FTP: copying files - the options

There are two ways to get the software you need to navigate the information highway: purchasing software packages when you buy your computer or afterwards, and using FTP (file transfer protocol) to copy files from the many anonymous FTP sites on the Internet. Many readers are asking for FTP site locations and how to use FTP. Let's look at the alternatives -- and yes, there are alternatives for you to consider. The choice depends on what you have in terms of network, connection and software.

FTP.   This acronym could stand for "Frustratingly Tricky Process" or "Friendly Transfer Pal". The basic FTP process is a Unix procedure. If you are familiar with Unix commands, you will likely not have a problem. Modern software packages, especially those that are Windows-based, take the pain out of using FTP for those users who are not Unix-conversant. The various gopher and Web clients also tend to make copying files fairly simple. Realize that you can copy any kind of file -- ASCII text, word processor, spreadsheet, database, graphic, program, or a set of routines that need to be assembled. The files may be ready-to-use, compressed, or sets of files that have been tarred, which means they have been bundled together as a single file. The latter two techniques enable simpler and faster copying.

BASIC FTP.   If you are using the original Unix procedure of typing "ftp sitename" from the Unix prompt, you need to know the Unix FTP commands, "ls" to list the contents of a directory, "cd" to change to a different directory, "get" to copy a file from "sitename" to a directory on your computer, and "quit" to leave the FTP process and return to the Unix prompt. Two of these commands, "ls" and "get," have a variety of command options, so you need to know about the Unix help command, "man" -- short for manual -- to look up what these options are and how to use them.

After you are connected, you have to log on. If you already have an account on the remote site, you enter your user ID in response to the name prompt. Then enter your password (which came with your account authorization) in response to the password prompt. This is just the same as logging on to your regular host computer.

If you don't have an account there and if it is an anonymous FTP site -- which means anyone can log on -- then you enter "anonymous" in response to the name prompt and your full e-mail address "name@machine" in response to the password prompt. Anonymous FTP sites usually require that users identify themselves in this way.

After you are logged on, you type the FTP commands to find and copy files. You use this method if you are logged on to a host machine with remote terminal access and if your host machine has an Internet connection that supports FTP -- usually this means you have full Internet access. (Please see the April issue of The Institute for an explanation of different kinds of Internet access.)

WINDOWS FTP.   If you can click on an FTP icon, you are likely using a user-friendly Mac or Windows-based FTP package. Here you usually have the advantage of immediately seeing a split screen separating the local and remote locations. A simple window gives prompts for you to enter the remote sitename, your name and your password. Your log-on procedure requires the same information as in the previous paragraph, but it is simpler to use (in my experience).

The display of directories and file names is user-friendly and you have control of the screen so you do not lose sight of file names that scroll off the top of the screen. Copying a file is as simple as clicking on and dragging a file icon from one of the split screens to the other. You are usually prompted to indicate whether the transfer should be in binary or ASCII text form. I tend to use binary in all cases. You use this method if your computer is connected to the Internet directly, not as a remote terminal. If you are using a PC and modem, you need a SLIP or PPP connection. (Please see The Institute, April 1995 for an explanation of these terms).

E-MAIL FTP.   If your access to the Internet is via a network that does not support FTP service, but does enable you to send to and receive e-mail messages from the Internet, then you can use e-mail messaging to achieve the same objective of looking at FTP directories and copying files. This is only possible if the FTP site has set up software to provide this service. I decided to see if I could find one of these sites, since some of you have asked me. I found a reference that pointed me to the University of California at Irvine, Calif., USA and then to Clarkson University, N.Y., USA. These are two sites that offer this service. I am currently trying to find a listing of such sites. If any of our readers can help me with such a source, I will publish the location. To find out about this service, send a message to archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu and place the word "help" in the subject line. The content of the message is irrelevant, as it is ignored. You should get back a four-page listing that describes all the commands and instructions on how to construct a message and use this service. The other address I tried is archive-server@ics.uci.edu. After checking both sites several times, it seems that the second site is more reliable.

If you are copying an ASCII text file from a Unix machine to a DOS machine, you need to convert from Unix to DOS format. (Unix files may appear as one long line in some DOS-based editors, so you need to add carriage returns.). There are Unix-to-DOS and DOS-to-Unix conversion routines to do this.

SITE INFO.   In previous columns, I have noted specific anonymous FTP sites where software is available. IEEE has its own FTP site, "ftp.ieee.org", but in general does not copy software from other sites and make it available to you at the IEEE site. The reason is the problem of software updates. By referring you to the originating site, we believe you have the best chance of obtaining the latest version. To assist you in tracking these site addresses -- and they do change occasionally -- I have prepared an ASCII text file called "info.highway.update". It will be updated as the need arises and should be more current than older issues of this column. This file is listed in the file "info.email" mentioned in the insert box with this column.

THE NAME.   In closing, I want to address another issue that some of you have raised -- the name of this column. Some of our readers are unhappy with the use of the phrase "information highway" and would prefer I use the word "Internet" instead. Let me try to put my choice in perspective. I do not use the phrase "information superhighway." I believe that phrase is overused by the public media and used in a context that is too broad for engineers. Within engineering circles, it properly means very high-speed, wide-bandwidth paths that, at present, only exist in a few experimental locations. The Internet implies the network (of networks -- see The Institute, February 1995) which is the communication channel. There is debate as to whether the name should only apply to the so-called Internet backbone, primarily in the United States, or should include regional networks, BITnet, EARN, etc., which have varied degrees of connection capabilities with the Internet backbone.

There is also the question of focus. Within IEEE we are concerned with the use of the network, the tools to access this network, the tools to produce specialized technical and general information, and the understanding necessary for success. IEEE members work together in society and section activities to help each other become more productive. From my viewpoint, we are fellow travelers in search of information.