Question:
I have a cron job that calls a script every night. The
script is supposed to ftp a few files to a remote host. I would
like to transfer these files automatically without having to
login. How can I do this?
Response:
------------------------
How to write a FTP macro
------------------------
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) provides a scripting facility known
as FTP "macros". FTP macros are defined in the $HOME/.netrc file.
In order for FTP to use the $HOME/.netrc file, this file must
have read and write permission for the owner, and no other permissions.
Use the "chmod 600 $HOME/.netrc" command to set the correct
permissions.
Macros have the following properties:
1 - A macro is associated with the login entry immediately preceeding
it, i.e. macros are not global to the $HOME/.netrc file.
2 - The $HOME/.netrc file can contain multiple login definitions, and up
16 macros per login definition.
3 - If the macro's name is "init" it will be executed automatically upon
login. Other macros can be executed from the FTP prompt (ftp> ) with
the syntax "$macro_name".
The following is an example $HOME/.netrc file, specifying one
login definition and one macro.
=========================================
machine abyss login darin password a1temp
macdef init
put /tmp/sampfile
bye
=========================================
In this example, the first line is a login definition, and it
has the format:
machine \ login \ password \
The second through fourth lines constitute a macro definition. It has
the format:
macdef \
\
...
\
\
Notice that the macro is terminated by having a blank line after
the last command.
The use of the above example $HOME/.netrc file is as follows:
1 - At the shell prompt, enter "ftp abyss".
2 - FTP scans the $HOME/.netrc file for a login definition for the host
abyss. FTP uses the login definition to log user darin into abyss.
3 - FTP scans for the macro named "init" (associated with this login
definition) and executes the commands the macro specifies, in this
case one put command.
============================================
Executing specific macros in the .netrc file
============================================
Here is an example of a .netrc file with many
macros being used:
machine mod590
login user
password getlost
macdef test1
get /etc/motd /tmp/m1
\
macdef test2
get /etc/motd /tmp/m2
cd
\
macdef test3
get /etc/motd /tmp3
pwd
quit
\< CR >
Each macdef can have ftp subcommands following them.
But there must be a \ carriage return between the
last ftp subcommand and the next macdef.
To execute a specific macro only do the following:
ftp \
ftp> $test1
This will run all the subcommands under the macro test1
in the .netrc file.
ftp> $test3
This will run all the subcommands under the macro test3 in
the .netrc file.
Support Line: Automate FTP transfer ITEM: AE3313L
Dated: December 1994 Category: N/A
This HTML file was generated 99/06/24~13:30:29
Comments or suggestions?
Contact us