FTP automation question..

mikidouglas · 02-24-2009, 12:47 PM

I dont know if this is the thread to put this question to.. if not please move, i could'nt find a scripting thread!!

Q> i am automating an ftp session like this

a file ftp_auth

>> cat ftp_auth
open ftp.sunfreeware.com
user anonymous anonymous

and initiating connection

>> ftp -inv < ftp_auth

Now there isnt any problem with connection and all that... but the connection terminates without waiting for prompt.
Here's the output
>> ftp -invd < ftp_auth
Connected to sunfreeware.com.
220 ftp.sunfreeware.com FTP server ready.
---> SYST
530 Please login with USER and PASS.
---> USER anonymous
331 Guest login ok, send your complete e-mail address as password.
---> PASS XXXX
230-
230-==============================================
230-This is the ftp.sunfreeware.com ftp server
230-
230-If you have not already done so, make sure
230-you have read the Downloading/Installation,
230-FAQ, and Disclaimer links on
230-http://sunfreeware.com.
230-
230-This is a restricted access system. All
230-transfers are logged. If you disagree
230-with this practice, log off now.
230-
230-Questions go to Steve Christensen at
230-the address given on sunfreeware.com.
230-==============================================
230-
230-
230 Guest login ok, access restrictions apply.
---> QUIT
221-You have transferred 0 bytes in 0 files.
221-Total traffic for this session was 803 bytes in 0 transfers.
221-Thank you for using the FTP service on ftp.sunfreeware.com.
221 Goodbye.

Now if i do the same thing.. but without using the file ftp_auth, putting in each line manually the ftp connection is not terminated.

Can someone better make me understand where is the QUIT command is coming from ?

.... waiting for reply asap ....

zinger919 · 02-24-2009, 01:28 PM

Hi mikidouglas, try this:

Create a file in the directory you'll be running the ftp session in named ".netrc". The .netrc file should look something like:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ clip ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
machine ftp.sunfreeware.com
login anonymous
password anonymous
macdef init
cd pub/freeware
dir
bin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ clip ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The blank line at the end of the macro is mandatory.

Make .netrc private:
prompt> chmod 600 .netrc

Then just:
prompt> ftp ftp.sunfreeware.com

You'll see that all the ftp commands after "macdef init" are executed. Add any you want. Just be sure to have a blank line at the end. You may need certain ftp options (like -p) on some sites.

prompt> man netrc
for more details, but note; contrary to man page, in my experience, the .netrc does NOT have to be in your $HOME directory. This allows you to have many .netrc's in different directories to do different things. Very handy, powerful, & flexible.

zinger919 · 02-24-2009, 01:32 PM

P.S.
I think the "QUIT" comes from the EOF (end of file) on your redirected input. Same as doing <ctrl-d>.

jlinkels · 02-24-2009, 05:58 PM

Dunno what exactly your intention is, and if you need to up/download a specific file or that you want to see directory listings etc.

Both wget and ncftpget are able to download from FTP sites in batch, ncftpput can upload files.

I hope this is useful information.

jlinkels

Valery Reznic · 02-25-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikidouglas

>> cat ftp_auth
open ftp.sunfreeware.com
user anonymous anonymous

You only ask to connect to the ftp site and log in.
If you add some commands (say 'get /some/file')
after 'user anonymous anonymous' ftp will (should) execute them

By the way for the tasks like this I usually use script:

Code:

#!/bin/sh

ftp <ip_address> -ivn << FTP_COMMANDS
open ....
user ...
other ftp commands
FTP_COMMANDS