FTP Vs NFS

[Former Member]

Whats the Exact difference between FTP and NFS?

When to use what?

[bhavesh_kantilal · Accepted solution]

Rohini,

NFS is used when you want XI to use the NFS protocol to access thye location of the file.

FTP is File Transfer Protocol and is used when your Sender SYstem is using an FTP system to send / receiver files.

Regards,

Bhavesh

[Former Member]

Hi Mohini,

NFS

->NFS stands for Network File System,it is a client/server system that allows users to access files across a network and treat them as if they resided in a local file directory. For example, if you were using a computer linked to a second computer via NFS, you could access files on the second computer as if they resided in a directory on the first computer. This is accomplished through the processes of exporting (the process by which an NFS server provides remote clients with access to its files) and mounting (the process by which file systems are made available to the operating system and the user).

The NFS protocol is designed to be independent of the computer, operating system, network architecture, and transport protocol. This means that systems using the NFS service may be manufactured by different vendors, use different operating systems, and be connected to networks with different architectures. These differences are transparent to the NFS application, and thus, the user.

FTP

-> FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a method for transferring files between two computers on a network. The two computers must be on the Internet. Examples of Ftp use are: to transfer files between your computer and your web space on a large computer, to transfer software or files to your computer from known Internet sites.

Ftp has two parts: the client and the server. The ftp client is a program on the computer you are using or are logged in to. The ftp server is a program on a remote computer that you want to connect to

Please follow the link below for further details

[http://www.connectathon.org/talks96/public.pdf]

[Former Member]

Distinct NFS Server allows you to set up any PC in your network for file and program sharing by other authorized PCs in the network.

Main Features

NFS Server

Exports local file system and local printers to NFS clients

Supports primary and secondary groups

Includes Lock Manager and Port Mapper

Shows current mounts and users connected

Restricts mounts on a user basis (UID, GID)

Features built in security for exported file systems

Features password protected administrator login

FTP Serve

Supports 64 concurrent FTP logins

Allows configurable Idle Time Out

Allows configurable Send and Receive buffer

Allows the administrator to selectively disconnect users

Includes statistics for number of files uploaded/downloaded, users currently connected, total connections made, etc.

Broadcasts warning for server shutdown

Allows access to multiple folders for each user

Features login and change folder banner files

Features password protected administrator login

Keeps a log file of all server activity

[Former Member]

FTP access is done with a specialized FTP protocol that is visible to the application level. FTP is used when we need to access files which are in the remote side or outside of the firewall. FTP is much lighter, as traffic goes, uses less bandwidth, and

has a better control over the transfer of the file itself.

NFS (network file system) protocol is what OS thinks is just another filing system, and is hidden from the application. The application never even notices it's dealing with files on another machine, as though the file system were mounted locally. So we use NFS when we required to poll the files from local machines. Also NFS broadcasts the state of the files in the directory you are looking at.

[Former Member]

Hi ,

we are using NFS when we required to poll the files from local machines..

We are using FTP when we required to poll the data from the FTP server which are in the remote side or outside of the firewall..

sekhar

[Former Member]

Hi,

Just for more info, any machine that is mounted on your SAP XI server can also use the NFS protocol.

But you will have to mount the server.

Regards

Vijaya

[former_member732072]

I would like to add one more point to what sekhar has added.

If you have selected the transport protocol File Transfer Protocol (FTP), specify the following:

● Server

Enter the host name or IP address of the FTP server.

● Port

Specify the port number of the FTP server.

The default is the standard port for the FTP server (21).

● Data Connection

○ Active

In active mode, the server establishes a data connection from its data port, port 20, to an end point chosen by the client.

○ Passive

In passive mode, the client establishes a data connection to the port required by the server.

The default setting is a passive data connection. Only change this setting if you have a specific reason.

● Timeout (secs)

If no data is transferred between the client and the FTP server in the time interval specified here, the adapter interprets this as an error and terminates the transfer.

● Connection Security

○ None

The FTP protocol is used without encryption.

○ FTPS (FTP Using SSL/TLS) for Control Connection

The FTP control connection is protected using TLS/SSL (Transport Layer Security/Secure Sockets Layer).

File transfer is unencrypted.

○ FTPS (FTP Using SSL/TLS) for Control and Data Connection

All communication with the FTP server is encrypted and uses TLS/SSL.

● To log on anonymously, select Anonymous Login. Otherwise, enter the following:

○ User Name

Enter a valid user name for the FTP server.

○ Password with confirmation

● Connect Mode

Permanently

An existing connection to the FTP server is used permanently.

The connection is reestablished automatically if it is closed by the server.

Per File Transfer

A new connection to the FTP server is established for each file transfer.

● Transfer Mode

Set the FTP connection transfer mode to Text or to Binary.