What is the ftp mlsd command?

What is mlsd ftp command
What is the ftp mlsd command?

(Note: The original document has been changed)

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Older servers supports LIST command only for directory listing, this way the FTP client gets a non-userfriendly raw format for parsing, and only FTP clients knows what it meaning. since the file timestamp Based on the server timezone, it makes more different to doing FTP synchronize with folders and files because of there is no way to get current file timestamp in the server.
The old service only supports the LIST command for the directory list, so that the FTP client will obtain a non-user-friendly original format to be parsed, only the FTP client knows its meaning. Because the file timestamp is based on the server's time zone, it makes many differences in the FTP for directory and file synchronization, because there is no way to get the timestamp of the current file on the server.

For example there is a normally List format of raw directory:
-RW-r -- 1 user 7080 Mar 9 faq.html
For example, this is a common LIST Command Format for the original directory.
-RW-r -- 1 user 7080 Mar 9 faq.html

Is it readable for you?
Is it readable?

The MLSD Command provided by newer servers to gives users a standarded, detailed, readable directory listing, by sending MLSD command through FTP clients, the server returns accurate file information such as file create time, modified Time, size and file owner. since MLSD directory listing implements des File Modified Time in UTC, so it's very useful for FTP client to converts Remote File's timestamp to your local time when synchronize folders. also the mlst command cocould be used to get timestamp of single remote file only.
The MLSD Command provided by the new server sends the MLSD command through the FTP client. The server collects file information, such as the file creation time, modification time, file size, and file ownership, and returns a standard to the user, A list of detailed and readable directories. Because the MLSD directory list contains the file modification time in UTC format, this is very useful for FTP clients. When you need to synchronize directories, it can convert the time stamp of remote files to your local time. The mlst command is also used to obtain the timestamp of a single remote file.

 

[More references]

Extensions to FTP (FTP extension): RFC 3659