FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL
Protocol : a system of fixed rules
FTP – File Transfer Protocol
Protocol used to set of rules
transfer a file.
FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL – File Transfer Protocol is a set of rules that enables an internet user
to move a file from one computer to another on the internet.
A file may contain any type of digital information – Text document, image, artwork, movie, sound, software, etc.
Moving a file from a remote computer to ones own computer is known as downloading the file, and moving a file
from ones own computer to a remote computer is known as uploading the file.
It is mainly used for transferring the web page files from their creator to the computer that acts
as a server for other computers on the internet.
It is also used for downloading the files to computer from other servers.
Objectives of FTP
o It provides the sharing of files.
o It is used to encourage the use of remote computers.
o It transfers the data more reliably and efficiently.
Why FTP?
Although transferring files from one system to another is very simple and straightforward, but
sometimes it can cause problems. For example, two systems may have different file conventions.
Two systems may have different ways to represent text and data.
FTP protocol overcomes these problems by establishing two connections between hosts.
One connection is used for data transfer, and another connection is used for the control
connection.
FILE TRANSFER MECHANISM
The FTP client has three components:
the user interface
control process
data transfer process.
The server has two components: the server control process and the
server data transfer process.
In order to use FTP, a user must first download an FTP client (or access an FTP client through a web
browser). A client is the software that will allow you to transfer files. Examples of FTP clients that
are free to download include FileZilla Client, FTP Voyager, WinSCP, CoffeeCup Free FTP, and
Core FTP.
THE TRANSFER OF FILE TAKES PLACE THROUGH TWO
CONNECTIONS :
What is control connection?
The control connection uses very simple rules for communication. Through control
connection, we can transfer a line of command or line of response at a time.
It uses 7 bit ASCII CHARACTER set.
Communication takes place through commands and lines. we can transfer a line of
command or line of response at a time.
For sending control information like user identification, password, commands to change
the remote directory, commands to retrieve and store files, etc., FTP makes use of control
connection. The control connection is initiated on port number 21.
THIS CONTROL CONNECTION IS ACHIEVED THROUGH COMMANDS AND
RESPONSES.
FTP Commands – Some of the FTP commands are :
TRANSFER FILES :
GET: SERVER TO CLIENT Desired files are Downloaded by using get
PUT: CLIENT TO SERVER Desired files can be uploaded by using put
commands.
CONNECT TO REMOTE HOST:
USER – This command sends the user identification to the server.
PASS – This command sends the user password to the server.
TERMINATE :
QUIT: This command terminates a USER and if file transfer is not
in progress, the server closes the control connection.
CLOSE: It directly disconnects.
OTHER COMMANDS AND THEIR USES :
CWD – This command allows the user to work with a different directory or
dataset for file storage or retrieval without altering his login or accounting
information.
RMD – This command causes the directory specified in the path-name to be
removed as a directory.
FTP Replies/Responses – Some of the FTP replies are :
200 Command okay.
530 Not logged in.
331 User name okay, need a password.
225 Data connection open; no transfer in progress.
221 Service closing control connection.
551 Requested action aborted: page type unknown.
502 Command not implemented.
503 Bad sequence of commands.
504 Command not implemented for that parameter.
WHAT IS DATA CONNECTION?
Used to transfer file.
For sending the actual file, FTP makes use of data connection. A data connection is initiated
on port number 20.
The Data Connection uses very complex rules as data types may vary. The data connection is
made between data transfer processes.
FTP sends the control information out-of-band as it uses a separate control connection. Some
protocols send their request and response header lines and the data in the same TCP
connection. For this reason, they are said to send their control information in-band. HTTP and
SMTP are such examples.
The Data Connection is opens each time commands that involve transferring files are used,
and it closes when the files is transferred. While the control connection is open, the data
connection can be opened and closed multiple times if several files are transferred.
