FTP from Command Prompt

What is FTP

• The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol used to transfer computer files between a client and server on a computer network.
• FTP is built on a client-server model architecture and uses separate control and data connections between the client and the server.

Connect using FTP

• To connect to another computer using FTP at the Command Prompt type FTP and press enter.
• Once in FTP, use the open command to connect to the FTP server, as shown in the example below.

Send and receive a file in FTP

• To get files from the server onto your own computer, use the get (Receive) command as shown in the example below. In this example, you would get the file test1.txt

• To send a file from your computer to the computer you are connected to, assuming you have the rights, use the put/send (uploading) command as shown in the example below.
• In this example, we are sending the serverfile.txt to the current directory.

FTP Commands

• Typing help or ? will list the commands available to you.

• Below table shows FTP commands with brief information.

Command	Information
!	This command toggles back and forth between the operating system and FTP. Once back in the operating system, typing exit takes you back to the FTP command line.
?	Access the Help screen.
append	Append text to a local file.
ascii	Switch to ASCII transfer mode
bell	Turns bell mode on or off.
binary	Switches to binary transfer mode.
bye	Exits from FTP.
cd	Changes directory.
close	Exits from FTP.
delete	Deletes a file.
debug	Sets debugging on or off.
dir	Lists files if connected. dir -C = Will list the files in wide format. dir -1 = Lists the files in bare format in alphabetic order dir -r = Lists directory in reverse alphabetic order. dir -R = Lists all files in current directory and sub directories. dir -S = Lists files in bare format in alphabetic order.
disconnect	Exits from FTP.
get	Grabs file from the computer to which you are connected.
glob	Sets globbing on or off. When turned off the file name in the put and get commands is taken literally and wildcards are not used.
hash	Sets hash mark printing on or off. When turned on for each 1024 bytes of data received a hash-mark (#) is displayed.
help	Access the Help screen and displays information about command if command typed after help.
lcd	Displays local directory if typed alone or if path typed after lcd will change local directory.
literal	Sends a literal command to the connected computer with an expected one line response.
ls	Lists files of the remotely connected computer.
mdelete	Multiple delete.
mdir	Lists contents of multiple remote directories.
mget	Get multiple files.
mkdir	Make directory.
mls	Lists contents of multiple remote directories.
mput	Sent multiple files
open	Opens address.
prompt	Enables or disables the prompt.
put	Send one file
pwd	Print working directory
quit	Exits from FTP.
quote	Same as the literal command.
recv	Receive file.
remotehelp	Get help from remote server.
rename	Renames a file.
rmdir	Removes a directory on the remote computer.
send	Send single file.
status	Shows status of currently enabled and disabled options
trace	Toggles packet tracing.
Type	Set file transfer type.
user	Send new user information.
verbose	Sets verbose on or off.