These systems need to be connected to an IP-based network. Both the term FTP and TFTP are often confused with one another due to their somewhat similar abbreviations.
FTP vs TFTP
The difference between FTP and TFTP is that FTP has a wide variety of instructions and commands that can be used for specific purposes, whereas TFTP has only five commands which include Write Request (WRQ), Read Request (RRQ), Acknowledgement (ACK), Data (DATA), and Error (ERROR). Moreover, FTP is a very complex protocol, whereas TFTP is not as complex as the former.
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The full form of FTP is File Transfer Protocol. This standard application protocol transfers or copies a file between two hosts. It works on two ports – 20, which is for data, and 21, which is for connection control.
The full form of TFTP is Trivial File Transfer Protocol. The protocol transfers a file from a host to a client and vice versa. This is done without the use of the FTP feature.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | FTP | TFTP |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Form | FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. | TFTP stands for Trivial File Transfer Protocol. |
| Size | The software of FTP is large in size. | The software of TFTP is small in size. |
| Ports | It works on two ports – 20 and 21. | It only works on the 69 Port number. |
| Service Provider | The service provider for FTP is TCP. | The service provider for TFTP is UDP. |
| Commands | FTP has more commands than TFTP. | TFTP has only five commands. |
| Complexity | FTP is very complex. | TFTP is not as complex as FTP. |
| Security | FTP provides a secure channel for file transfer. | TFTP does not require authenticated login and thus poses a security risk. |
| Uses | FTP is useful for uploading and downloading files by remote users. | TFTP is useful for configuration transfer between network devices. |
What is FTP?
FTP is a standard application protocol that is used for communication on a computer network. This involves transferring files from a host to a client and vice versa.
The software also frequently encrypts itself with FTPS or replaces SSH File Transfer Protocol. This removes all kinds of security threats and minimizes the risk of security breaches.
Originally, the specification for FTP was written by Abhay Bhushan. It was published on 16 April 1971 as RFC 114. For many years, the software ran on NCP.
Now, FTP can run in active or passive mode. This determines how the connection between two hosts will be established. The host creates a control connection between two ports by carrying out either of the two kinds of processes.
What is TFTP?
TFTP is a simple communication protocol that allows the transfer of files to and from random hosts and clients. It is very useful when a node is being booted from a local area network.
TFTP can also be used to transfer firmware images and configuration files to various network appliances. These include firewalls, IP phones, routers, and much more.
The design of TFTP was derived from EFTP, which was an earlier protocol. It was even a part of the PARC Universal Packet protocol suite. The software came to be defined only in 1980.
However, a limitation of using TFTP is that it poses certain security risks. The software does not have a username and password; thus, it requires no authentication for login.
Main Differences Between FTP and TFTP
- FTP provides a secure channel for file transfers, whereas TFTP does not.
- FTP is useful for uploading and downloading files by remote users, whereas TFTP is useful for configuration transfer between network devices.
- https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-0-387-74390-5_3.pdf
- https://www.ieice.org/ken/paper/20050527wAEn/eng/
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
