Original FTP command list

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This page originally appeared
Http://www.dreamhaven.org/ftp-raw.html, but the last time I looked it wasn' t there any more, so I posted a local copy for you here. if you were really looking for a list of commands for the Microsoft Windows command-line FTP client, please
Look here instead.

List of raw FTP commands

(Warning: this is a technical document, not necessary for most ftpuse .)

Note that commands marked with a * are not implemented in a Number offtp servers.

Common commands

• Abor-AborT a File Transfer
• CWD-CHange
  WOrkingDIrectory
• Dele-DeleTe A Remote File
• List-ListRemote files
• MDTM-return
  MODIficationTIME of a file
• MKD-MAKE a remote
  DIrectory
• NLST-NAME
  LIStOf remote directory
• Pass-send
  PassWord
• PASV-enter
  PASSiVE mode
• Port-open a data
  Port
• PWD-PRINT
  WOrkingDIrectory
• Quit-terminate the connection
• Retr-RETRIeve a Remote File
• RMD-REMOve a remote
  DIrectory
• RNFR-RENAME
  FROm
• RNTO-RENAME
  To
• Site-Site-Specific commands
• Size-return
  SizeOf a file
• Stor-StorE a file on the remote host
• Type-set transfer
  Type
• User-send
  UserName

Less common commands

• Acct *-send
  ACCOunTInformation
• Appe-AppeNd to a remote file
• Cdup-CWD to the parent of the current directory
• Help-return
  HelpOn using the server
• Mode-set transfer
  Mode
• Noop-do nothing
• Rein *-ReinItialize the connection
• Stat-return server
  StatUs
• STOU-StoRe a file
  UNiquely
• Stru-set File Transfer
  StruCture
• Syst-return
  SystEm type

Abor

Syntax: Abor

Aborts a file transfer currently in progress.

Acct *

Syntax: AcctAccount-Info

This command is used to send account information on systems that requireit. Typically sent after
PASS command.

Allo

Syntax: AlloSize[RMax-record-size]

Allocates sufficient storage space to receive a file. if the maximumsize of a record also needs to be known, that is sent as a secondnumeric parameter following a space, the capital letter "R", and anotherspace.

Appe

Syntax: AppeRemote-filename

Append data to the end of a file on the remote host. If the file doesnot already exist, it is created. This command must be preceded by aport or
PASV command so that theserver knows where to receive data from.

Cdup

Syntax: Cdup

Makes the parent of the current directory be the current directory.

CWD

Syntax: CWDRemote-directory

Makes the given directory be the current directory on the remote host.

Dele

Syntax: DeleRemote-filename

Deletes the given file on the remote host.

Help

Syntax: Help [Command]

IfCommandIs given, returns help on that command; otherwise, returns general help for the FTP server (usually a list of supportedcommands ).

List

Syntax: List [Remote-filespec]

IfRemote-filespecRefers to a file, sends information about thatfile. If
Remote-filespecRefers to a directory, sends informationabout each file in that directory.
Remote-filespecDefaults to thecurrent directory. This command must be preceded by aport or
PASV command.

MDTM

Syntax: MDTMRemote-filename

Returns the last-modified time of the given file on the remote host inthe format"Yyyymmddhhmmss":
YyyyIs thefour-digit year,MmIs the month from 01 to 12,DdIs the day of the month from 01 to 31,
HHIsthe hour from 00 to 23,MmIs the minute from 00 to 59, andSSIs the second from 00 to 59.

MKD

Syntax: MKDRemote-directory

Creates the named directory on the remote host.

Mode

Syntax: ModeMode-Character

Sets the transfer mode to one:

• S-stream
• B-block
• C-compressed

The default mode is stream.

NLST

Syntax: NLST [Remote-directory]

Returns a list of filenames in the given directory (defaulting to thecurrent directory), with no other information. must be preceded by aport or
PASV command.

Noop

Syntax: Noop

Does nothing response t return a response.

Pass

Syntax: PassPassword

After sending the USER command, send this command ToComplete the login process. (note, however, that
Acctcommand may have to be used on some systems .)

PASV

Syntax: PASV

Tells the server to enter "passive mode ". in passive mode, the server willwait for the client to establish a connection with it rather thanattempting to connect to a client-specified port. the server will respondwith the address of the port it is listening
On, with a message like:
227 entering passive mode (A1,A2,A3,A4,P1,P2)
WhereA1.A2.A3.A4Is the IP address andP1* 256 +P2Is the port number.

Port

Syntax: PortA1,A2,A3,A4,P1,P2

Specifies the host and port to which the server shoshould connect for the nextfile transfer. This is interpreted as IP AddressA1.A2.A3.A4, Port
P1* 256 +P2.

PWD

Syntax: PWD

Returns the name of the current directory on the remote host.

Quit

Syntax: Quit

Terminates the command connection.

Rein *

Syntax: Rein

Reinitializes the command connection-cancels the currentuser/password/account information. shocould be followed by auser command for another login.

Rest

Syntax: RestPosition

Sets the point at which a file transfer shoshould start; useful for resuminginterrupted transfers. For nonstructured files, this is simply a decimalnumber. This command must immediately precede a data transfer command (RETR
Or stor only); I. e. It mustcome after any
Port or
PASV command.

RETR

Syntax: RETRRemote-filename

Begins transmission of a file from the remote host. Must be preceded byeither
PORT command or
Pasvcommand to indicate where the server shocould send data.

RMD

Syntax: RMDRemote-directory

Deletes the named directory on the remote host.

RNFR

Syntax: RNFRFrom-filename

Used when renaming a file. Use this command to specify the file to berenamed; follow it with
RNTO command to specify thenew name for the file.

RNTO

Syntax: RNTOTo-filename

Used when renaming a file. after sending
Rnfrcommand to specify the file to rename, send this command to specify thenew name for the file.

Site *

Syntax: SiteSite-specific-command

Executes a site-specific command.

Size

Syntax: SizeRemote-filename

Returns the size of the remote file as a decimal number.

Stat

Syntax: Stat [Remote-filespec]

If invoked without parameters, returns general status information aboutthe FTP server process. If a parameter is given, acts like theList command, wait t that data is sent over thecontrol connection
(No port or
Pasvcommand is required ).

Stor

Syntax: StorRemote-filename

Begins transmission of a file to the remote site. Must be preceded byeither
PORT command or a pasvcommand so the server knows where to accept data from.

STOU

Syntax: STOU

Begins transmission of a file to the remote site; the remote filenamewill be unique in the current directory. The response from the serverwill include the filename.

Stru

Syntax: StruStructure-Character

Sets the file structure for transfer to one:

• F-file (No structure)
• R-record Structure
• P-Page Structure

The default structure is file.

Syst

Syntax: Syst

Returns a word identifying the system, the word "type:", and the defaulttransfer type (as wocould be set by
Type COMMAND). For example:
UNIX type: l8

Type

Syntax: TypeType-Character[Second-type-Character]

Sets the type of file to be transferred.Type-CharacterCan be anyof:

• A-ASCII text
• E-ebcdic text
• I-image (binary data)
• L-local format

For A and E,Second-type-CharacterSpecifies how the textshocould be interpreted. It can be:

• N-non-print (not destined for printing). This is the default ifSecond-type-CharacterIs omitted.
• T-Telnet format Control (<CR>,<FF>, Etc .)
• C-ASA carriage Control

For l,Second-type-CharacterSpecifies the number of BITs perbyte on the local system, and may not be omitted.

User

Syntax: UserUsername

Send this command to begin the login process.UsernameShoshould be avalid username on the system, or "anonymous" to initiate an anonymouslogin.