File transfer: Difference between revisions

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File transfer is the transmission of a computer file through a communication channel from one computer system to another. Typically, file transfer is mediated by a communications protocol. In the history of computing, a large number of file transfer protocols have been designed for different contexts.

Some examples of file transfer:

Network file systems may allow transparent file transfers
FTP is an older cross-platform file transfer protocol
HTTP can support file transfer
Bittorent, Gnutella and other distributed file transfers systems use peer-to-peer
In IBM Systems Network Architecture, LU 6.2 peer-to-peer file transfer programs such as IBM's Connect:Direct and CA Technologies' XCOM Data Transport
Many instant messaging or LAN messenger systems support the ability to transfer files
Computers may transfer files to peripheral devices such as USB flash drives
Dial-up modems and serial (null modem) links, were inportant in the past, using XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM and similar protocols.

Protocols

A file transfer protocol is a convention that describes how to transfer files between two computing endpoints. They are meant solely to send the stream of bits stored as a single unit in a file system, plus any relevant metadata such as the filename, file size and timestamp.

File transfer protocols usually operate on top of a lower-level protocol in a protocol stack. For example, the HTTP protocol operates at the topmost application layer of the TCP/IP stack, whereas XMODEM, YMODEM, and ZMODEM typically operate across RS-232 serial connections.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 Some examples of file transfer:
+* [[Distributed file system|Network file systems]] may allow [[Network transparency|transparent]] file transfers
-* [[Network transparency|Transparent]] file transfers over [[Distributed file system|network file systems]]
-* Explicit file transfers from dedicated file transfer services like [[File Transfer Protocol|FTP]] or [[Hypertext Transfer Protocol|HTTP]]
+* [[File Transfer Protocol|FTP]] is an older cross-platform file transfer protocol
+* [[Hypertext Transfer Protocol|HTTP]] can support file transfer
-* Distributed file transfers over [[peer-to-peer]] networks like [[BitTorrent (protocol)|Bittorent]] or [[Gnutella]]
+* [[BitTorrent (protocol)|Bittorent]], [[Gnutella]] and other distributed file transfers systems use [[peer-to-peer]]
 * In [[IBM Systems Network Architecture]], [[IBM Advanced Program-to-Program Communication|LU 6.2]] peer-to-peer file transfer programs such as [[IBM]]'s [[Connect:Direct]] and [[CA Technologies]]' [[XCOM Data Transport]]
-* File transfers over [[instant messaging]] or [[LAN messenger]]
+* Many [[instant messaging]] or [[LAN messenger]] systems support the ability to transfer files
-* File transfers between [[computer]]s and [[peripheral device]]s
+* [[Computer]]s may transfer files to [[peripheral device]]s such as [[USB flash drives]]
-* File transfers over direct [[modem]] or [[serial port|serial]] ([[null modem]]) links, such as [[XMODEM]], [[YMODEM]] and [[ZMODEM]].
+* Dial-up [[modem]]s and [[serial port|serial]] ([[null modem]]) links, were inportant in the past, using [[XMODEM]], [[YMODEM]], [[ZMODEM]] and similar protocols.
 ==Protocols==
-A file transfer protocol is a convention that describes how to transfer files between two computing endpoints. They are meant solely to send the stream of [[bit]]s stored as a single unit in a [[file system]], plus any relevant [[metadata]] such as the [[filename]], file size and [[timestamp]]. File transfer protocols usually operate on top of a lower-level protocol in a [[protocol stack]].  For example, the HTTP protocol operates at the topmost application layer of the [[TCP/IP stack]], whereas [[XMODEM]], [[YMODEM]], and [[ZMODEM]] typically operate across [[RS-232]] serial connections.
+A file transfer protocol is a convention that describes how to transfer files between two computing endpoints. They are meant solely to send the stream of [[bit]]s stored as a single unit in a [[file system]], plus any relevant [[metadata]] such as the [[filename]], file size and [[timestamp]].
+File transfer protocols usually operate on top of a lower-level protocol in a [[protocol stack]].  For example, the HTTP protocol operates at the topmost application layer of the [[TCP/IP stack]], whereas [[XMODEM]], [[YMODEM]], and [[ZMODEM]] typically operate across [[RS-232]] serial connections.
 ==See also==
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 [[Category:Internet terminology]]
 [[Category:Network file transfer protocols]]
 {{Compu-network-stub}}

v t e Computer files
Types	Binary file / text file Data file File format List of file formats File signatures Magic number Open file formats Proprietary file formats Metafile Sidecar file Sparse file Swap file System file Temporary file Zero-byte file
Properties	Filename 8.3 filename Long filename Filename mangling Filename extension List of filename extensions File attribute Extended file attributes File size Hidden file / Hidden directory
Organisation	Directory/folder NTFS links Temporary folder Directory structure File system Filesystem Hierarchy Standard Grid file system Semantic file system Path
Operations	Open Close Read Write
Linking	File descriptor Hard link Shortcut Alias Shadow Symbolic link
Management	Backup File comparison File copying Data compression File manager Comparison of file managers File system fragmentation File-system permissions File transfer File sharing File synchronization File verification