FTP protocol and tools are used to transfer data over network in a simple manner. There are different FTP tools with GUI support which can provide simple usage without knowing any command but in some cases we may need to use FTP commands. In this tutorial we will learn how to use FTP commands with example in operating systems like Windows and Linux.
Escape Shell
!
Execute Macro
Defined macros can be executed with the $ by providing the macro name. In this example we will run macro named test
$test
Print Local Help Information
We can print help information about local commands with ?
?
Send Account Command To Remote Server
After connecting an FTP server we can change the current user with account command. This will as for the USER and PASS information.
account
Append To A File
We can append into existing file with append command like below.
append
Set ASCII Transfer Type
There are different transfer types. We can use ascii to change text transfer mode.
ascii
Beep When Command Completed
beep command will play sound after the given command is completed.
beep
Set Binary Transfer Type
Other than ascii type there is also binary transfer type where there will be no translation during transfer.
binary
Terminate FTP Session and Exit
We can terminate current FTP session and exit from FTP shell with bye command like below.
bye
Toggle Case Sensitivity
Case sensitivity can be enabled or disabled with case command like below.
case
Change Remote Working Directory
We can change current working directory of the remote system or server with the cd command. In this example we will navigate to the remote directory Mirror
cd Mirror
Change Remote Directory To Parent Directory
cdup will automatically change current working directory of remote system to the parent or single upper level.
cdup
Change Remote File Permissions
If we have enough privileges we can change remote system file permissions iwth chmod like in Linux systems.
chmod
Terminate FTP Session
Another command to terminate FTP sessions but this command will not exit from interactive FTP shell.
close
Enable/Disable Carriage Return Stripping
cr
Enable/Disable Debugging
If we have problem about executing commands we may need more information. We can run commands in verbose mode with debug command.
debug
Delete Remote File
We can delete remote file with delete command. In this exmaple we will delete file named old.txt
delete old.txt
List Contents of Remote Directory
We can list contents , files and folders of the remote system with the dir command like below.
$ dir
Terminate FTP Session
We can close current FTP session or connection but stay in the FTP shell with disconnect command.
disconnect
Terminate FTP Session and Exit
We can terminate current FTP session and exit from FTP shell with exit command.
exit
Set File Transfer Format
form
Receive File
We can download from remote system with get command. We will download file named timestamp.txt in this example.
get timestamp.txt
Display Local Help Information
help
Set Binary Transfer Type
image
Allow Use Of Any IP Address Family
ipany
Resctrict Only IPv4
ipv4
Restrict Only IPv6
ipv6
Change Local Working Directory
As we work also local system we can change local directory with lcd command.
lcd Downloads/
List Contents Of Remote Directory
The one of the most popular FTP command is ls which will list contents, files, folders of the remote system.
ls
Define Macro
macdef
Delete Multiple Files
We can delete multiple files and folders with a single command. In this example we will delete files named 1.txt , 2.txt , 3.txt
mdelete 1.txt 2.txt 3.txt
Create Directory On Remote
We can create a directory on the remote system with mkdir command. In this example we will create directory named backup
mkdir backup
List Contents Of Multiple Remote Directories
mls
Set File Transfer Mode
mode
Show Last Modification Time Of Remote File
We can show last modification time of the file on the remote system with modtime command. We will list modification time of the filelist.gz on the remote system.
modtime filelist.gz
Send Multiple Files
We can put multiple files with mput command. In this example we will send files 1.txt , 2.txt , 3.txt
mput
Get File If Remote File Is Newer Than Local File
We can only get file if remote file is newer then local file. In this example we check remote file 1.txt with local file 1.txt
newer 1.txt 1.txt
List Contents Of Remote Directory
nlist
Set Template For default File Name Mapping
nmap
Set Translation Table For Default File Name Mapping
ntrans
Connect Remote FTP Server and Port
We can connect to the FTP server with open command from FTP shell. In this example we will connect to the ftp.itu.edu.tr .
open ftp.itu.edu.tr
Enter Passive Transfer Mode
passive
Force Interactive Prompting on Multiple Commands
prompt
Issue Command On Alternate Connection
proxy
Send Single File
We can use put command in order to send single file to the FTP server. In this example we will send file named data.txt to the remote system.
put data.txt
Print Working Directory on Remote System
We can print and list current working directory of the remote system or server. We will use pwd without any option.
pwd
Print ? In Place Of Control Characters
qc
Terminate FTP Session and Exit
Another good command in order to terminate FTP session and exit from FTP shell.
quit
Send Arbitrary FTP Command
quote
Receive File
Another good command in order to download file from remote FTP server we will use recv command with the file name we want to download. In this example we will download file named timestamp.txt .
recv timestamp.txt
Get File Restarting At End Of Local File
reget
Rename File
We can rename a remote file. We will use rename with the current name of file and new name of the file. We will rename file named data.txt into newdata.txt
rename data.txt newdata.txt
Clear Queued Command Replies
reset
Restart File Transfer At Byte Count
restart
Get Help From Remote Server
rhelp
Remove Directory On Remote System
We can remote a directory on the remote FTP server or system with rmdir by providing the directory name. In this example we will remove directory named old
rmdir old
Show Status Of Remote System
After connecting remote FTP server or system we can print current status about the remote system and connection with the rstatus command.
rstatus
We can see that there are following information
- Connected IP address
- Mode or Type which is ASCII in this case
- Sessions bandwith limit which is unlimited in this example
- Sessions timeout which is 300 seconds in this example
- Control connection type which is plain text in this example
- Data connection type which is plain text in this example
- Connected client count to the remote FTP server which is 2 in this example
- Server software name and version with its banner which is vsFTPd 2.2.2 in this example
Toggle Store Unique for Local File
runique
Send One file
We can send a single file to the remote server with the send command by specifying file name. In this example we will send file named data.txt
send data.txt
Enable/Disable Use Of PORT For Each Data Connection
sendport
Show Size Of Remote File
We can print the size of the given file on the remote server with size command and providing the file name. In this example we will print the size of the filelist.gz
size filelist.gz
Show Current Status
We can print current status of the connection and technical details with status command.
status
Set File Transfer Structure
struct
Toggle Store Unique On Remote System
sunique
Show Remote System Type
While working with remote FTP server operating system is important. We can get information about remote system with system command like below.
system
Set Tenex File Transfer Type
tenex
Enable/Disable Printing Byte Counter During Transfers
tick
Enable/Disable Package Tracing
trace
Set File Transfer Type
type
Get Umask On Remote System
umask
Send New User Information
We can relogin with different user name by using user command. We will provide user name and password interactively.
user
Enable/Disable Verbose Mode
Like debug mode with can enable and disable verbose mode with verbose command like below.
verbose
example on how to send a directory?