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FTPmail is the term used for the practice of using an FTPmail server to gain access to various files over the internet. An FTPmail server is a proxy server which (asynchronously) connects to remote FTP servers in response to email requests, returning the downloaded files as an email attachment. This service might be useful to users who cannot themselves initiate an FTP session—for example, because they are constrained by restrictions on their internet access.
FTPmail services were common in the 1990s, but have dwindled in importance as FTP lost popularity in favour of other methods for file transfer, notably HTTP which is available to virtually all internet users.
Procedure
An email is sent to a FTPmail server with the command to be performed, inserted as the body of the message. The server then processes the request by logging on to the remote site and returning the result via email.
Basic commands used
| Command | Function |
|---|---|
| help | Returns a help file. |
| open [site[user[password]]] | Connect to site. |
| cd path | Change directory to path specified. |
| ls [path] | List the contents of the directory. |
| dir [path] | List the contents of the directory |
| get file | Get a file, the path to save can also be *mentioned. |
| size max[ K | M ] | Size when file is split before sending, the max size is Kb|Mb. |
| mode binary | Binary mode: archives, binary files. |
| mode ascii | ASCII mode: nothing but ASCII text. |
| quit | End of ftp-by-email message. |
