Ccna routing and Switching Complete Study Guide

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) actually lets us transfer files, and it can accomplish this between 

any two machines using it. But FTP isn’t just a protocol; it’s also a program. Operating as a 

protocol, FTP is used by applications. As a program, it’s employed by users to perform file 

tasks by hand. FTP also allows for access to both directories and files and can accomplish 

certain types of directory operations, such as relocating into different ones (Figure 3.5).

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TCP/IP and the DoD Model 

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But accessing a host through FTP is only the first step. Users must then be subjected to 

an authentication login that’s usually secured with passwords and usernames implemented 

by system administrators to restrict access. You can get around this somewhat by adopting 

the username anonymous, but you’ll be limited in what you’ll be able to access.

Even when employed by users manually as a program, FTP’s functions are limited to 

listing and manipulating directories, typing file contents, and copying files between hosts. It 

can’t execute remote files as programs.