FTP is available in two types of client programs: a command-line client and a graphical user interface client. Examples of the former include DOS FTP and a UNIX ftp. Examples of the latter include the OnNet FTP clients for Windows 3.1(FTP) and Windows 95(FTP), and the PC/TCP client for Windows 3.1(WFTP).
The information presented in the sections below cover four categories of FTP, and the common names of the supported FTP clients, available at the University of Delaware:
FTP is available on most University of Delaware computing systems connected to the campus network. The central UNIX systems, Copland and Strauss, have the command-line FTP client named ftp.
The PCs in public microcomputing sites have an OnNet Windows FTP client if you're working in Windows 3.1 or Windows 95. The OnNet 2.1 command-line FTP client is also available under DOS on these PCs.
The Macintosh systems in public microcomputing sites have
FTP client named FETCH available.
If your PC or Macintosh has an Ethernet card, is connected to the campus network, and you have installed the University-supported connectivity software (PC-based OnNet Network Software Suite by FTP, Inc., or the UDel Macintosh IP Installer collection), then you already have one of the FTP clients listed above. For example, if your PC has Windows 3.1 and OnNet 2.1, you can transfer files with the Windows FTP client, FTP or the command-line DOS client, FTP
If your computer is not connected to the University network, first purchase an Ethernet board and obtain a licensed copy of the network software. Supported Ethernet boards are sold in the Computer Department of the University Book Store. The software is available at no charge in the Technology Solutions Center (TSC), 002 Smith Hall, or from any public microcomputing site. For complete information on the software and hardware, where to obtain it, how to install it, and how to activate your network connection, read Connecting Your Own Computer to the Electronic Campus.
If you have a Macintosh already connected to the University network, you probably already have the FTP client named FETCH installed. If not, you may obtain FETCH from any Macintosh systems in a public microcomputing site. Copy FETCH from the "Distribution Files" item under the Apple menu on the site Macintosh system. FETCH is also available from the University of Delaware Software Distribution page. Alternatively, bring a disk to the Technology Solutions Center, 002 Smith Hall, and have the software copied onto the disk.
If you are off campus you can connect to the University network by installing PPP. The details of what software and hardware you need and where to acquire it, are in the section "What hardware and software do I need to use PPP?" of Introduction to PPP.
Information Technologies (IT) has licensed or obtained the FTP clients described in the previous section for general campus use. IT provides installation and consulting support for these clients. However, other FTP clients are available via the Internet. Below is a sampling of Web sites where you can find FTP clients to download. In many cases this is free software, but in general, Information Technologies will not provide consulting support for these clients.
When you install the University-recommended software and hardware for connecting to University network, an FTP client is installed as part of the software installation. For a PC, this includes a Windows FTP client FTP for OnNet 2.1 and OnNet 32) and (WFTP for PC/TCP. Information Technologies recommends that you install OnNet 2.1 (rather than PC/TCP) on Windows 3.1 systems, and OnNet 32 on Windows 95 systems. If you also want a command-line FTP client, you may have to take additional steps. If you have OnNet 2.1 or OnNet 32, contact the Technology Solutions Center (TSC) to get the software on a diskette or to make an installation appointment. If you are using Windows 95, or the older PC/TCP communications software for Windows 3.1, you already have the command-line client FTP.
For a Macintosh, the recommended version of FTP is FETCH, as described above in How can I obtain FTP for my personal computer?. Be sure to first install the general network software. There is no command line version of FTP for Macintoshes.
Installation instructions are provided with the hardware and software that you purchase from the University. In addition, "Connecting Your Own Computer to the Electronic Campus" provides additional help.
You must first install software that includes PPP - the Point-to-Point Protocol software. Information Technologies provides and supports the following: OnNet 2.1 (for Windows 3.1) OnNet 32 (for Windows 95 which is supplemented by Windows 95's built-in PPP support), and either MacTCP or Open Transport and MacPPP for a Macintoshes.
On Windows 3.1 systems, the installation always includes a includes a Windows FTP client and a command-line client. On Windows 95, the installation adds a Windows FTP client to the already present Windows 95 command-line FTP client.
Additional information on these clients and PPP is in the PPP Manuals.
The computer on which you execute the FTP command is the called the local computer or local host The computer to which you are sending ("putting") or from which you are receiving ("getting") a file is called the remote computer or remote host.
Sometimes it is important to know the contents or format of a file or how it was created (e.g., text editor, word-processor, statistical program) to know how to treat the file during the file transfer.
Generally, in order to "get" ("put") a file from (on) the remote host, you need to be a valid user on that system. That is, when you FTP to the remote host, you need to enter a username and password for that computer. However, many systems provide directories of publicly accessible files and allow users to access these files without having a username or password on that system. These special sites are called "anonymous FTP sites". When connecting to an anonymous FTP site, type "anonymous" for the username and type your complete University of Delaware e-mail address as the password. At these sites, you will be somewhat restricted as to which files you can access and which FTP commands you can use. Otherwise, these sites behave the same as other FTP sites.
FTP clients having a graphical user interface are generally easier to use. On microcomputers, you generally have a choice. On the central UNIX systems (Strauss and Copland) and on DOS-only systems, only a command-line client is available. Below we consider these various types of transfers.
Information about FTP commands, how to open a connection to a remote host, sending and receiving files to and from the remote host can be found in Transferring files using the ftp program. Detailed information about UNIX FTP can be found in the man pages on the University UNIX systems by typing the following command at the UNIX prompt (%).
man ftp
Instructions for transferring a file from DOS to UNIX are in Using PC/TCP's ftp to Transfer the File from DOS to UNIX. These instructions also apply to any command-line client for PCs.
Note: When transferring word-processed files (e.g., WordPerfect, MS Word) or spreadsheet files (e.g., Lotus, Excel), you may need to prepare these files for transfer first as described in Preparing the DOS File for Transfer. This preparation is needed if you plan to read the files on the UNIX system using an editor or print them on the central UNIX printers. If you are uploading them to the Strauss or Copland to include them as an attachment in a pine mail message, use the FTP command "binary" before issuing the command to make the file transfer. However, if the pine mail recipient is not using Pine or a different "MIME-capable" mail system, you may still have to prepare the files as noted above.
Instructions for transferring a file from UNIX to DOS is found in Using PC/TCP's ftp to Transfer the File. These instructions also apply to any command-line client for PCs.
Note: When transferring a file that you've received via UNIX mail (e.g., Pine), you will need to first prepare the file for transferring. You can find information about this in Preparing a UNIX File for Transfer. SHOULD THIS BE LINKED TO THE NEW PINE DOCUMENT INSTEAD?
Instructions for using Windows FTP (FTP under OnNet 2.1, OnNet 32, or WFTP under PC/TCP) are given in Transferring a File Using FTP Inc.'s Windows ftp. A harmless error sometimes occurs when connecting to the University's UNIX systems by the Windows 3.1 FTP client WFTP from PC/TCP.
While running FETCH, view the on-line help by selecting the "Windows" menu item, followed by the "Fetch Help" item. The use of FETCH is illustrated by an example in the second half of Creating Student Web Pages on the University of Delaware's Web Server: Uploading Your Files.
Before transferring or copying files between hosts you may need to pre-process them. Utilities are available that convert several files into a single file, reduce the size of a file by compression, and convert binary files into ASCII encoded representation for sending by mail. Read Preparing Files for Transfer for information about these topics.
Many tutorials are available on command-line FTP:
If you need help quickly, you may call the
Help Desk at 831-6000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Or you can submit a question through E-mail .
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