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

     Page 1                       Plan 9             (printed 3/29/24)

     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.

     Page 2                       Plan 9             (printed 3/29/24)