FTP & TFTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

FTP is a network protocol used to transfer files from one computer to another over a TCP network. Like Telnet, it uses a client-network arhitecture, which means that a user has to have an FTP client installed to access an FTP server running on the remote machine. After establishing an FTP connection, the user can download or upload files to and from the FTP server.

FTP uses two TCP ports: port 20 for sending data and port 21 for sending control commands.

FTP can use authentication, but like Telnet, all data is sent in clear text, including usernames and passwords.

TFTP (Trivial File Protocol)

TFTP is a network protocol used to transfer files between remote machines. It is a simple version of FTP, lacking some of the more advanced features FTP offers, but requiring less resources than FTP.

Because of it’s simplicity TFTP can be used only to send and receive files. It uses UDP port 69 for communication.

Because of it’s disadvantages TFTP is not widely used today, but it’s used to save and restore a router configuration or to backup an IOS image.

TFTP doesn’t support user authentication and sends all data in clear text.