boneill@hawk.ulowell.edu (Brian O'Neill) (05/26/89)
Checksum: 3450706750 (Verify with "brik -cv")
Posting-number: Volume 03, Issue INF2
Submitted-by: boneill@hawk.ulowell.edu (Brian O'Neill)
Archive-name: v03info/ftp.man
[Date of Last Change: 3/26/89 Release 1.2]
[This file is available via FTP from swan.ulowell.edu (129.62.224.1), file
ibmpc/General/ftp.man -B]
GETTING BINARIES VIA FTP
Entire contents Copyright (c) 1989 by Brian O'Neill. This manual was
created to aid people in the usage of binary postings on UseNet.
Permission to copy this file is granted, so long as credit is given to
those who helped. A list of those people appear at the end of this
posting.
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It allows a person to transfer
files between two systems, generally connect over Ethernet networks or
long-haul networks, such as the Internet.
If your hosts system has FTP and is connected to the Internet, you
can access very large amounts of archives available on a number of
systems, such as Simtel20 or uunet.uu.net. This is a simplified use
manual, and will use two examples, one a TOPS-20 system
(wsmr-simtel20.army.mil), and one Unix system (swan.ulowell.edu, my
local system).
The simplest way to initiate FTP would be to give the command 'ftp
<system-name>', where <system-name> is the remote system you are
connecting to, either a name (wsmr-simtel20.army.mil, if you have an
entry in /etc/hosts or are accessing a Domain-name Server) or the InterNet
address (26.2.0.74, for Simtel20). After a short wait, you will be prompted
for your username. If you do not have an account on the remote system, some
systems allow you to use 'anonymous'. This gives you a restricted
access path.
You would then be prompted for a password. Some systems will tell
you to send your real identity as the password. What you type doesn't
matter, but it is suggested to give your mail address. Other systems
need a password of 'guest', or something similar.
After that, you should receive the FTP prompt (usually ftp>), and
now have access. You can get a directory of files be giving a 'dir'
command, or if the remote system is Unix-based, 'ls -l' will give the
familiar output. On Simtel20, there is a file available in the
default anonymous ftp directory that explains what Simtel20 is, and
where files are located. The name is 'SIMTEL-ARCHIVES.INFO.nn, where
".nn" is a file generation number. You don't need to specify the file
generation number when requesting the file. In fact, it's better not
to because you will always get the latest generation that way.
Unix systems will all have the familiar directory structure, and
moving around is done with the familiar 'cd' or 'cwd' command.
TOPS-20 systems have a different structure, but movement is still
accomplished with the 'cd' command.
I will use Simtel20 as the first example. To start, give the
command 'ftp wsmr-simtel20.army.mil' from your shell prompt, or 'open
wsmr-simtel20.army,mil' from the 'ftp>' prompt. If this host is not
in your /etc/hosts file or you do not have access to a Domain-name Server,
use '26.2.0.74' in it's place. After a few seconds, you'll be prompted
for your username. Type 'anonymous', and when prompted for password,
give your e-mail address (more as a courtesy than anything else), or if
you prefer, 'guest'. You should then shortly get back the 'ftp>' prompt.
If you receive an error message stating that there are too many anonymous
logins, wait a few minutes and try again. Simtel20 has limited access,
especially during normal business hours.
Now, say you want to see what is stored for MS-DOS programs.
Simtel20 is a DEC System-20 running the TOPS-20 operating system. The
directory structure is 'DISK:<DIRECTORY.SUBDIRECTORY>'. For MS-DOS
programs, the main directory is 'PD1:<MSDOS>'. In here there is a
file called 'MSDOS.CRCLST', which is updated almost daily. It
contains a list of all files within the MS-DOS subdirectories, along
with file size and CRC value.
To get this list, first switch to that directory by saying 'cd
pd1:<msdos>' (TOPS-20 is not case sensitive). If you are prompted for
another password just ignore the request. When you get the 'ftp>'
prompt back, you can then say 'get msdos.crclst'. This will initiate
the transfer, and after a few minutes it will be completed. The
beauty of Unix is that while you are transfering something big, you
can put it in the background and do something else.
Say you wanted to get ProComm Plus. According to the list, it is
in PD1:<MSDOS.PROCOMM>. So, you can enter 'cd pd1:<msdos.procomm>'.
A 'dir' will show all the files in that directory. (You may wish not
to use too many 'dir' commands, as they are sometimes fairly slow).
Now, you want the file 'pcplustd.arc'. First, you must tell your
host what kind of file it is. On most Unix systems, 'binary' or 'set
type binary' or 'set type I' will work. However, as Simtel20 runs a
different OS that has different word sizes (36 bits) you must specify
'tenex' or 'type L 8' to transfer properly. You can then issue a 'get
pcplustd.arc' command, and after a short while, you have ProComm Plus.
To end your session, enter the 'bye' command.
Unix is a little more familiar for most people with Internet access.
For example, you might wish to get the latest version DSZ from
swan.ulowell.edu. First, you give the 'ftp swan.ulowell.edu' command (or
ftp 129.63.224.1), giving 'anonymous' for the username, and your address
as the password. You can then use the 'dir' or 'ls -l' commands to scan
the directories. After logging in, you'll notice a directory called
'ibmpc'. You can use 'cd ibmpc', and you're inside.
The ibmpc directory is subdivided into different subdirectories,
such as Comm, SysUtil, and Programming. DSZ is a communications
program, so you can then 'cd Comm'. Once again, there are several
subdirectories, giving the names of several communications programs,
and one marked 'Protocols'. Inside that directory is where DSZ is
located. There you'll find the latest version of DSZ (dsz0319.arc at
this time). Since it is a binary file, you must give the command
'binary' or 'set file type binary' to let FTP know. Then you can
issue the 'get' command.
Different systems have different organizations for their files,
and the above example is just the way I have it set up. By 'poking'
around other systems, you can learn how their files are set up, and
zip around much faster. Note, however, that FTP will not allow you
outside the FTP 'root' directory, usually ~ftp on most systems. So,
poking about the entire system is not permitted.
Other features of FTP can be found in the manual - please check there.
Messages regarding problems, complaints or suggestions for
Simtel20 should be addressed to 'action@wsmr-simtel20.army.mil'.
THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO HELPED...
I'd like to thank all those who helped in the creation of the manuals,
and were patient enough for it to be released:
Craig Browning
William Davidsen
Mike Driscoll
Bill Fenner
John Foulkes
Steven Harding
Mac Michaels
Derek Nazareth
Russ Nelson
Kevin Reilly
Keith Petersen