3Com WX3000 FTP and Sftp Configuration, Introduction to FTP and Sftp, Description Remarks

1 FTP and SFTP Configuration

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The term switch used throughout this document refers to a switching device in a generic sense or the switching engine of a WX3000 series.

The sample output information in this manual was created on the WX3024. The output information on your device may vary.

FTP banner is newly added. For details, see Configuring the banner for an FTP server.

Introduction to FTP and SFTP

Introduction to FTP

FTP (file transfer protocol) is commonly used in IP-based networks to transmit files. Before World Wide Web comes into being, files are transferred through command lines, and the most popular application is FTP. At present, although E-mail and Web are the usual methods for file transmission, FTP still has its strongholds.

As an application layer protocol, FTP is used for file transfer between remote server and local client. FTP uses TCP ports 20 and 21 for data transfer and control command transfer respectively. Basic FTP operations are described in RFC 959.

FTP-based file transmission is performed in the following two modes:

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Binary mode for program file transfer ASCII mode for text file transfer

The device can act as an FTP client or the FTP server in FTP-employed data transmission:

Table 1-1Roles that the device acts as in FTP

Item	Description	Remarks
	The device can operate as an FTP server to provide file
FTP server	transmission services for FTP clients. You can log in to the
	device operating as an FTP server by running an FTP client
	program on your PC to access files on the FTP server.	The prerequisite
	In this case, you need to establish a connection between your	is that a route
		exists between
	PC and the device through a terminal emulation program or
		the device and
	Telnet, execute the ftp X.X.X.X command on your PC.
		the PC.
FTP client	(X.X.X.X is the IP address of an FTP server or a host name),
	and enter your user name and password in turn. The device
	can operate as an FTP client, through which you can access
	files on the FTP server.

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