List of raw FTP commands

Document directory

• Common commands
• Less common commands
• Abor
• Acct *
• Allo
• Appe
• Cdup
• CWD
• Dele
• Help
• List
• MDTM
• MKD
• Mode
• NLST
• Noop
• Pass
• PASV
• Port
• PWD
• Quit
• Rein *
• Rest
• RETR
• RMD
• RNFR
• RNTO
• Site *
• Size
• Stat
• Stor
• STOU
• Stru
• Syst
• Type
• User

Note that commands marked with a * are not implemented in a number of FTP servers.

 

Common commands

• Abor-AborT a File Transfer
• CWD-CHangeWOrkingDIrectory
• Dele-DeleTe A Remote File
• List-ListRemote files
• MDTM-returnMODIficationTIME of a file
• MKD-MAKE a remoteDIrectory
• NLST-NAMELIStOf remote directory
• Pass-sendPassWord
• PASV-enterPASSiVE mode
• Port-open a dataPort
• PWD-PRINTWOrkingDIrectory
• Quit-terminate the connection
• Retr-RETRIeve a Remote File
• RMD-REMOve a remoteDIrectory
• RNFR-RENAMEFROm
• RNTO-RENAMETo
• Site-Site-Specific commands
• Size-returnSizeOf a file
• Stor-StorE a file on the remote host
• Type-set transferType
• User-sendUserName

Less common commands

• Acct *-sendACCOunTInformation
• Appe-AppeNd to a remote file
• Cdup-CWD to the parent of the current directory
• Help-returnHelpOn using the server
• Mode-set transferMode
• Noop-do nothing
• Rein *-ReinItialize the connection
• Stat-return serverStatUs
• STOU-StoRe a fileUNiquely
• Stru-set File TransferStruCture
• Syst-returnSystEm 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 require it. Typically sent after a PASS command.

Allo

Syntax:

AlloSize[RMax-record-size]

Allocates sufficient storage space to receive a file. if the maximum size of a record also needs to be known, that is sent as a second numeric parameter following a space, the capital letter "R", and another space.

Appe

Syntax:

AppeRemote-filename

Append data to the end of a file on the remote host. if the file does not already exist, it is created. this command must be preceded by a port or PASV command so that the server 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 supported commands ).

List

Syntax:

List [Remote-filespec]

IfRemote-filespecRefers to a file, sends information about that file. IfRemote-filespecRefers to a directory, sends information about each file in that directory.Remote-filespecUlts to the current directory. This command must be preceded by a port or PASV command.

MDTM

Syntax:

MDTMRemote-filename

Returns the last-modified time of the given file on the remote host in the format"Yyyymmddhhmmss":YyyyIs the four-digit year,MmIs the month from 01 to 12,DdIs the day of the month from 01 to 31,HHIs the 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 the current directory), with no other information. must be preceded by a port or PASV command.

Noop

Syntax:

Noop

Does nothing response t return a response.

Pass

Syntax:

PassPassword

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

PASV

Syntax:

PASV

Tells the server to enter "passive mode ". in passive mode, the server will wait for the client to establish a connection with it rather than attempting to connect to a client-specified port. the server will respond with 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 shocould connect for the next file transfer. This is interpreted as IP AddressA1.A2.A3.A4, PortP1* 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 current user/password/account information. shocould be followed by a user command for another login.

Rest

Syntax:

RestPosition

Sets the point at which a file transfer shoshould start; useful for resuming interrupted transfers. for nonstructured files, this is simply a decimal number. this command must immediately precede a data transfer command (RETR or stor only); I. e. it must come after any port or PASV command.

RETR

Syntax:

RETRRemote-filename

Begins transmission of a file from the remote host. must be preceded by either a PORT command or a PASV command 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 be renamed; follow it with an RNTO command to specify the new name for the file.

RNTO

Syntax:

RNTOTo-filename

Used when renaming a file. after sending an RNFR command to specify the file to rename, send this command to specify the new 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 about the FTP server process. if a parameter is given, acts like the LIST Command, parameter t that data is sent over the control connection (no port or PASV command is required ).

Stor

Syntax:

StorRemote-filename

Begins transmission of a file to the remote site. must be preceded by either a PORT command or a PASV command so the server knows where to accept data from.

STOU

Syntax:

STOU

Begins transmission of a file to the remote site; the remote filename will be unique in the current directory. The response from the server will 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 default transfer type (as wocould be set by the 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 any:

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

For A and E,Second-type-CharacterSpecifies how the text shocould 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 per byte on the local system, and may not be omitted.

User

Syntax:

UserUsername

Send this command to begin the login process.UsernameShocould be a valid username on the system, or "anonymous" to initiate an anonymous login.