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Implicit SSL FTP Clients with Scripting?
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?
scp or pscp?
*** On the Internet, no one knows you're using a VIC-20
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.
Im not 100% but I think it supports what you need
Try cURL. Available for every platform under the sun, and does almost everything.
10b||~10b -- aah, what a question!
lftp
(appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars)
use WinSCP... here's a link.. http://winscp.sourceforge.net/eng/index.php
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).
Install Cygwin (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).
[insert lame joke here]
sftp is an extension to the SSH protocol. AFAIK, any ssh server should support sftp.
"No matter where you go, there you are." -- Buckaroo Banzai
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.
I am not your blowing wind, I am the lightning.
expect is atcl extension thast was written for just this purpose.
On unix systems, ftp itself is scriptable. Other ideaswoul be to: http://curl.haxx.se/, http://lftp.yar.ru/ or using an expect script as an interface between your script and an ftp client. If you use python, use: http://docs.python.org/lib/module-urllib.html, or ftplib. For Perl, use LWP, Net::FTP.
would be to use Net::SFTP. 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 as another poster stated using SFTP from OpenSSH. If you need commercial software, I'd strongly recommed SecureFX 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.
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.
http://monkeyserver.com --- weeeeee
It's not just a command shell with great scripting. It also does FTP.
Try SecureFX 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.
LOAD "SIG",8,1
LOADING...
READY.
RUN
I have to transfer files and directories across several locations, and I do it automatically using rsync and SSH certificates.
/to/this/directory
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/
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
Fugu is a decent BSD-style licensed GUI for SFTP, SCP and SSH tunnels
I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing. -- Thomas Jefferson
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.
Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx
There's an excellent FTP client that does everythign you need: psftp. It's highly scriptable, and scripting info is available here.
Vino, gyno, and techno -Bruce Sterling
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.
... and has a long (but not comprehensive) list of clients.
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.
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)
However, the OP asks about implicit SSL. The IETF frowns on implicit SSL, and the FTP/TLS standard negotiates TLS implicitly (with "AUTH TLS").
Some of the listed clients may support implicit SSL however. I suspect WS-FTP does, for example.