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Copying Files Using FTP

Use the Cisco TCP/IP Suite for Windows FTP Client to transfer files between your workstation and an FTP server.

This section includes these topics:

Understanding the FTP Client

The FTP Client uses Internet standard FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to transfer files between your local system and a remote host configured as an FTP server. FTP was created so that users could transfer files over a variety of system types without being concerned about the different methods systems use to store data.

On text-based systems, FTP works by issuing commands to the remote host and receiving reply codes in return. Each action, such as connecting to a host or copying files, is accomplished by a specific command. The FTP server responds with reply codes that tell you if your command was successful.

When you start an FTP session, you do not actually log into the remote host. Instead, you connect to an FTP server process that is running on the remote host. FTP authenticates you on the remote host by checking the user name and password you enter against those in the accounts database on the remote host. After the FTP server authenticates you, you can issue FTP commands to perform operations on the files and directories that you have permission to access.

Some FTP servers allow anonymous FTP connections, where you can access files of general interest even though you do not have an account on that system. To allow anonymous FTP, the system manager creates an anonymous account that anyone can access. When connecting to an anonymous FTP site, you enter the user name anonymous and the word guest or your email address (such as HOLMES@PINE.YOYODYNE.COM) for your password. Most anonymous FTP servers restrict you to read- only access in a certain directory or directory tree.

Although the Cisco TCP/IP Suite for Windows FTP Client has a graphical interface, allowing you to copy files by using drag- and-drop, change directories by clicking the mouse, and log into a host by clicking a button, the FTP commands are still issued in the background. You can view them with the FTP Client message log.

Starting the FTP Client

To start the FTP Client on Windows 95, choose it from the Cisco Suite 100 group on the Start menu. On Windows 3.x, double- click the FTP Client icon in the Cisco Suite 100 group. The Connect dialog box appears.

You can connect to an FTP server by:

Stopping the FTP Client

To stop an FTP session and exit FTP Client:

  1. Click the Disconnect button or choose Disconnect from the Host menu to end the FTP session.
  2. Click the Exit button or choose Exit from the File menu to close the FTP Client application.

Connecting to an FTP Server and Creating a Server Profile

To connect to an FTP server, you either must have an account (user name and password) on the server, or the server must allow anonymous logins.

When you initially start the FTP Client, you are presented with the Connect dialog box. For subsequent FTP connections, click the Connect button to connect to an FTP server.

To connect to an FTP server:

  1. Choose FTP Client from the Cisco Suite 100 group in the Start menu, or double-click the FTP Client icon in the Cisco Suite 100 group.

    The Connect dialog box appears.

    If the system to which you want to connect has a profile listed in the Profiles box, double-click the profile. The FTP Client connects you to that system. Otherwise, continue with the following steps.

  2. Enter the host name or IP address of the FTP server in the Host field.
  3. Enter your user name for logging into the FTP server in the User Name field. If you are connecting to an anonymous FTP server, check the Anonymous Login box and let the user name default to anonymous.
  4. Enter your password for logging into the FTP server in the Password field. If you are connecting to an FTP server on a VMS host that is running Secure/IP, do not enter your password. You are prompted for the response required to connect to the secure system.
  5. If you plan to connect to this FTP server again, enter a profile name for the server. Subsequently, you can connect to the server by double-clicking the profile name in the Profiles list.

    A profile lets you set a number of options for sessions with hosts you frequently access. When you create a profile, the FTP Client saves the information and adds the name to the Profile list and to the Quick Connect list, letting you quickly connect to the desired FTP server with your preferred settings.

    If Save on Connect is checked in the Advanced options (click the Advanced button to see these options), a profile is created whenever you attach to a server, even if you do not enter a profile name (the name of the server is used as the profile name).

  6. If your network uses firewalls, click the Advanced button and fill in the information required to get through the firewall.

    Check Passive Mode for IP packet-filtering firewalls.

    See "Identifying an FTP Proxy Server" on page 58 for information for application-level firewalls.

    Contact your network administrator if you are not sure whether you need to connect through a firewall.

