Talk:File Transfer Protocol

Anonymous FTP ?

I don't understand, in the article, why trivial FTP or Gopher are "alternatives" to anonymous FTP. How do those address the issues against anonymous FTP? And isn't TFTP only useful in a local network since it doesn't use the reliable TCP? —Długosz

TFTP and Gopher each use a single TCP connection instead of two in the way that FTP does. In situations where anonymous FTP would be used, but might be obstructed due to firewall issues because of the dual connection requirement, TFTP or Gopher can supply the same service -- anonymously retrieving a file without authentication -- to get around the firewall issue.

TFTP can theoretically work wherever UDP works, but you are correct, it is usually only useful on high speed LANs, though this is more due to latency issues -- TFTP only transmits one packet at a time, then waits for acknowledgement, much like the old XMODEM protocol for modems -- rather then because of reliability problems.dc

unique/static IP required for anonymous ftp??

Many webhosts claim that a unique IP is required to set up an anonymous ftp server. It is never explained why a static IP is necessary. Can the article address this point? Why can't we have anonymous download from an ftp server with a shared IP? Thanks. AugustinMa (talk) 09:27, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

As far as I know, as long as both client and server recognize each other IP for the whole length of an ftp session, the server can serve the client. Just follow the actions during an ftp session to see where each party must know the exact IP of the other. Other then that, the server can live in any IP. It also could change its IP from time to time. webhosts tend to use shortcuts for different reasons. 217.132.74.2 (talk) 17:16, 27 March 2015 (UTC)

Active mode without PORT command ?

According to RFC 959, PORT command is not needed because "There are defaults for both the user and server data ports, and under normal circumstances this command and its reply are not needed." but this fact is never mentioned in the article 125.161.204.150 (talk) 08:35, 26 July 2008 (UTC)

Those defaults are partially mentioned. Quoting the Communication and data transfer subsection Template:TalkquoteHere is the default for the client port. The default for the server port, 20, indeed not mentioned. But not saying anything about it, some might think that it is a fixed port. By the way, the following from text comment to the sentence I just quoted, namely Template:Talkquoteis a bit odd. Why should the client announce something the server can calculate by itself? The answer is, probably:

1. N+1 is the default.
2. The client might tell another port.

Is that apparent from the text?

To conclude, I think the subsection should be rephrased.

217.132.74.2 (talk) 17:55, 27 March 2015 (UTC)

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FTP archives

It was a big thing in the early days of internet and it's still used today. Deserving of a section. Setenzatsu.2 (talk) 23:55, 31 March 2025 (UTC)