KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q240727: How to Use the FTP Utility in a Typical Session

Article: Q240727
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 22-OCT-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======


This article explains how to use the FTP utility, which is included with Windows
NT 4.0, in a typical FTP session. This article covers the following topics:

- Opening an FTP site

- Browsing the list of files and folders

- Changing folders

- Copying a file from the FTP site to your local computer

- Copying a file from your local computer to the FTP site

- Ending an FTP session

MORE INFORMATION
================

NOTES:

- The FTP utility is run from the command prompt.
- After each description of how to perform a step in the typical FTP session is
  sample screen output from that part of the session.
- All FTP commands are case sensitive.

Opening an FTP Site
-------------------

To open an FTP site, perform the following:

1. At the command prompt, type the following:

  ftp ServerName

  Note that the prompt changes to ftp>.

2. Type "anonymous" (without the quotation marks) when prompted for the user.

3. Type any password.

Note: The "anonymous" user name is typically used to log on to FTP sites,
particularly those that are not set up for users to copy files to. Usually, any
text can be supplied for the password, including no text (just press the ENTER
key when prompted for the password).

  C:\>ftp <ServerName>
  Connected to <ServerName>.
  220 <ServerName> Microsoft FTP Service (Version 4.0).
  User (<ServerName>:(none)): anonymous
  331 Anonymous access allowed, send identity (e-mail name) as password.
  Password:
  230 Anonymous user logged in.
  ftp>

Browsing the List of Files and Folders
--------------------------------------

To view the list of files and folders, type "dir" (without the quotation marks)
at the ftp prompt.

  ftp> dir
  200 PORT command successful.
  150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for /bin/ls.
  08-29-99  08:11PM                   35 File1.txt
  08-29-99  08:11PM       <DIR>          Folder1
  226 Transfer complete.
  98 bytes received in 0.00 seconds (98000.00 Kbytes/sec)
  ftp>

Changing Folders
----------------

To change to a different folder (also known as the working directory), use the
"cd" (without the quotation marks) command.

Note: To change to the root folder, type either "cd /" (without the quotation
marks) or "cd \" (without the quotation marks). To change to the parent folder,
use two periods ("cd .." (without the quotation marks)).

  ftp> cd folder1
  250 CWD command successful.
  ftp>

Copying a File From the FTP Site to Your Local Computer
-------------------------------------------------------

To copy a file from the FTP site to your local computer, use the "get" (without
the quotation marks) command.

  ftp> get file1.txt
  200 PORT command successful.
  150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for file1.txt(35 bytes).
  226 Transfer complete.
  35 bytes received in 0.16 seconds (0.22 Kbytes/sec)
  ftp>

Copying a File from your Local Computer to the FTP Site
-------------------------------------------------------

To copy a file from your local computer to the FTP site, use the "put" (without
the quotation marks) command.

Note: Most sites only allow users to do this if they have logged on using a
specific, preassigned user name, NOT the "anonymous" user.

  ftp> put myfile.txt
  200 PORT command successful.
  150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for MyFile.txt.
  226 Transfer complete.
  36 bytes sent in 0.00 seconds (36000.00 Kbytes/sec)
  ftp>

Ending an FTP session
---------------------

To end the FTP session, use the "bye" (without the quotation marks) command.

  ftp> bye
  221

  C:\>

Additional References
---------------------

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q229005 How to Connect to a Web or FTP Site Using Non-Default Port

For a full list of the commands and parameters that can be used with the FTP
utility, perform the following:

1. From the Start menu, click Help.

2. Click the Index tab, and then type "ftp utility" (without the quotation
  marks).

3. In the list box, double-click the ftp utility entry.

4. For a list of all FTP commands, double-click the (untitled #0) entry. For a
  list of parameters available when starting the ftp utility, double-click the
  (untitled #0) entry.

(c) Microsoft Corporation 2000, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Kevin
Zollman, Microsoft Corporation.


Additional query words: kbhowto howto overview iis file transfer protocol remote host machine pc akz

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbiisSearch kbiis400
Version           : winnt:4.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.