perm filename FTP.CMU[NET,GUE] blob
sn#017833 filedate 1972-12-29 generic text, type T, neo UTF8
**** WARNING! ****
This document reflects the state as of 10/31/72 of a
changing program. Rely on this at your own risk. I will
try to keep this reasonably up to date, and inform users of
any changes before they find out the hard way. At the
present time, the only form of transfer FTP will do is 36
bit image. Since this is not the network default, ftp will
ask for permission to send commands to setup the server
properly. Report problems and comments to Ric Werme
[S430EW13] at CMU-10B.
This file contains documentation for the FTP user
interface program developed by Ric Werme for use until Ed
Snow writes the real thing.
Although this document was written for people familiar
with the File Transfer Protocol, lay users have had little
trouble using FTP. A couple words on the protocol will
improve matters further. File transfer is done by two
programs. The first is this program (I will call it FTP)
which is run by the user and acts as an interface between
the user and network. The second is the server end (I will
call it the server) which runs at the foreign site and acts
as the interface between the foreign file system and FTP.
These two programs communicate through a software entity
called a 'socket'. FTP sends ASCII messages to the server,
which replys with ASCII messages preceded with a decimal
message code. The decimal code is meant for FTP to look at,
and the rest is meant for the user. FTP will print both on
the user's TTY.
FTP still does not handle all network errors correctly,
so if you have trouble making connections, use the monitor
command 'IMP CLOSE/SELF' and try again.
* * * COMMANDS * * *
The FTP commands are broken down into three groups:
network control, server control, and miscellaneous. Many of
the commands will copy data directly from the teletype to
the server, so one must be careful to end commands with a
carriage return. Each command is one character long, and
may or may not require an argument.
* * NETWORK CONTROL COMMANDS * *
The network control commands control the network
connection to various hosts. While there is no connection,
commands are prompted by a *. While the connection is open,
the prompt character is !. While in ! mode, the interface
never goes into TTY iowait, but alternately checks for TTY
or TELNET activity. If a message comes over the network and
FTP USER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION 2
Version 2.3
you have not started typing a command, that message will be
printed and you will be prompted with another !.
* H is for host. *
The host command takes a decimal argument, which is the
host number to connect to. After the connection is made,
FTP will ask if you want the default type and byte commands
sent (The only mode of transfer FTP will handle is not the
ARPA default, so you should type y). Successful completion
puts FTP into ! mode. While in ! mode, any messages the
server sends will be printed on the teletype, unless you
have started to type a command. (A minor bug in the monitor
causes FTP to think you have typed something if you have
backspaced over it, so be careful.) IF THE FOREIGN SITE
CLOSES THE TELNET connections, then FTP will automatically
return to * mode. It is a condition that will not normally
occur. Hosts with servers include all TENEX sites, Stanford
(11), CMU-10B (14), CMU-10A (78), MIT-AI (134), and MIT-ML
(198).
Example:
*H 11
SEND TYPE I AND BYTE 36 CMDS (Y OR CR): Y
000 WELCOME TO STANFORD'S FTP SERVER
050 PLEASE REPORT ANY PROBLEMS.......
200 TYPE OK
200 BYTE SIZE OK
!
* L is for local. *
The local command sets the local socket number to be
used in future connections. It takes a decimal argument.
Example:
*L 20 ;the initial value is 20.
*
*Q is for quit. *
The Q command does different functions depending upon
the current prompt character. In ! mode, it will fake a bye
command (see below) if you haven't done one, close the
telnet connections and return to * mode. In * mode, it will
return to monitor mode (. mode if you wish). Please don't
↑C FTP while in ! mode. if you do, it will lead to
difficulties when you reuse FTP and will hang a job on the
foreign host (at least if it's CMU.
Examples:
!Q
231 SEE YOU AGAIN LATER ;only if you didn't do a B
*Q
.
FTP USER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION 3
Version 2.3
* * SERVER CONTROL COMMANDS * *
All server control commands must be executed in ! mode,
since they all need to be able to output to the network.
* U is for user. *
The U command should be the first server command used
after making the TELNET connection. it takes a string
argument which it passes to the server. This command
identifies yourself to the server for billing and access
checking purposes. The server currently running at CMU is
not intelligent enough to let people log in under their
PPN's (it would have to read ACCT.SYS and do other strange
gyrations), but it will accept any PPN for use on the LPT's.
This will allow people on the 10B to print on the Data
Products LPT and get the output under their own name.
Examples:
!U NET,GUE ;for places like Stanford
!U N900AR00 ;for CMU
* P is for password. *
The P command may not be necessary on all systems. it
takes a string argument which it passes to the server.
