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FTP: What is the file transfer protocol and what is it for?

FTP: What is the file transfer protocol and what is it for?

In order to transmit data between our computer and a server, either to host a web page or backup in the cloud , we need to have a standardized protocol for transfer measures.

Because of this there is the FTP protocol. Which is a set of measures that help the interconnection within a network with client-server architecture . In this way you can have greater speed in downloading and uploading files.

In addition, you can modify the different folders that exist on the server remotely. If you want to know what this transfer protocol is about, don’t miss the next post. We will talk not only about how this model works, but also we will recommend you to the best FTP clients .

What is the FTP file transfer protocol and what is its function in a computer network?

¿Qué es el protocolo de transferencia de archivos FTP y cuál es su función en una red informática?

A data transfer protocol is a standardized method , within a client server network structure, used to transfer files between both members.

An FTP server is used to share files between our computer and the cloud or to download from it to our device . In addition, we can use it to download any file from the Internet.

Thanks to this FTP protocol, we can make backup copies and, if we have a slightly more advanced degree of users, we will also be able to upload files to our website and be able to edit the information hosted on the server. We can do all that in the background and we have the possibility to choose any data transfer protocol client.

One of the most important things that has an FTP protocol , is that this interaction between the different computers does not have the operating system account that they have. This is because, thanks to the file transfer protocol, the sending of files can be used as long as they are connected to a TCP network , which must be based on the client-server relationship.

Due to this, files can be shared at a high speed, but the security is practically nil, since there is a plain text transfer without any kind of encryption. Therefore, other tools must be added to this circuit, such as SCP and SFTP, in order to have an encryption throughout the data flow.

How does the FTP protocol work within the layers of the TCP model / IP?

The FTP service uses network ports 20 and 21 being the latter used when the user, through the interface of his computer, initiates the connection through the protocol interpreter through the PI of the server. In this way, the data transfer process with the file system is just completed and the connection is made via port 20, in standard mode, delivering the user transfer process to the FTP client .

The client incorporates the file system and interprets this information through its PI (data interpreter). In this way, it is delivered back to the computer interface and the user can only visualize the information represented.

Therefore, the file system is independent of the client server architecture, so the operating system with these two participants is not interested, the most important being the protocol interpreter (PI) of each one of them.

What are the most important elements of FTP?

In the FTP protocol there are different elements that characterize it, so we will show you each of them below:

Model

This file transfer or FTP model, for its acronym in “File Transfer Protocol” , has as its main feature the architecture of client and server networks. Which makes it independent of the technique of files used by each of them .

Therefore, the operating system is not of interest since these members communicate through their protocol or IP interpreter and the data transfer process (DTP), which are standardized.

By leaving out the entire file system, the data connection can be made in both directions and simultaneously , both to receive or send files. In addition, it allows you to run this protocol in the background without affecting its operation.

Server

Servidor

The FTP server is software that is used in a special way on a server device , which is connected to the Internet in most cases. This program is generally not available on the users’ common computers, so you need to access the server remotely.

Thanks to this team you can host web pages where clients can upload, modify and delete the different files that exist on the server. It is also useful, to backup of important information, but being so vulnerable because it is plain text you need to add a protocol that allows you to encrypt the data from end to end so that it cannot be intercepted by intruders, such as SFTP.

Client

The client is the computer that requests the transmission of the files to your computer . To do this, we have to think of an interface that the user uses through a browser, which does not have this FTP protocol function equipped. So if you need to upload the files remotely you must obtain an FTP client program.

There are a lot of these softwares , which many are integrated with the operating systems, Windows, Unix, DOS or Linux. Once these programs are downloaded, the user must know the computer where he resides and the name of the file to which he wants to download.

Commands

Once a user enters the FTP server, it is necessary to perform certain commands to interact with it.

