Follow Slashdot stories on Twitter

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Encryption Security Programming The Internet Technology

Implicit SSL FTP Clients with Scripting? 43

Posted by Cliff from the an-itch-that-might-need-scratching dept.
malcomvetter asks: "I need a command line FTP client that supports 'Implicit SSL', sports some kind of scripting interface, and runs on Win32. Any suggestions? So far, I have only found GUI versions such as FileZilla." I remember once needing a scripting FTP client long ago. It took me a long time, but I finally found one that had a workable but unintuitive interface. Have scripting FTP clients become more prevalent or is your best bet using something flexible with network bindings (like Python or Perl) to get the job done?
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Implicit SSL FTP Clients with Scripting? More

Implicit SSL FTP Clients with Scripting?

Comments Filter:
  • scp or pscp?
    • The OP probably wants to avoid scp and sftp because they will usually require authentication, whereas with FTP over SSL can still be done anonymously (and then you don't have to leave passwords in your script).

      • Re:SCP? (Score:2)

        by Masa ( 74401 )
        "The OP probably wants to avoid scp and sftp because they will usually require authentication, whereas with FTP over SSL can still be done anonymously (and then you don't have to leave passwords in your script)."

        By using key files, it's possible to create SCP sessions, which don't require passwords at all.

        • Re:SCP? (Score:3, Informative)

          by hey! ( 33014 )
          We do that all the time for our CVS access. It also makes scp a snap.

          But privacy without entering a password is only one possible requirement. Another possible requirement is anonymity.

          I assume that scp doesn't transmit the user's identity in cleartext (it shouldn't be necessary since the server has a public key), so anonymity over the wire presumably isn't an issue. But suppose I wanted to make sure that when the subpeona is issued, it would be trickier to associate a file transfer to a user. Then ft

  • scp (Score:2)

    by Masa ( 74401 )
    Well, some time ago I needed a reliable ftp-like client for my scripting needs, but security was also a requirement. I decided to use pscp through command line interface. Pscp is a PuTTY SCP client for Windows platform. Works well for me.

    • Re:scp (Score:3, Informative)

      by j-turkey ( 187775 )
      Well, some time ago I needed a reliable ftp-like client for my scripting needs, but security was also a requirement. I decided to use pscp through command line interface. Pscp is a PuTTY SCP client for Windows platform. Works well for me.

      Problem is, pscp lacks large file support.

      • Re:scp (Score:3, Interesting)

        by divbyzero ( 23176 )
        Not relevant to the original poster's question, but if you need to download larger files than pscp supports, why not try the following:

        plink username@hostname cat remote-filename > local-filename

        For upload, use this instead:

        plink username@hostname "cat > remote-filename" local-filename

        Who needs a dedicated file transfer protocol? :-)

        (plink is the PuTTY package's equivalent of the standard command line SSH client, with no GUI nor terminal emulation)
        • Blech, Slashdot ate my less-than sign, even though I told it to use "Plain Old Text" posting mode. The upload example should read:

          plink username@hostname "cat > remote-filename" < local-filename
        • plink username@hostname "cat > remote-filename" local-filename

          Oh man, that rocks. I didn't realize that existed (or maybe I never paid attention). I've been using WinSCP's slow-ass file transfer (and it is sloooooooow). Thanks!

  • Im not 100% but I think it supports what you need

  • cURL? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by forsetti ( 158019 ) on Friday March 11, 2005 @08:48AM (#11909003)
    Try cURL [curl.haxx.se]. Available for every platform under the sun, and does almost everything.

  • If Cygwin is an option then lftp is perfect. (Score:3, Informative)

    by mohaine ( 62567 ) on Friday March 11, 2005 @08:52AM (#11909016) Homepage
    lftp [lftp.yar.ru]

  • Personally (Score:3, Interesting)

    by DJStarquake ( 749139 ) on Friday March 11, 2005 @09:06AM (#11909082)
    I needed the same, and used CuteFTP. (Commercial). It has an SDK so you can use its methods from within services etc. Does what it says on the tin - I scripted using WSH, others may vary. In fact I noted the fact that scripting would rarely be needed as it has a great scheduler that met most of our requirments (we only needed scripting for triggers).

  • Cygwin (Score:2, Interesting)

    by aventius ( 814491 )
    Install Cygwin [cygwin.com] (basically its a Unix command line & environment for Windows) and then install sftp, scp, or ssh. All three will get the job done. I have never found a Windows FTP GUI that I liked... hell I haven't found an SFTP GUI on any platform that I liked. Fetch on OSX is very nice but doesn't support SFTP (unless I'm an idiot and missed something).
    • Have you tried the one from ssh.com?

      I have used it (and the command line versions of scp and ssh) for years.

    • Note if you want to be doing something in a windows script and initiate this process in cygwin, your options could include having cygwin always running, starting an 'at' or cron job there that looks for the presence of a trigger file and kicks off your process when started, then deletes the trigger file when done.

      Note this is cumbersome and suckky but I've been forced through similar hoops before and it's just one ugly hack in the bag of tricks.

