Next: C.1 Starting ftp Up: Linux Installation and Getting Previous: B Linux Vendor List

# C FTP Tutorial and Site List

FTP (``File Transfer Protocol'') is the set of programs that are used for transferring files between systems on the Internet. Most UNIX, VMS, and MS-DOS systems on the Internet have a program called `ftp` which you use to transfer these files, and if you have Internet access, the best way to download the Linux software is by using `ftp`. This appendix covers basic `ftp` usage---of course, there are many more functions and uses of `ftp` than are given here.

At the end of this appendix there is a listing of FTP sites where Linux software can be found. Also, if you don't have direct Internet access but are able to exchange electronic mail with the Internet, information on using the `ftpmail` service is included below.

If you're using an MS-DOS, UNIX, or VMS system to download files from the Internet, then `ftp` is a command-driven program. However, there are other implementations of `ftp` out there, such as the Macintosh version (called `Fetch`) with a nice menu-driven interface, which is quite self-explanatory. Even if you're not using the command-driven version of `ftp`, the information given here should help.

`ftp` can be used to both upload (send) or download (receive) files from other Internet sites. In most situations, you're going to be downloading software. On the Internet there are a large number of publicly-available FTP archive sites, machines which allow anyone to `ftp` to them and download free software. One such archive site is `sunsite.unc.edu`, which has a lot of Sun Microsystems software, and acts as one of the main Linux sites. In addition, FTP archive sites mirror software to each other---that is, software uploaded to one site will be automatically copied over to a number of other sites. So don't be surprised if you see the exact same files on many different archive sites.

- C.1 Starting ftp
- C.2 Logging In
- C.3 Poking Around
- C.4 Downloading files
- C.5 Quitting FTP
- C.6 Using ftpmail
- C.7 Linux FTP Site List

Next: C.1 Starting ftp Up: Linux Installation and Getting Previous: B Linux Vendor List