ncftp Command in Linux

Introduction

This lab provides a comprehensive guide to using the ncftp command-line FTP client on Ubuntu 22.04. It is designed for systemadmin professionals and anyone looking to efficiently manage files on FTP servers from the Linux terminal. We'll cover the complete process, from installing ncftp to connecting to a server and performing essential file and directory operations. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to leverage ncftp for your system administration tasks.

Install ncftp on Ubuntu 22.04

This section details the installation of the ncftp command-line FTP client on your Ubuntu 22.04 system. We'll walk through the necessary steps to get ncftp up and running, ensuring you can connect to FTP servers from the command line.

First, update your system's package list:

sudo apt-get update

Example output:

Hit:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy InRelease
Get:2 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-security InRelease [110 kB]
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-updates InRelease [114 kB]
Get:4 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-backports InRelease [99.8 kB]
Fetched 324 kB in 1s (324 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done

Next, install the ncftp package using the apt package manager:

sudo apt update
sudo apt-get install -y ncftp

Example output:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
The following additional packages will be installed:
  libevent-2.1-7 libncurses6 libreadline8 libssl3
Suggested packages:
  ncftp-doc
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  libevent-2.1-7 libncurses6 libreadline8 libssl3 ncftp
0 upgraded, 5 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 1,021 kB of archives.
After this operation, 3,415 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] Y
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy/main amd64 libncurses6 amd64 6.3-2 [84.0 kB]
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy/main amd64 libreadline8 amd64 8.1-1 [159 kB]
Get:3 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy/main amd64 libevent-2.1-7 amd64 2.1.12-stable-1 [216 kB]
Get:4 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy/main amd64 libssl3 amd64 3.0.2-0ubuntu1.6 [443 kB]
Get:5 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy/universe amd64 ncftp amd64 3.2.6-1 [119 kB]
Fetched 1,021 kB in 1s (1,021 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package libncurses6:amd64.
(Reading database ... 14362 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../libncurses6_6.3-2_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libncurses6:amd64 (6.3-2) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libreadline8:amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../libreadline8_8.1-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libreadline8:amd64 (8.1-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libevent-2.1-7:amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../libevent-2.1-7_2.1.12-stable-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libevent-2.1-7:amd64 (2.1.12-stable-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libssl3:amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../libssl3_3.0.2-0ubuntu1.6_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libssl3:amd64 (3.0.2-0ubuntu1.6) ...
Selecting previously unselected package ncftp.
Preparing to unpack .../ncftp_3.2.6-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking ncftp (3.2.6-1) ...
Setting up libncurses6:amd64 (6.3-2) ...
Setting up libreadline8:amd64 (8.1-1) ...
Setting up libevent-2.1-7:amd64 (2.1.12-stable-1) ...
Setting up libssl3:amd64 (3.0.2-0ubuntu1.6) ...
Setting up ncftp (3.2.6-1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.10.2-1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.35-0ubuntu3.1) ...

With ncftp successfully installed, you're ready to connect to FTP servers.

Connect to an FTP Server Using ncftp

This section guides you through connecting to an FTP server using the ncftp command-line client. We'll explore how to establish a connection and authenticate with the server, allowing you to begin managing files.

Let's first create a secure directory to store your FTP configuration:

mkdir ~/project/ftp_config

Now, create a configuration file to securely store your FTP server connection details:

nano ~/project/ftp_config/ftp.cfg

Populate the file with your FTP server details. Replace `ftp.example.com`, `myusername`, and `mypassword` with your actual credentials. Avoid storing sensitive information directly in scripts whenever possible.

host=ftp.example.com
user=myusername
pass=mypassword

Save the changes and exit the file.

Now, connect to the FTP server using ncftp. Replace `myusername`, `mypassword` and `ftp.example.com` with real data

ncftp -u myusername -p mypassword ftp.example.com

Example output:

ncftp>

A successful connection will present you with the `ncftp>` prompt. You can now interact with the FTP server using the following commands:

  • ls - List files and directories on the FTP server. Essential for understanding the server's file structure.
  • cd <directory> - Navigate to a specific directory on the FTP server.
  • get <file> - Download a file from the FTP server to your local machine.
  • put <file> - Upload a file from your local machine to the FTP server.
  • quit - Terminate the connection and exit the ncftp client.

To disconnect from the FTP server and exit ncftp, type quit and press Enter.

Manage Files and Directories on the FTP Server

This section explores how to effectively manage files and directories on the FTP server using the ncftp command-line client. You'll learn to list, navigate, upload, and download files, as well as create and remove directories.

Reconnect to the FTP server using the ncftp command. Ensure you substitute the example username, password, and hostname with your actual server credentials:

ncftp -u myusername -p mypassword ftp.example.com

Example output:

ncftp>

Let's examine the available commands for file and directory management:

  1. List files and directories on the FTP server:
ncftp> ls

Example output:

drwxr-xr-x   2 user     group         4096 Apr 12 12:34 documents
-rw-r--r--   1 user     group           24 Apr 12 12:34 example.txt
  1. Change the current directory on the FTP server:
ncftp> cd documents
  1. Upload a file to the FTP server:
ncftp> put ~/project/local_file.txt
  1. Download a file from the FTP server:
ncftp> get remote_file.txt
  1. Create a new directory on the FTP server:
ncftp> mkdir new_directory
  1. Delete a file on the FTP server:
ncftp> rm example.txt
  1. To exit the ncftp client, type quit and press Enter. This will gracefully close your FTP connection.
ncftp> quit

Remember to adjust the file and directory names to match your specific FTP server environment.

Summary

This lab provided a hands-on guide to installing and using the ncftp command-line FTP client on Ubuntu 22.04. We covered updating the package index, installing ncftp, connecting to an FTP server, and performing file and directory management operations. You now have the foundational knowledge to use ncftp for your system administration tasks, improving your efficiency when working with FTP servers from the command line. This tool is an invaluable asset for any systemadmin.

400+ Linux Commands