Re: mac os x ftp not sftp??

D P Schreber <schreberdp@xxxxxxxxxx> writes:

> ["Followup-To:" header set to comp.sys.mac.system.]
> On 2005-08-13, David Magda <dmagda+trace050401@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> SFTP ("SSH FTP") is tunnelled through the SSH program. (This is
>> probably the easiest way to think about it.)
>
> Easy, maybe; wrong, for sure. 'Tunneling' is a very specific concept
> in the context of ssh, and it doesn't apply to sftp. In particular,
> sftp is _not_ ftp tunneled through ssh. It's an ssh subsystem
> that's completely independent of ftp.

SFTP is a system for transfering file files that is used with-in an
SSH session. While it is not "FTP" (a la RFC 959), it is the SSH File
Transfer Protocol:

http://tools.ietf.org/wg/secsh/draft-ietf-secsh-filexfer/

I was simply trying to offer a simple explanation between "SFTP" and
"FTP" and I guess I didn't do a good enough job.

> The OP is simply mistaken about this. Both can be enabled through
> the "Sharing" System Preference gui. Since sftp is a component of
> ssh, it's enabled via "Remote Login", which I suppose might be what
> confused the OP (though imo it should have been obvious to a
> unix.admin)

Yes, hence my (seemingly failed) attempt to explain it as the "SSH
FTP".

I don't think most people care about the differences between
"tunnelling", "subsystems", "channels", etc. as defined by the secsh
WG:

http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/secsh-charter.html

--
David Magda <dmagda at ee.ryerson.ca>
Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under
the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well
under the new. -- Niccolo Machiavelli, _The Prince_, Chapter VI
.

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