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File transfer
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<h2 id="protocols">Protocols</h2> <p>A file transfer protocol is a convention that describes how to transfer files between two computing endpoints. As well as the stream of <a href="/facts/Bit/RwfjaYSv">bits</a> from a file stored as a single unit in a <a href="/facts/File_system/FdPm90uc">file system</a>, some may also send relevant <a href="/facts/Metadata/qt35z79C">metadata</a> such as the <a href="/facts/Filename/a1QSEJhj">filename</a>, file size and <a href="/facts/Timestamp/6lApANE6">timestamp</a> – and even <a href="/facts/File-system_permissions/DHq5SwI4">file-system permissions</a> and <a href="/facts/File_attribute/eVga2BAu">file attributes</a>. </p><p>Some examples: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/File_Transfer_Protocol/THuWgzfw">FTP</a> is an older cross-platform file transfer protocol<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/SSH_File_Transfer_Protocol/88YptbER">SSH File Transfer Protocol</a> a file transfer protocol secured by the <a href="/facts/Secure_Shell/wjVRw5zv">Secure Shell</a> (SSH) protocol</li> <li><a href="/facts/Secure_copy_protocol/letk8brL">Secure copy</a> (<i>scp</i>) is based on the <a href="/facts/Secure_Shell/wjVRw5zv">Secure Shell</a> (SSH) protocol</li> <li><a href="/facts/HTTP/TWtvf7JD">HTTP</a> can support file transfer</li> <li><a href="/facts/BitTorrent/HP9ChWWW">BitTorrent</a>, <a href="/facts/Gnutella/canem2yq">Gnutella</a> and other distributed file transfers systems use <a href="/facts/Peer-to-peer/wCCdPb0H">peer-to-peer</a></li> <li>In <a href="/facts/Systems_Network_Architecture/NlFaXaBC">Systems Network Architecture</a>, <a href="/facts/IBM_Advanced_Program-to-Program_Communication/WqwKJc10">LU 6.2</a> <a href="/facts/Connect%3aDirect/8vMk7ya0">Connect:Direct</a> and <a href="/facts/XCOM_Data_Transport/9mSs13PE">XCOM Data Transport</a> are traditionally used to transfer files</li> <li>Many <a href="/facts/Instant_messaging/8lwwDyjK">instant messaging</a> or <a href="/facts/LAN_messenger/WMYTt0g8">LAN messenger</a> systems support the ability to transfer files</li> <li><a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">Computers</a> may transfer files to <a href="/facts/Peripheral_device/3lEBPE14">peripheral devices</a> such as <a href="/facts/USB_flash_drive/Jv0qmTCF">USB flash drives</a></li> <li>Dial-up <a href="/facts/Modem/9H0Xwtq0">modems</a> <a href="/facts/Null_modem/AguNIs12">null modem</a> links used <a href="/facts/XMODEM/TIadURGQ">XMODEM</a>, <a href="/facts/YMODEM/eLmKVq2b">YMODEM</a>, <a href="/facts/ZMODEM/hvwGoyDf">ZMODEM</a> and similar</li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/File_sharing/7GISy0GJ">File sharing</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Managed_file_transfer/a9XBWGsB">Managed file transfer</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Peer-to-peer_file_sharing/em1qEY3C">Peer-to-peer file sharing</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pull_technology/UglIWno4">Pull technology</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Push_technology/KoRjtGET">Push technology</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Sideloading/JATK5A8M">Sideloading</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/WeTransfer/hJHgQW3j">WeTransfer</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Smash_(file_transfer_service)/rCcT07kz">Smash</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Prince, Brian (24 January 2012). "Should Organizations Retire FTP for Security?". Security Week. Retrieved 14 September 2017. <a href="http://www.securityweek.com/should-organizations-retire-ftp-security" target="_blank">http://www.securityweek.com/should-organizations-retire-ftp-security</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>