According to FTP definition, after a U command you will be
prompted with a 3xx type message if you need to specify a
password, and a 2xx message if you don't.
Example:
!P ARPA
* R is for retrieve. *
The R command is one of the file transfer commands
(about time we're getting to them). It accepts a not too
PIP-like string either on either the same line or the next.
The format of this string is: <local filename>;<foreign
filename>. The foreign filename is usually called the
pathname, after network jargon. The local filename is of
standard format, I.E. DEV:FILE.EXT[(PPN OR P,P)]. the
FILE, EXT and PPN (or P,P) must be respecified each command.
DSK will be used as the default for all R and S commands.
The command will be aborted by FTP if it cannot create the
named file. As the server and FTP start passing data, a
couple of messages will be printed. The first will be a 255
command, which specifies the socket the server will use
for output. Ignore it. the second will be a message saying
either transfer is starting or that it couldn't find that
file. As data is being transferred, hash marks can be
printed for each buffer transferred if desired (see the
command). Each buffer corresponds to an undetermined number
of words. The server will send a message when the end of
the file is found, and FTP will print transfer statistics,
FTP USER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION 4
Version 2.3
then ask for another command.
Example: (assume connection to MIT-AI):
!R GREET;SYS;SYSTEM MAIL ;copy MIT's greet
;(SYS;SYSTEM MAIL) to our
;system as file GREET.
255 SOCK 939
250 LOOK OUT! HERE IT COMES.
239 WORDS, 8.9 KBD
252 FINIS
!R ;if you type R<CR>,
FILENAME;PATHNAME LPT:;.... ;FTP reminds you of the order.
* S is for store. *
The S command acts just like the R command, except that the
direction of data transfer is reversed. Everything else
looks about the same.
* # is for hash? *
The # command complements the value of the hash flag.
Initially off, the # command wil cause the R and S commands
to print a # character after every buffer is transfered.
* B is for bye. *
When you are done transferring files back and forth,
the B command will tell the server that you are going away.
Some servers (Stanford) will not say goodbye to you, since
they expect you won't be listening. Others (MIT-AI) will
send a friendly see you later message. Since the Q command
will now do a B, if you haven't, the B command might as well
be ignored. (NOW he tells us!)
* * DEBUGGING AND MISCELLANEOUS COMMANDS. * *
* @ is for a command file. *
The @ command takes a filename argument which it will
treat as a series of FTP commands. The file must not have
line numbers. Unlike most command file processors, all
commands will be echoe so you can watch it bomb. A minor
bug: the extension will be defaulted to CMD, even if you
specify a null extension (e.g. '@ORK.') - this may be fixed
sometime in the future.
Example:
To produce the sample run at the end of this listing, one
could use this command file:
H 11
Y
U NET,GUE
R APE.LST;APE.ME[UP,DOC]
FTP USER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION 5
Version 2.3
B
Q
Q
To use it:
.R FTP
FTP.....
*@FTP.STN
*H 11.....
* C is for copy. *
The C command copys everything after the C directly to
the server, thus providing a convienient way to implement
any FTP command not previously covered.
Example:
!CTYPE I ;tell the foreign site you
;want image IO
200 TYPE OK ;it tells you it likes you
!
* D is for DDT. *
The D command will put you into DDT, if it's loaded.
What you'll do there I'm not really sure, but I find it
handy at times.
* I is for ICP *
The I command redefines which socket is to be used for
the ICP. It takes a decimal argument, like the L command
and others.
* X is for crosspatch? *
The X command has even less use. It crosspatches your
teletype to the server, so anything you type goes directly
to the server without echoing. I put it in for a easy way
to make a CMU TELNET connection before our server was up.
AN EXAMPLE OF USING FTP.
.R FTP
FTP V2.3
SEND TYPE I AND BYTE 36 CMDS (Y OR CR): Y
*H 11 ;connect to Stanford
000 WELCOME TO STANFORD'S FTP SERVER.
!050 IMPLEMENTED COMMANDS: USER,TYPE,MODE,BYTE,RETR,STOR.
050 IMAGE TYPE ONLY AT PRESENT
050 PLEASE REPORT PROBLEMS TO RALPH GORIN (REG)
200 TYPE OK
200 BYTE SIZE OK
!U NET,GUE ;standard network number
FTP USER PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION 6
Version 2.3
!230 USER NUMBER OK
!R APE.LST;APE.ME[UP,DOC] ;transfer Stanford's AP line
;documentation.
255 SOCK 163
250 RETR OK, FTP TRANSFER IS BEGINNING
7968 WORDS, 7.9 KBD
252 EOF FOR DATA, US TO YOU
!B ;not really necessary
!Q
*Q
. ;back in monitor mode.