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Lesson 3FTP
ObjectiveExplain the Purpose of FTP and identify FTP Settings for common File Types

Purpose of FTP and identify FTP Settings for common File Types

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a standard network protocol used for transferring files between a client and a server over a TCP/IP network (like the Internet).
Primary purposes:
  • Upload files from a local computer to a server (e.g., publishing a website)
  • Download files from a server to a local computer (e.g., retrieving backups)
  • Manage files remotely (rename, delete, move)
  • Transfer large sets of files reliably between systems

⚙️ FTP Settings for Common File Types
FTP has two primary transfer modes you need to choose based on the type of file:
*
File Type FTP Transfer Mode Why?
Text files (.txt, .html, .xml, .csv, .css, .js) ASCII ASCII mode converts line endings properly (especially between Windows/Linux)
Program source code (.c, .cpp, .py, .java, .php) ASCII Source code is treated as text, needs consistent line endings
Web scripts (.pl, .php, .asp) ASCII Same reason: treated as text files
Images (.jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp) Binary Binary mode preserves exact byte sequence (no line ending conversion)
Videos (.mp4, .avi, .mov) Binary No changes should be made, pure binary transfer
Audio files (.mp3, .wav) Binary Audio data must not be altered during transfer
Compressed files (.zip, .tar.gz, .rar) Binary Compression formats require bit-perfect copying
Database dumps (.sql) ASCII (usually) Dump files are text — ASCII is safer to avoid corruption
Executable files (.exe, .bin, .dll) Binary Must transfer without modification

✏️ How to Remember It Easily
  • If it’s plain text ➔ ASCII Mode
  • If it’s anything else (media, executables, compressed files) ➔ Binary Mode

Some modern FTP clients (like FileZilla, WinSCP) can auto-detect the correct mode, but it’s good to manually set it when unsure — especially for critical uploads.
📌 Example FTP Settings in a Client Like FileZilla< /strong>
Setting Example Value
Host ftp.yourwebsite.com
Port 21 (default for FTP)
Protocol FTP (or SFTP for secure transfer)
Encryption Use explicit FTP over TLS if available
Transfer Mode ASCII for text, Binary for binaries
Passive Mode Enabled (common behind firewalls)
FTP between Windows 11 Client Machine and Ubuntu Server
FTP between Windows 11 Client Machine and Ubuntu Server

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is used to move files from one system to another, typically between an FTP client and an FTP server. Its great advantage is moving files that are too large to be email attachments. You can upload files from your system to a server or you can download files from a server to your system. Examples of commercially available FTP software include FTP_Pro, Fetch, and CuteFTP. The FTP process is illustrated below:
FTP File Transfer consisting of get and put operations
FTP File Transfer consisting of get and put operations

  • FTP benefits
    The benefits of using FTP include:
    1. Moving files anonymously
    2. Moving files identified by a user name
    3. Reliable data transfer
    4. Error checking
    5. Avoiding email file size limitations
    6. Providing users on different networks access to files
    A disadvantage of using FTP is that the files are transmitted in clear text. This means that the packets can be intercepted and username and password information can be obtained.

You will learn about the file type settings used by FTP in the Slideshow below:
File Type Settings
1) Use the BINARY setting when transferring non-text files such as spreadsheet
1) Use the BINARY setting when transferring non-text files such as spreadsheet

2) Use the ASCII setting when transferring text-only files using FTP
2) Use the ASCII setting when transferring text-only files using FTP

3) Use binary settings when transferring text files
3) Use binary settings when transferring text files

4) Use the L8 setting when transferring VMS non-text files using FTP
4) Use the L8 setting when transferring VMS non-text files using FTP

5) Use the AUTO DETECT setting when transferring Windows/NT based
5) Use the AUTO DETECT setting when transferring Windows/NT based

6) Use the AUTO DETECT setting when transferring Macintosh-based computer files to Windows NT
6) Use the AUTO DETECT setting when transferring Macintosh-based computer files to Windows NT


Architecture of TCP/IP protocols for Windows

Architecture of TCP/IP protocols for Windows
Architecture of TCP/IP protocols for Windows

The TCP/IP driver file, Tcpip.sys, contains both IPv4 and IPv6 Internet layers. Tcpip.sys operates between Windows Sockets and the Network Device Interface Specification (NDIS) layers in the Windows network architecture. The architecture of Tcpip.sys consists of the following layers:
  1. Transport layer Contains the implementations of TCP and UDP.
  2. Network layer Contains implementations of both IPv4 and IPv6.
  3. Framing layer Contains modules that frame IPv4 or IPv6 packets. Modules exist for IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet), IEEE 802.11, Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), and mobile broadband links. Modules also exist for logical interfaces such as the loopback interface and IPv4-based tunnels. IPv4-based tunnels are commonly used for IPv6 transition technologies.
The IPv4 Internet layer appears as the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) component in the list of protocols from the properties of a local area network (LAN) connection in the Network Connections folder. The IPv6 Internet layer appears as the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) component.
You can enable or disable these components per connection in the Network Connections folder, but you cannot uninstall them. You can uninstall the IPv4 Internet layer with the netsh interface Ipv4 uninstall command, but you cannot uninstall the IPv6 Internet layer.
In the next lesson, you will learn how to use FTP.

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