So over time the ftp has been replaced by more secure options: lftp or sftp. Here, I simply wanted you to see ftp and I'll introduce other tools shortly.

Okay, thanks for visiting today. I hope this was a helpful introduction to the ftp command.

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