We will show you the most prominent ones below:

  • open: This command is used to initiate the connection to the server.
  • status: If you need to know the status Current connection, we must type this command.
  • !: It is used to exit the command line for a moment.
  • exit: To return, after using the previous order, we must use this command to find us
  • dir: Identify the contents of the directory in which we are working on the server.
  • ls: When we need to see what a directory contains, we must work with this command.
  • cd: One of the most famous commands. When this text is written, the directory is changed.
  • delete: Delete a file.
  • mdelete: When needed delete more than one file on the server at the same time, we must use this order.
  • get: Get a file from the FTP server.
  • lcd: Modify the directory we are working with.
  • put: Used when you need to send a file to the active directory.
  • mput: To send more than one file at the same time, we can use this command.
  • user: If you need to change the username and password without having to leave the FTP session.
  • close: When we want to end the connection to the FTP server, we must use this command.
  • quit: It is used to end the session with the client. The bye.

command can also be used

Connection modes

When the FTP client connects to the data transfer server, you can do it in different ways that we will analyze below:

Access without registering or anonymous: This kind of connection is made when FTP servers offer their services freely. So you can access your files without being registered in it, you only need to type the word “Anonymous” to enter the system.

Login as a customer or user: It is the opposite case to the previous one. When you access an FTP server, but with a registered user account , so you can enter with certain privileges and thus modify the different existing files. In addition to having the ability to upload and download data.

Internet-based: This type of connection occurs when the transfer model client accesses through the web browser , without having to do so through an application specific. That is, the FTP client connects thanks to the HTTP protocol and uses ports 20 and 21, as we have explained before.

Guest: This FTP client access occurs when there are user accounts that have no restrictions on the part of the provider, often providing a greater degree of security. Therefore, when the user enters, he must enter his password and name, but he will not have access to the modification of certain files , since these will be specially restricted.

Who are the best FTP clients for Windows and Mac?

If you are thinking of using an FTP client program for your Windows or Mac computer, you should consider its technical issues.

That is why we present below the best clients of the file transfer model. Let’s get started!

Transmit

With this FTP client you can quickly transfer files to and from the server. It provides a data security system by authenticating them using the “SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)” protocol. In addition, it is configurable with files and directories that have other options or parameters.

It allows to create favorites and is available since 1998 on Mac computers . Its latest version is number 5 and allows a trial period. Once it has elapsed, you must pay € 25.

FileZilla Client

FileZilla Client

This FTP client is also compatible with TLS (FTPS) and SFTP , thus offering end-to-end encryption in the transmission of files with the server. It was developed in 2001 by Tim Kosse and its download is free for both Windows and Mac .

You can perform the file transfer from up to 4 GB and it offers the possibility of resuming data transmissions that were interrupted at some point it is possible to perform SSL and SSH encryption.

Download FileZilla Client Windows

Fresh FTP

We can download this FTP client in our Windows computer , which has the advantage of resuming transfers in the place where we leave it. In addition, it supports “multithreading” and you can choose the size of the download and upload of files in the transfer to the server.

This tool allows you to transfer more than one file at a time , sorted according to the criteria we give you. It was launched by the company freshWebmaster.com in 2005 and its download is free.

It can be accessed through a password and modify the toolbar according to a personalized criteria. In addition, it has FTP Proxy and firewall. It offers the possibility of having the application of an antivirus and also synchronizes local and remote folders.

Download Fresh FTP Windows

Weeble File Manager

This cross-platform was launched in 2005 with a free license where it allows secure access to the files that are transmitted between the server and the FTP client thanks to the SFTP protocol.

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When we need to pause the download of the files we are obtaining from the server, we can do so with complete confidence, since we can restart this task at any time. Its interface is simple and applies to any computer.

Download Weeble File Manager MacOS

Wise-FTP

Wise-FTP

It has the possibility to see both local and remote folders according to the view of a tree to be able to choose the easiest way we need to work or transmit. You can drag the folders from the browser, thus providing the possibility to save time when we are working.

It was developed in 1998 and is destined for Windows its download value is around € 50, having a trial version of 30 days. It can be downloaded in Spanish, English, German and French versions.

Download Wise-FTP Windows