[Long time no command line FTP.]
Today I had to transfer 700Mb from one server to another in the same data center. SSH in to server #1 to grab the files from server #2 – but “a” wasn’t working as an answer to mget (multiple get) as it usually does – meaning “get all”: each file needed an individual yes/no answer a the command line to confirm that I really did want to download it.
I really didn’t fancy having to watch/wait/click as 1400 files got copied over.
Cut to the chase already
Type “prompt” into your ftp shell to toggle the prompting on and off.
Job done and all files sent over in a jiffy – without having to do a 4,000 km round trip to my desktop and back.
ssh user@host.com
cd path/to/your/files
ftp ftp.host.com
cd path/to/your/files
prompt
mget *
bye
exit
Last updated on 5th September 2018
8th February 2013 at 2:58 am
Please note, that FTP is a relic from back when the internet was like a country club with very few members and should not be used without encryption. ssh with sftp is a proper replacement for ftp and telnet (which is also unencrypted and therefore evil).
Transmitting your passwords via plain text isn’t a good idea; every child can use wireshark.
12th February 2013 at 8:36 am
Valid point!
2nd October 2015 at 3:11 pm
Both the OP and this comment are great; thanks to you both.