FILE TYPES: FTP can transfer one of the following file types:
i) ASCII File
ii) EBCDIC FILE
iii) IMAGE file
DATA STRUCTURES
FTP allows three types of data structures :
1. File Structure – In file-structure there is no internal structure and the file is
considered to be a continuous sequence of data bytes.
2. Record Structure – In record-structure the file is made up of sequential records.
3. Page Structure – In page-structure the file is made up of independent indexed
pages.
TRANSMISSION MODE:
i) Stream Mode
ii) Block Mode
iii) Compressed file
Advantages of FTP:
o Speed: One of the biggest advantages of FTP is speed. The FTP is one of the
fastest way to transfer the files from one computer to another computer.
o Efficient: It is more efficient as we do not need to complete all the operations to
get the entire file.
o Security: To access the FTP server, we need to login with the username and
password. Therefore, we can say that FTP is more secure.
o Back & forth movement: FTP allows us to transfer the files back and forth.
Suppose you are a manager of the company, you send some information to all
the employees, and they all send information back on the same server.
Disadvantages of FTP:
o The standard requirement of the industry is that all the FTP transmissions should be
encrypted. However, not all the FTP providers are equal and not all the providers
offer encryption. So, we will have to look out for the FTP providers that provides
encryption.
o FTP serves two operations, i.e., to send and receive large files on a network.
However, the size limit of the file is 2GB that can be sent. It also doesn't allow you
to run simultaneous transfers to multiple receivers.
o Passwords and file contents are sent in clear text that allows unwanted
eavesdropping. So, it is quite possible that attackers can carry out the brute force
attack by trying to guess the FTP password.
o It is not compatible with every system.
What is E-mail?
E-mail- ELECTRONIC MAIL
MAIL sent through Electronic media or internet.
It is defined as the transmission of messages on the Internet.
It is one of the most commonly used features over communications networks
that may contain text, files, images, or other attachments.
Generally, it is information that is stored on a computer sent through a network to
a specified individual or group of individuals.
Email messages are conveyed through email servers; it uses multiple
protocols within the TCP/IP suite. For example, SMTP is a protocol,
stands for simple mail transfer protocol and used to send messages
whereas other protocols IMAP or POP are used to retrieve messages
from a mail server. If you want to login to your mail account, you just
need to enter a valid email address, password, and the mail servers
used to send and receive messages.
Although most of the webmail servers automatically configure your mail account,
therefore, you only required to enter your email address and password. However,
you may need to manually configure each account if you use an email client
like Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail. In addition, to enter the email address and
password, you may also need to enter incoming and outgoing mail servers and
the correct port numbers for each one.
Email messages include three components, which are as follows:
o Message envelope: It depicts the email's electronic format.
o Message header: It contains email subject line and
sender/recipient information.
o Message body: It comprises images, text, and other file
attachments.
In 1972, Ray Tomlinson invented email to remove some difficulties.
To denote sending messages from one computer to another, he picked up the @
symbol from the keyboard. Then, it became easy to send a message to another with the help of
Internet standards; they were only required to propose name-of-the-user@name-of-the-
computer.
The SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol) was the first important email
standard. It was a fairly naïve protocol that is still in use. And, it was made in terms
of no attempt to find the person who sent a message that was the right or not
what they claimed to be. In the email addresses, fraudulent was very easy and is
still available. Later, these basic flaws were used in the protocol by security
frauds, worms and viruses, and spammers forging identities. From 2004, some of
these problems are still being processed for a solution.
Popular email sites
There are some free email website examples include the following:
o AOL
o Zoho
o Gmail
o ProtonMail
o Com
o Microsoft Outlook
o Yahoo Mail
Advantages of Email
There are many advantages of email, which are as follows:
o Cost-effective: Email is a very cost-effective service to communicate with others as
there are several email services available to individuals and organizations for free of cost.
