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File Transfer Protocol

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is an application layer protocol that transfers files between local and remote systems using two parallel TCP connections - a control connection on port 21 for sending control information like commands and authentication, and a data connection on port 20 for transferring file data. FTP maintains state about the user throughout the session, unlike HTTP. It supports various data structures and commands for navigating directories, retrieving and storing files, and terminating sessions.

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87 views

File Transfer Protocol

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is an application layer protocol that transfers files between local and remote systems using two parallel TCP connections - a control connection on port 21 for sending control information like commands and authentication, and a data connection on port 20 for transferring file data. FTP maintains state about the user throughout the session, unlike HTTP. It supports various data structures and commands for navigating directories, retrieving and storing files, and terminating sessions.

Uploaded by

priyanshbhadoria13
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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File Transfer Protocol (FTP) in Application Layer

Prerequisite: Protocols in Application Layer


File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is an application layer protocol which moves files
between local and remote file systems. It runs on the top of TCP, like HTTP. To
transfer a file, 2 TCP connections are used by FTP in parallel: control connection
and data connection.

What is control connection?


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.
What is data connection?
For sending the actual file, FTP makes use of data connection. A data connection is
initiated on port number 20.
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.
FTP Session :
When a FTP session is started between a client and a server, the client initiates a
control TCP connection with the server side. The client sends control information
over this. When the server receives this, it initiates a data connection to the client
side. Only one file can be sent over one data connection. But the control connection
remains active throughout the user session. As we know HTTP is stateless i.e. it
does not have to keep track of any user state. But FTP needs to maintain a state
about its user throughout the session.
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.
FTP Commands – Some of the FTP commands are :
USER – This command sends the user identification to the server.
PASS – This command sends the user password to the server.
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.
MKD – This command causes the directory specified in the pathname to be created
as a directory.
PWD – This command causes the name of the current working directory to be
returned in the reply.
RETR – This command causes the remote host to initiate a data connection and to
send the requested file over the data connection.
STOR – This command causes to store a file into the current directory of the remote
host.
LIST – Sends a request to display the list of all the files present in the directory.
ABOR – This command tells the server to abort the previous FTP service command
and any associated transfer of data.
QUIT – This command terminates a USER and if file transfer is not in progress, the
server closes the control connection.
FTP Replies – 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.

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