Week1 1: DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS

(FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL)

What is FTP?
The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol used to
transfer

computer files from one host to another host over a TCP-based

network, such as the Internet. FTP is built on a client-server architecture and

uses separate control and data connections between the client and the server.
What are the default port numbers of FTP?
The default port numbers of FTP are 20 and 21.
What is anonymous FTP?
Anonymous FTP is a method for giving users access to files so that they
don't need to identify themselves to the server.
What are the differences between FTP and TFTP?
FTP is a complete, session-oriented, general purpose file transfer
protocol. TFTP is used as a bare-bones special purpose file transfer
protocol.
FTP can be used interactively. TFTP allows only unidirectional transfer of
files.
FTP depends on TCP, is connection oriented, and provides reliable
control. TFTP depends on UDP, requires less overhead, and provides
virtually no control.
FTP provides user authentication. TFTP does not.

 FTP uses well-known TCP port numbers: 20 for data and 21 for
connection dialog. TFTP uses UDP port number 69 for its file transfer
activity.
The Windows NT FTP server service does not support TFTP because
TFTP does not support authentication.
What is the default port number for TFTP?
The default port number of TFTP is 69.
What are the differences in HTTP and FTP?
HTTP is used to view websites while FTP is used to access and transfer
files.
The common HTTP client is the browser while FTP can be accessed via
the command line or a graphical client of its own.
Most people use HTTP while only a few use FTP, mostly people who
maintain websites.
Downloading files can either be via HTTP or FTP.