Chapter 17. FTP

The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) was once among the most widely used protocols on the Internet, invoked whenever a user wanted to transfer files between Internet-connected computers.

Alas, the protocol has seen better days; today, a better alternative exists for every one of its major roles. There were four primary activities that it once powered.

The first, and overwhelming, use of FTP was for file download. Just like people who browse the Web today, earlier generations of Internet users were able to consume far more content than they each tended to generate. Lists of "anonymous" FTP servers that allowed public access were circulated, and users connected to retrieve documents, the source code to new programs, and media like images ...

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