Package: fsp (2.71-7)

An alternative to anonymous FTP

In the words of the developers, FSP is what anonymous FTP should have been. Basically, FSP is more robust (an intermittent link doesn't phase it one bit) and kinder to slow links (the data transfer rate is significantly lower) than FTP; this enables a given server to handle requests from many more clients than a corresponding FTP server. Furthermore, the FSP clients are all run from the command line, storing certain information - such as the current directory - in the environment. As a consequence, whilst you are downloading a file, you can also be browsing other directories of interest.

From the clients' point of view, FSP allows the access restrictions to be lifted, because of the slower transfer rate. (How many times have you had "User anonymous access denied" flash at you?) From the servers' point of view, much less strain is placed on the network, and because the server never forks, the maximum increase in load is one.

If you want to learn more about FSP, the FSP FAQ is included in /usr/doc/fsp; it can also be accessed from the Web address http://itu.rdg.ac.uk/misc/fsp/faq/faq.htm

Two popular FSP sites are ftp.wustl.edu, port 21, and fsp.idsoftware.com, also on port 21. Both of these are identical to their corresponding FTP sites.