  7. Click Connect to connect to the FTP server.

When an FTP session is established, the FTP Client window appears and displays the contents of the local and remote directories.

To close the FTP connection, choose Disconnect from the Host menu. To close the FTP Client window, click the Exit button, or choose Exit from the File menu.

Tips for Creating FTP Profiles

FTP Client automatically creates profiles for any FTP servers you connect to if Save on Connect is checked in the Advanced options. Click the Advanced button on the Connect dialog box to see these options.

You can also save your password in the profiles. However, if you save your password, anyone who has access to your machine can connect to the FTP servers using these profiles. If you have FTP server accounts that you want to keep secure, do not save your passwords.

The Save on Connect and Save Password settings are global settings: they can either be off for all profiles, or on for all profiles. You cannot, for example, save your password in one profile but not in another.

Here are some things you can set for each profile:

Identifying an FTP Proxy Server

Many organizations use a firewall (usually on a router or computer) to protect their internal network from external access. A proxy server is a program, typically running on an application-level firewall machine, that can be configured to block external access, while permitting users behind a firewall to access Internet resources. If you are not familiar with firewalls or proxy servers, or do not know if your organization uses a firewall or proxy server, see your network administrator for more information.

If your firewall is an IP packet-filtering router, check the Passive Mode check box to enable FTP communications through the firewall.

If your firewall is an application-level firewall, you need an account on the firewall machine, which is called a proxy server. Once you have an account, you must identify the FTP proxy server in each FTP profile that must use the proxy.

To set up an FTP profile to use a proxy server:

  1. Click the Connect button.
  2. Select the profile to which you want to add a proxy server, or fill in the information for a new profile.
  3. Click the Advanced button. The Advanced dialog appears.
  4. In the Proxy Type drop-down list, select the type of firewall you are using:
  5. In the Firewall Host field, enter the host name or IP address of the proxy server.
  6. In the Firewall Port field, enter the port number you want to use for communicating with the proxy, if you do not want to use the default port 21.
  7. If you are using the User after Login proxy type, enter the user name and password that the proxy requires in the Firewall User Name and Firewall Password fields.
  8. Click the OK button to save the profile.

Finding the Files You Want

Navigating the remote file system is like navigating your workstation's file system. This section includes:

Changing Directories

To change from one directory to another on your workstation or the remote host using FTP Client do one of the following:

If you click the Change Dir button or choose the Change Directory... option in the File menu, the Change Directory dialog box appears. Enter the name of the desired directory and click OK. The contents of the specified directory appear in the appropriate window.

Viewing File Contents

To view a file, select the file you want to view and do any of the following:

The contents of the file appear, using the application that you have configured FTP Client to use when viewing files. Choose Program from the Options menu to specify the application to use for viewing files.

Creating Directories

To create a directory on your workstation or on the remote host using FTP Client:

  1. In FTP Client, choose the directory in which you want to create a new directory.
  2. Click the Create Dir button on the control bar, or choose Create Directory... from the File menu. The Create Directory dialog box appears.
  3. Enter the name of the new directory.
  4. Click OK.

    FTP Client updates the affected directories automatically.

Copying Files to Your Workstation

To copy a single file or multiple files from one location to another:

  1. Choose the type of transfer mode you require:
  2. Select the files you want to copy. Use CRTL+click to select more than one file.
  3. Press and hold the mouse button.
  4. Drag the cursor to the other file window, or to the folder representing the directory in which you want to put the file.
  5. Release the mouse button.

As an alternative, you can click the Copy button once you have selected the files.

Renaming Files

To rename a file:

  1. Select the file you want to rename.
  2. Choose the Rename... option from the File menu. The Rename dialog box appears.
  3. Enter the new name you want to give the file.
  4. Click OK.

Deleting Files and Directories

To delete a file or directory on your workstation or a remote host using FTP Client:

  1. Select the file or directory you want to delete. If you want to delete a directory, the directory must be empty.
  2. Press the Delete key, click the Delete button in the control bar, or choose the Delete option from the File menu. The Delete dialog box appears.
  3. Click OK.



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