FTP stand for File Transfer Protocol. It is a method of retrieving and sending files across the internet. It can only send and receive files -- you can not open or edit the files remotely.

FTP sends your files and password(s) across the internet in plain text -- so anyone watching can steal your private information. To avoid this problem, use sFTP (like ftp over an ssh tunnel) or sslFTP (true ftp over an ssl tunnel). We are working to phase out plaintext FTP, and we no longer support sslFTP. 

Unix Accounts
Unix users can connect to any Unix system using plaintext FTP or sFTP. UNIX systems also allow the use of scp, an older protocol.

Users with UNIX accounts may make files available via anonymous FTP by placing the files in ~/public_ftp and making the directory world-readable. To access anonymous FTP, you must use plaintext FTP and connect to ftp.cecs.pdx.edu, When logging in anonymously, use username anonymous and your email address as the password. Files in ~/public_ftp will be accessible via anonymous FTP in the /pub/users/username directory (replace username with your username).

If you wish to log in using public key authentication, place your public key in ~/.ssh/authorized_keys2 (~ is your home directory).

Linux Accounts
Linux does not support plaintext FTP. You can access your files with scp or sFTP intstead. Connect to any linux lab machine.

If you wish to log in using public key authentication, place your public key in ~/.ssh/authorized_keys2 (~ is your home directory).

Windows Accounts
Windows users can access files on their N: drive via sFTP. Connect to winhome.cecs.pdx.edu and enter your Windows username and password when prompted. When you successfully log in to winhome.cecs.pdx.edu, you will be placed in your home directory (N:). You cannot access other home directories through sFTP. Windows does not support anonymous FTP.

Note: Windows no longer supports sslFTP or plaintext FTP.

For information about public key authentication, please contact the CAT.

The host key fingerprint of winhome.cecs.pdx.edu is: 4c:32:07:5a:35:02:37:02:75:89:2f:18:c7:d4:73:ac.

FTP Clients
On Unix, you can use the ftp command for plaintext FTP. Use sftp for secure file transfer. Both commands are in /usr/bin.

On Windows, you can use ssh.com's secure shell client (free for educational use), which has built-in sFTP functionality. On supported CECS workstations, it is available through Start->Programs->General Applications->Secure File Transfer.

WinSCP: A popular and free sFTP client for Windows, available from http://winscp.sourceforge.net/.

Tunnelier: An ssh and sFTP client for Windows, free for personal use. It can be downloaded from http://www.bitvise.com/tunnelier.html.

Web Browser: Most web browsers (like Internet Explorer and Mozilla) have built-in plaintext FTP functionality. You will need to use a url in the form: ftp://username:password@host, where username is your CECS username, password is your password, and host is the computer you wish to access. For example:

        ftp://johnj:foobar@ftp.cs.pdx.edu

WS_FTP: A popular, but not free, FTP client for Windows that supports plaintext FTP, sslFTP, and sFTP. For more information, or to purchase, see www.Ipswitch.com. The version of WS_FTP available on supported CECS Windows workstations (in Start -> Programs -> General Applications -> WS_FTP) is the LE version. The LE version is only for educational use, and only supports plaintext FTP.

SurgeFTP sslFTP Client: SurgeFTP provides a free sslFTP client for Windows, BSD, Linux, OSX, and Solaris. It is available from www.surgeftp.com (or direct link).

Internet File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Shell Guide

Most of these commands apply to both FTP and sFTP. To start plaintext FTP from the command line type:

201 systemname.domain.pdx.edu> ftp hostname

where hostname is the name or IP address of the remote machine. If the machine exists and accepts the connection, you will be prompted for a user name and password. If you give a valid user name and password, you will be connected to your home directory. If you give the user name anonymous, you will be connected to the directory tree set up for exchanging information with anonymous users.

FTP commands: