FTPFS(4) FTPFS(4)
NAME
ftpfs - file transfer protocol (FTP) file server
SYNOPSIS
ftpfs [ -/dpq ] [ -m mountpoint ] [ -a password ] ftphost
DESCRIPTION
Ftpfs connects to ftphost using the Internet's File Transfer
Protocol, and makes the remote files visible at mountpoint
(default: /n/ftp) in the current name space, for access by
ordinary Inferno file operations. In other words, it is a
protocol translator between FTP and Styx. The connection is
shut down by unmounting the mount point; see bind(1). The
ftphost can be any address acceptable to cs(8); the default
network is tcp, and the default service is ftp (port 21).
Ftpfs will prompt for a user name and password as ftphost
demands. If the FTP host supports `anonymous FTP' (ie,
guest access), it will accept the user name `anonymous' and
a conventional password (notionally the user's e-mail
address). Given the -a option, ftpfs automatically logs in
as `anonymous' with the password supplied, avoiding prompt-
ing.
By default, ftpfs uses a `passive' connection for file
transfer: the remote system gives the local system a new
address to call to fetch the data. This often works best
for local systems behind firewalls that block incoming calls
to arbitrary ports, but can fail for instance if the remote
system does not support passive mode, or is itself behind
such a firewall. The -p option forces `active' connection:
the local system gives the remote machine an address on
which to call it back to transfer the data.
Other options are:
-/ Mount the remote machine's root directory on
mountpoint, not the user's home directory (which is
used by default).
-q Suppress the printing of chatter (`informational mes-
sages') from the remote server.
-d Display all FTP protocol transactions to allow a fail-
ure to connect to be debugged.
Ftpfs keeps a limited local cache of remote files and direc-
tories. The cache is kept consistent with file and direc-
tory operations by the local user through the current con-
nection, but not with changes made by others on the remote
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FTPFS(4) FTPFS(4)
site. Cached entries for a given directory can be flushed
explicitly by accessing the name .flush.ftpfs in that direc-
tory.
EXAMPLE
Mount a remote machine and copy files from there to here.
mkdir here
ftpfs -a 'bloggs@' ftp.vitanuova.com
cp /n/ftp/package.tgz here
unmount /n/ftp
FILES
/tmp/ftp.* Temporarily cached files
SOURCE
/appl/ftpfs
BUGS
Symbolic links are not supported.
Ftpfs does not implement `rename', forcing mv(1) to rename
by copying.
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