How to Use the Linux ftp Command

Introduction

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a network protocol used for transferring files from one computer system to another. Even though the safety of FTP tends to spark a lot of discussion, it is still an effective method of transferring files within a secure network.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to use the ftp command to connect to a remote system, transfer files, and manage files and directories.

Prerequisites

• Access to a local system and a remote FTP server (learn how to install an FTP server on Ubuntu, CentOS 7, or Raspberry Pi).
• A working Internet connection.
• Access to the terminal window.

Linux ftp Command Syntax

The Linux ftp command uses the following basic syntax:

ftp [options] [IP]

The IP is the IP address of the system you are connecting to.

The options available for the ftp command are:

FTP Command Options	Description
-4	Use only IPv4.
-6	Use only IPv6.
-e	Disables command editing and history support.
-p	Uses passive mode for data transfers, allowing you to use FTP despite a firewall that might prevent it.
-i	Turns off interactive prompting during multiple file transfers.
-n	Disables auto-login attempts on initial connection.
-g	Disables file name globbing.
-v	Enables verbose output.
-d	Enables debugging.

The ftp command connects you to a remote system and initiates the FTP interface. The FTP interface uses the following commands to manage and transfer files to the remote system:

Command	Description
!	Temporarily escape to the local shell.
$	Execute a macro.
?	Display help text.
account	Supply a password for the remote system.
append	Append a local file to a file on the remote system.
ascii	Set the file transfer type to network ASCII (default type).
bell	Enable a sound alert after each transfer is complete.
binary	Set the file transfer type to binary image transfer.
bye	Exit the FTP interface.
case	Toggle upper/lower case sensitivity when ID mapping during the mget command.
cd	Change the current working directory on the remote system.
cdup	Change to the parent of the current working directory on the remote system.
chmod	Change file permissions on the remote system.
close	Exit the FTP interface.
cr	Toggle carriage return stripping on ASCII file transfers.
debug	Toggle debugging mode.
delete	Delete a file from the remote system.
dir	List the contents of a directory on the remote system.
disconnect	Terminate the FTP session.
exit	Terminate the FTP session and exit the FTP interface.
form	Set the file transfer format.
get	Transfer a file from the remote system to the local machine.
glob	Toggle meta character expansion of local file names.
hash	Toggle displaying the hash sign ("#") for each transferred data block.
help	Display help text.
idle	Set an inactivity timer for the remote system.
image	Set the file transfer type to binary image transfer.
ipany	Allow any type of IP address.
ipv4	Only allow IPv4 addresses.
ipv6	Only allow IPv6 addresses.
lcd	Change the current working directory on the local machine.
ls	List the contents of a directory on the remote system.
macdef	Define a macro.
mdelete	Delete multiple files on the remote system.
mdir	List the contents of multiple directories on the remote system.
mget	Transfer multiple files from the remote system to the local machine.
mkdir	Create a directory on the remote system.
mls	List the contents of multiple directories on the remote system.
mode	Set the file transfer mode.
modtime	Show the last time a file on the remote system was modified.
mput	Transfer multiple files from the local machine to the remote system.
newer	Transfer a file from the remote system to the local machine only if the modification time of the remote file is more recent than that of the local file (if a local version of the file doesn't exist, the remote file is automatically considered newer).
nlist	List the contents of a directory on the remote system.
nmap	Set templates for default file name mapping.
ntrans	Set translation table for default file name mapping.
open	Establish a connection with an FTP server.
passive	Enable passive transfer mode.
prompt	Force interactive prompts when transferring multiple files.
proxy	Execute command on an alternate (proxy) connection.
put	Transfer a file from the local machine to the remote system.
pwd	Display the current working directory on the remote system.
qc	Toggle displaying a control character ("?") in the output of ASCII type commands.
quit	Terminate the FTP session and exit the FTP interface.
quote	Specify a command as an argument and send it to the FTP server.
recv	Transfer a file from the remote system to the local machine.
reget	Transfer a file from the remote system to the local machine if the local file is smaller than the remote file. The transfer starts at the end of the local file. If there is no local version of the file, the command doesn't execute.
rename	Rename a file on the remote system.
reset	Clear queued command replies.
restart	Restart a file transfer command at a set marker.
rhelp	Display help text for the remote system.
rmdir	Remove a directory on the remote system.
rstatus	Show the status of the remote system.
runique	Toggle storing files on the local machine with unique filenames.
send	Transfer a file from the local machine to the remote system.
sendport	Toggle the use of PORT commands.
site	Specify a command as an argument and send it to the FTP server as a SITE command.
size	Display the size of a file on the remote system.
status	Show the status of the FTP interface.
struct	Set the file transfer structure.
sunique	Toggle storing files on the remote system with unique filenames.
system	Show the operating system on the remote system.
tenex	Set the file transfer type to allow connecting to TENEX machines.
tick	Toggle printing byte counter during transfers.
trace	Toggle packet tracing.
type	Set a file transfer type.
umask	Set a default permissions mask for the local machine.
user	Provide username and password for the remote FTP server.
verbose	Toggle verbose output.