Once a user is online, it does not include any additional charge for the services.
o Email offers users the benefit of accessing email from anywhere at any time if they have
an Internet connection.
o It is faster than paper mail.
o Unlike telephone, the persons communicating need not be available at the same time.
o Unlike fax documents, e-mail documents can be stored in a computer,and can be edited
easily using editing programs.
o Email offers you an incurable communication process, which enables you to send a
response at a convenient time. Also, it offers users a better option to communicate easily
regardless of different schedules users.
o Speed and simplicity: Email can be composed very easily with the correct
information and contacts. Also, minimum lag time, it can be exchanged quickly.
o Mass sending: You can send a message easily to large numbers of people through
email.
o Email exchanges can be saved for future retrieval, which allows users to keep important
conversations or confirmations in their records and can be searched and retrieved when
they needed quickly.
o Email provides a simple user interface and enables users to categorize and filter their
messages. This can help you recognize unwanted emails like junk and spam mail. Also,
users can find specific messages easily when they are needed.
o As compared to traditional posts, emails are delivered extremely fast.
o Email is beneficial for the planet, as it is paperless. It reduces the cost of paper and helps
to save the environment by reducing paper usage.
o It also offers a benefit to attaching the original message at the time you reply to an email.
This is beneficial when you get hundreds of emails a day, and the recipient knows what
you are talking about.
o Furthermore, emails are beneficial for advertising products. As email is a form of
communication, organizations or companies can interact with a lot of people and inform
them in a short time.
Disadvantages of Email
o Impersonal: As compared to other forms of communication, emails are less
personal. For example, when you talk to anyone over the phone or meeting face to face
is more appropriate for communicating than email.
o Misunderstandings: As email includes only text, and there is no tone of
voice or body language to provide context. Therefore, misunderstandings can occur
easily with email. If someone sends a joke on email, it can be taken seriously. Also, well-
meaning information can be quickly typed as rude or aggressive that can impact wrong.
Additionally, if someone types with short abbreviations and descriptions to send content
on the email, it can easily be misinterpreted.
o Malicious Use: As email can be sent by anyone if they have an only email
address. Sometimes, an unauthorized person can send you mail, which can be harmful in
terms of stealing your personal information. Thus, they can also use email to spread gossip
or false information.
o Accidents Will Happen: With email, you can make fatal mistakes by
clicking the wrong button in a hurry. For instance, instead of sending it to a single person,
you can accidentally send sensitive information to a large group of people. Thus, the
information can be disclosed, when you have clicked the wrong name in an address list.
Therefore, it can be harmful and generate big trouble in the workplace.
o Spam: Although in recent days, the features of email have been improved, there are
still big issues with unsolicited advertising arriving and spam through email. It can easily
become overwhelming and takes time and energy to control.
o Information Overload: As it is very easy to send email to many
people at a time, which can create information overload. In many modern workplaces, it
is a major problem where it is required to move a lot of information and impossible to tell if
an email is important. And, email needs organization and upkeep. The bad feeling is one
of the other problems with email when you returned from vacation and found hundreds of
unopened emails in your inbox.
o Viruses: Although there are many ways to travel viruses in the devices, email is
one of the common ways to enter viruses and infect devices. Sometimes when you get a
mail, it might be the virus come with an attached document. And, the virus can infect the
system when you click on the email and open the attached link. Furthermore, an
anonymous person or a trusted friend or contact can send infected emails.
o Pressure to Respond: If you get emails and you do not answer
them, the sender can get annoyed and think you are ignoring them. Thus, this can be a
reason to make pressure on your put to keep opening emails and then respond in some
way.
o Time Consuming: When you get an email and read, write, and respond
to emails that can take up vast amounts of time and energy. Many modern workers
spend their most time with emails, which may be caused to take more time to complete
work.
o Overlong Messages: Generally, email is a source of communication
with the intention of brief messages. There are some people who write overlong messages
that can take much time than required.
o Insecure: There are many hackers available that want to gain your important
information, so email is a common source to seek sensitive data, such as political,
financial, documents, or personal messages. In recent times, there have various high-
profile cases occurred that shown how email is insecure about information theft.
Presented by : Ritu Gujela
CET Rank – 128
ENROLLMENT NO. - 07214902020