Chapter 7: FTP (1 of 6) -- What is FTP?

Chapter 7: FTP (1 of 6) -- What is FTP?


     The commonest way to get these files is through the file transfer
protocol, or ftp.  As with  telnet , not all systems that connect to the
Net have access to ftp.  However, if your system is one of these, you'll
be able to get many of these files through e-mail (see the next node).
     Starting ftp is as easy as using telnet. At your host system's
 command line , type

          ftp site.name

and hit enter, where "site.name" is the address of the ftp site you want
to reach.  One major difference between telnet and ftp is that it is
considered bad form to connect to most ftp sites during their business
hours (generally 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time).  This is because
transferring files across the network takes up considerable computing
power, which during the day is likely to be needed for whatever the
computer's main function is.  There are some ftp sites that are
accessible to the public 24 hours a day, though.  You'll find these noted
in the  list of ftp sites .