FTP Client Software Overview

Overview

This lecture provides a structured comparison of FTP client software, covering features, licensing, platform support, and protocol compatibility.

Categories of FTP Clients

• FTP clients are grouped as free and open-source, freeware and commercial, or trial/commercial products.
• Licensing varies between GPL, BSD, MIT, proprietary, and other licenses.
• Many clients support copying files over 2 GB, but some older or discontinued software may not.

Examples of Notable Clients

• Free/open-source: FileZilla, Cyberduck, WinSCP, cURL, lftp.
• Commercial/freeware: Core FTP, Fetch, Secure FTP, SmartFTP, FlashFXP, Total Commander, Transmit.
• Some clients (e.g., FireFTP, net2ftp) are browser-based or web applications.

Interface Types

• FTP clients feature different interfaces: GUI (Graphical User Interface), CLI (Command-Line Interface), TUI (Text-based User Interface), or browser plugins/add-ons.
• Several clients offer both GUI and CLI options, increasing flexibility for users.

Operating System Support

• Many clients are multi-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD, Unix, AmigaOS).
• Some clients are web-based or have add-ons for browsers, enabling cross-platform support.

Protocol and Feature Support

• Clients may support FTP, SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), FTPS (FTP over SSL), FTP over SSH, WebDAV, FXP (site-to-site).
• Features often include passive/active mode, resume downloads, compression, segmented/parallel downloads, and scripting or API support.
• Not all clients support every feature or protocol; compatibility should be confirmed based on user needs.

Key Terms & Definitions

• FTP — File Transfer Protocol, standard for transferring files over a network.
• SFTP — SSH File Transfer Protocol, a secure alternative using SSH.
• FTPS — FTP over SSL/TLS, adds encryption to FTP.
• FXP — File eXchange Protocol, allows server-to-server transfers.
• GUI — Graphical User Interface, user-friendly visual interface.
• CLI — Command-Line Interface, text-based interaction with software.
• TUI — Text-based User Interface, uses text graphics in a terminal.
• Passive Mode — FTP mode where connections are initiated by the client, aiding firewalls/NAT.
• Resume Download — Ability to continue interrupted downloads without starting over.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review the protocol and platform requirements for your use case before choosing a client.
• Check if your needed features (e.g., large file support, automation) are supported by the client you select.