    • Try Fugu for OSX (Score:3, Informative)

      by teridon ( 139550 )
      Fugu [umich.edu] is a decent BSD-style licensed GUI for SFTP, SCP and SSH tunnels
  • sftp is an extension to the SSH protocol. AFAIK, any ssh server should support sftp.
    • The admin can disable sftp because it uses a protocol extension. Scp OTOH uses no protocol extension and can be used with any ssh server.
      • The admin can disable sftp because it uses a protocol extension. Scp OTOH uses no protocol extension and can be used with any ssh server.

        Actually that isn't 100% correct either IIRC. You must be able to run the scp binary on the server in addition to your client, so an admin could disable it by taking away execute permission on the server.

  • scp (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Kiaser Zohsay ( 20134 ) on Friday March 11, 2005 @09:20AM (#11909181)
    PuTTY has pscp and Cygwin has scp from the openssh package. SSL encryption and files get from point A to point B. I use perl to move files to a web server and simultaneously update a MySQL table of file info (filename, description, size, modifed date), so its scriptable as all hell.

  • Expect (Score:2, Informative)

    by chriseyre2000 ( 603088 )
    expect is atcl extension thast was written for just this purpose.
  • would be to use Net::SFTP [uwinnipeg.ca]. At this point you are scripting in Perl, which might be a good thing ;)

  • You just encrypt the passwords but not the data, if IIRC. Maybe think about something using the SSH protocol.

    On Windows, the easiest solution/least expensive solution is probaby via Cygwin [cygwin.com] as another poster stated using SFTP from OpenSSH. If you need commercial software, I'd strongly recommed SecureFX [vandyke.com]from Van Dyke Software. Scriptable interface, supports FTP, SFTP and FTP over SSL. From the command line, I believe it doesn't support FTP over SSL but I could be wrong.

    • Because SSH is not good for virtual users. AUTH TLS + SSL file listings are used for situations where you want a lot of people to access files without anyone even knowing where the box is (*cough* warez)

      FTP is also good for its various features you just cant do with SFTP/SCP, like site to site transfers, and scripting. For example, uploading a .sfv causes symlinks to be created for (filename in sfv thats not uploaded-missing so anyone connecting knows what needs to be uploaded, and then show a status dir

  • expect is great for this (Score:5, Informative)

    by monkeyserver.com ( 311067 ) on Friday March 11, 2005 @09:55AM (#11909438) Homepage Journal
    expect [nist.gov] is awesome for scripting, especially where the interface isn't completely predictable. It basically sends out commands, waits for certain replies back, then responds them, all according to script your right.

    Some cool things, autoexpect, this will basically record a session you do (like the script command), and right an expect script for it. Also if you use the -p (I think, check the man) option, it won't make the prompts strict, just in case there is a datestamp in there.

  • 4NT (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    It's not just a command shell with great scripting. It also does FTP.

  • SecureFX (Score:3, Informative)

    by eric2hill ( 33085 ) <eric@[ ]ck.net ['ija' in gap]> on Friday March 11, 2005 @11:52AM (#11910590) Homepage
    Try SecureFX [vandyke.com] from VanDyke Software. I've been using their SecureCRT/SecureFX combo for a year or so now and it works great. Both are command-line scriptable as needed.

  • What about SSH certs and Rsync? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by madstork2000 ( 143169 ) * on Friday March 11, 2005 @12:35PM (#11911068) Homepage
    I have to transfer files and directories across several locations, and I do it automatically using rsync and SSH certificates.

    SSH is configured to only allow transfers with a valid certificate from a valid IP address. There is no pass-phrase on the certs.

    Copying / syncing directories is a breeze:

    rsync -ae ssh server1:/copy/this/directory/ /to/this/directory

    No fuss. I have not tried rsync on win32, but I am sure it exists. I do a lot of web development, but have not used a ftp client on a regular basis in years. My sites are backed up to remote servers using this method, and new sites are uploaded using rsync as well.

    Its fast, easy to use and saves on bandwidth, as only changes are transfered. With FTP the whole file is always moved. SO bandwidth savings alone may be worth looking into this solution.

    -MS2k
  • FTPRush is good, especially for scene stuff (It does auto sfv creation, makes status dirs, etc)
    It has a full scriptable interface including some example mirc script to control it.

    Just don't be lame and autotrade.

    Google will find it, its too late to dig out links.
  • There's an excellent FTP client that does everythign you need: psftp [greenend.org.uk]. It's highly scriptable, and scripting info is available here [earth.li].

    • Re:PSFTP (Score:2)

      by slim ( 1652 )
      According to the documentation [earth.li]: "PSFTP, the PuTTY SFTP client, is a tool for transferring files securely between computers using an SSH connection."

      Whereas the OP said: "I need a command line FTP client that supports 'Implicit SSL'"

      SSH is not SSL.
  • FTP/TLS is a big part of my job. It's an exciting time for the protocol because after years sitting around as a commonly used draft standard, it's just been promoted to a standards track RFC.

    Pretty much all you could need to know about FTP/TLS (TLS being the current Right Way to refer to SSL) is at the RFC author's "FTP/TLS State of Play" page [ford-hutchinson.com].

    It covers things like the difference between SFTP (SSH) and FTPS (SSL) (although instead of discussing the merits of either, it links to another page) ... and has

Slashdot Top Deals

He has not acquired a fortune; the fortune has acquired him. -- Bion

Close