How do I login when using ftp?

To access WinSite, use your FTP software and open a connection to ftp.winsite.com. If you are using a unix shell, simply type ftp ftp.winsite.com at the prompt. You'll be asked for a login name (type anonymous). Enter your username and sitename (e.g., bob@black.lodge.wa.edu) as your password. THIS STEP IS MANDATORY. WE ENFORCE LEGAL PASSWORDS. A shorthand way of entering your password (for those of you who have terribly long machine names) would be: username@. The system will expand your sitename, so just type your username followed by the "at sign".

If you want to be adventurous and automate the login process, create a file in your home directory called ".netrc" and make it accessible only by you (e.g., "chmod og-rwx .netrc"). (This is a VERY IMPORTANT STEP! Failure to have correct permissions on ".netrc" will cause it to be IGNORED by ftp/telnet!)

Add the following lines to your .netrc file:

machine ftp.winsite.com

login anonymous

password enter_your_username@machine.domain.here

This will now eliminate the prompting of your username and password upon subsequent ftp sessions.

NOTE: On some flavors of Unix, each.netrc entry should only consume one line. For example: machine ftp.winsite.com login anonymous password username@...So this might be something to try if the above example doesn't work.

You may find the program AUTOFTP, located in pub/unix, helpful to you in automating ftp file transfers during non-load hours. This program can be scheduled at non-peak hours to download files from any ftp site. Also, NCFTP by Mike Gleason is something that most cannot live without. It allows, among other things, the ability to REDIAL a busy site so that you may login. Check it out.