How to Download and Upload Files using FTP Commands

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is widely recognized as a premier method for efficiently transferring files between different systems. Utilized extensively across various platforms, FTP allows for the rapid upload and download of files. It is supported by multiple applications, such as vsFTPd and proFTPd on Linux, and FileZilla Server on Windows.

You can connect to an FTP server using several methods, with plenty of free tools available online for this purpose. However, system administrators often prefer the command line for its efficiency and control. This guide will walk you through the process of connecting to an FTP server using command line interfaces on Windows and Linux, as well as how to upload and download files.

1. Connecting to an FTP Server

To connect to an FTP server from a Windows system, open the command prompt. For Linux, use the terminal window. You’ll need the FTP server’s IP address or hostname along with login credentials.

ftp ftp.tecadmin.net

2. Uploading Files to an FTP Server

Use the put command to upload a file. Navigate to the appropriate directory on the FTP server, then execute the command to upload a file from your local system.

cd uploads
put c:\files\file1.txt

3. Downloading Files from an FTP Server

To download files, use the get command. Ensure you’re logged into the FTP server and in the correct directory.

get file1.txt

4. Uploading Multiple Files

To upload multiple files to FTP server use mput command. You can also specify wildcard characters to upload multiple files to the server at a time. First, navigate to the desired directory on the FTP server where to upload a file and use the following command. It will upload local system files with .txt extension in c:files directory to uploads directory on FTP server.

cd uploads
lcd c:\\files
 put *.txt

5. Downloading Multiple Files

To download multiple files from FTP server, we use mget command. Using that command we can download more than one file at a time. To download multiple files specify wildcard character for specifying directory name do download all files from the directory.

mget *.txt

Security Considerations

FTP is not a secure protocol. For secure file transfers, the use of SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is recommended. Learn more about securely downloading and uploading files with SFTP through the following resource:

How to Download and Upload Files with SFTP Securely

Conclusion

FTP remains a fundamental tool for file management across networked systems, offering a straightforward command-line interface for transferring files. While it provides a quick way to exchange files, security is a concern; thus, switching to more secure alternatives like SFTP is advisable for protecting data integrity and confidentiality during transfers. By mastering FTP commands, system administrators can effectively manage file transfers between servers and local systems, optimizing their workflow and enhancing productivity.