Using FTP to put and get files from ftp.dyalog.com

[AndyS|Dyalog]

If you need to download files from ftp.dyalog.com then you will need some form of ftp client.

The ftp client can be either a dedicated ftp program (which will allow you to download or upload files), or when downloading files you may be able to use your web browser.

Web browsers
============

The hurdle that has to be overcome is to be able to enter your ftp username and password. Using Firefox or Safari and browers built on the same technologies, you can achieve this by entering a URL in the following format:

ftp://myusername@ftp.dyalog.com

and you will be presented with a Popup box prompting you for your password. Note the use of ftp:, not http:.

So for example, if my username on ftp.dyalog.com was andys@dyalog.com, then I would access the ftp pages using

ftp://andys@dyalog.com@ftp.dyalog.com


Unfortunately this does not work for all versions of IE.

For versions of IE prior to IE7, please see the following web page on the Microsoft website:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/135975


WIth IE7 you can use ftp://username:password@domain

With IE8 then there is no need to enter your username as part of the URL: you will be presented with a Popup window prompting you for both username and password. Earlier versions apparently do not support ftp with passwords. You will have to use an ftp client instead.


FTP clients
===========

There is only one gotcha to be aware of using ftp clients: you MUST ensure that binary files are transferred using a binary transfer! Otherwise, the ftp client will most likely perform a line ending conversion; all occurrences of ASCII 10 will be converted to ASCII 13 10 - disasterous if that happens to an executable or zip file !

Under UNIX this is most unlikley to be an issue; UNIX ftp clients perform binary transfers by default. However, using the FTP client supplied under Windows, you must remember to run the following command before you start to put or get files:

bin

But run it only once: it is a toggle.

A typical ftp session using Microsoft's ftp client would therefor look something like the following: note the use of the all-important bin command:

Code: Select all

Start -> Run -> cmd (to open a command (aka "DOS" window)

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\andys>ftp ftp.dyalog.com
Connected to linweb.dyalog.com.
220---------- Welcome to Pure-FTPd [privsep] [TLS] ----------
220-You are user number 1 of 50 allowed.
220-Local time is now 08:41. Server port: 21.
220-This is a private system - No anonymous login
220-IPv6 connections are also welcome on this server.
220 You will be disconnected after 15 minutes of inactivity.
User (linweb.dyalog.com:(none)): andys@dyalog.com
331 User andys OK. Password required
Password:
230-User andys@dyalog.com has group access to:
230 OK. Current directory is
ftp> ls
200 PORT command successful
150 Connecting to port 18199
setup_12.1.0.3751_64_classic_2009.11.06.zip
setup_12.1.0.3751_64_unicode_2009.11.06.zip
226 2 matches total
ftp: 90 bytes received in 0.00Seconds 90000.00Kbytes/sec.
ftp> bin
200 TYPE is now 8-bit binary
ftp> get setup_12.1.0.3751_64_classic_2009.11.06.zip
200 PORT command successful
150-Connecting to port 18200
150 100186.8 kbytes to download
226-File successfully transferred
226 133.985 seconds (measured here), 0.73 Mbytes per second
ftp: 102591311 bytes received in 134.11Seconds 764.96Kbytes/sec.
ftp>quit
221-Goodbye. You uploaded 0 and downloaded 100187 kbytes.
221 Logout.

C:\Users\andys>