How to Use ftp Command in Linux

The ftp command connects a computer system to a remote server using the FTP protocol. Once connected, it also lets users transfer files between the local machine and the remote system, and manage files and directories on the remote system.

Establish an FTP Connection

To establish an FTP connection to a remote system, use the ftp command with the remote system's IP address:

ftp [IP]

For instance, connecting to a remote server with the IP address 192.168.100.9:

ftp 192.168.100.9

Log into the FTP Server

Once you initiate a connection to a remote system using the ftp command, the FTP interface requires you to enter a username and password to log in:

Entering the required credentials logs you in and starts the FTP interface. In this example, we are logging in as the phoenixnap user:

The FTP interface is now active and ready to execute commands:

Working with Directories on a Remote System

Using FTP, you can perform basic directory management on the remote system, such as creating directories, moving from one working directory to another, and listing directory contents.

List Directories

The FTP interface allows you to list the contents of a directory on a remote system using the ls command:

ls

Using the command without any options displays the content of the remote system's current working directory. In this example, that is the Home directory:

Specifying the path to a directory as an argument to the ls command displays the content of that directory:

ls [path to directory]

For example, listing the content of the Example directory:

ls Example

Appending the name of a text file to the end of the ls command saves the content of a directory to that file:

ls [path to directory] [file name]

For instance:

ls Example listing.txt

This command syntax requires you to type Y and press Enter to confirm saving the text file:

Opening the text file reveals the content of the directory:

The dir and nlist commands are alternatives to the ls command and work the same way. The FTP interface also allows you to list the contents of multiple directories using the mls command:

mls [directory 1] [directory 2] .. [directory n]

For instance, the example below lists the contents of Example and Example2:

mls Example Example2 -

Like the ls command, the mls command allows users to save the contents in a text file. This command treats the last argument as the name of the text file. If you want to list directory contents without saving them to a text file, replace the file name with a dash symbol (-).

The mdir command works the same as the mls command but offers a more detailed output:

mdir Example Example2 -

Change Directories

Use the cd command to change the current working directory on the remote system:

cd [path to directory]

For instance, moving to the Example directory:

cd Example

Use the cdup command to move to the parent of the current working directory. In this example, we are moving from the Example directory to the Home directory:

cdup

Create Directories

Using the mkdir command allows you to create a directory on the remote system:

mkdir [directory name]

In the example below, we create a directory named Example3:

mkdir Example3

Download Files via FTP

To transfer a file from a remote system to the local machine, use the get or recv command.

get [remote file name]

OR

recv [remote file name]

In the example below, we transfer example_file.txt to the local machine.

get example_file.txt

To transfer example_file.txt and save it as example.txt on the local machine, use:

get example_file.txt example.txt

Transferring a file from a specific directory requires you to move into that directory:

cd Example
get test01.txt

The mget command allows you to transfer multiple files at the same time. For example, transferring test01.txt, test02.txt, and test03.txt from the Example directory:

mget test01.txt test02.txt test03.txt

Upload Files via FTP

Use the put or send command to transfer a file from the local machine to a remote system. Both commands use the same basic syntax:

put [local file name]

send [local file name]

To transfer example01.txt to the remote system, use:

put example01.txt

To upload example01.txt to the remote system as sample01.txt, use:

put example01.txt sample01.txt

Moving into a specific directory allows you to transfer files from that directory:

cd Directory
put example.txt

Use the mput command to transfer multiple files to the remote system. For example, transfer test04.txt, test05.txt, and test06.txt with:

mput test04.txt test05.txt test06.txt

Rename Files

Use the rename command to rename files on the remote server. The rename command uses the following syntax:

rename [old file name] [new file name]

For instance, renaming sample01.txt to sample_file01.txt:

rename sample01.txt sample_file01.txt

Executing the command successfully produces the following output:

Use the rename command to change directory names too.

In the example below, the Example3 directory is renamed to Example03:

rename Example3 Example03

Delete Files

The delete command allows you to delete a file on the remote system. It uses the following syntax:

delete [file name]

For instance, deleting sample_file01.txt:

delete sample_file01.txt

Using the mdelete command allows you to delete multiple files at the same time by adding the file names after the command:

mdelete test04.txt test05.txt test06.txt

Another method is to use the mdelete command with a wildcard character. For instance, to delete all .txt files, use:

mdelete *.txt

Close the FTP Connection

Use the bye, exit, or quit command to terminate the FTP connection and exit the interface.

Using the disconnect command closes the connection without exiting the interface.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you should be able to establish an FTP connection between a local system and a remote server, and use it to transfer files and perform basic file and directory management.

If you are interested in transferring files over the Internet, learn more about SFTP commands, a safer alternative to FTP.