RFC 265 (rfc265) - Page 2 of 12
The File Transfer Protocol
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
File Transfer Protocol RFC 265 17 November 1971 I. INTRODUCTION The file transfer protocol (FTP) is a userlevel procotocol for file transfer between host computers (including terminal IMPs), on the ARPA computer network (ARPANET). The primary function of FTP is to facilitate transfer of files between hosts and to allow convenient use of storage and file handling capabilities of remote hosts. FTP uses the Data Transfer Protocol described in RFC 264 to achieve transfer of data. This paper assumes knowledge of RFC 264. The objectives of FTP are to promote sharing of files (computer programs and/or data) encourage implicit (without explicit login) use of computers, and shield the user from variations in file and storage systems of different hosts. These objetives are achieved by specifying a standard file transfer socket and initial connection protocol for implicit use, and using standard conventions for file transfer and related operations. II. DISCUSSION A file is considered here to be an ordered set of arbitrary length, consisting of computer data (including programs). Files are uniquely identified in a system by their pathnames. A pathname is (loosely) defined to be the data string which must be input to the file system by a network user in order to identify a file. Pathname usually contains device and/or directory names, and file name. FTP specifications provide standard file system commands, but do not provide standard naming convention at this time. Each user must follow the naming convention of the file system be wishing to use. FTP may be extended later to include standard conventions of pathname structures. A file may or may not have access control associated with it The access controls designate users access privileges. In absence of access controls, files cannot be protected from accidental or unauthorized usage. It is the prerogative of a serving file system to provide protection, and selective access. FTP provides identifier and password mechanisms for exchange of access control information. it should however ve noted, that for file sharing, it is necessary that a user be allowed (subject to access controls) to access files not created by him. FTP does not restrict the nature of information in files. For example, a file could contain ASCII text, binary data, computer program, or any other information. A provision for indicating data structure (type and byte size) exists in FTP to aid in parsing, interpretation, and storage of data.
