Ur Engineering Friend

Advance Computer Network

About Subject ACN ( elective ) -:

In Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) diploma programs, an elective
subject is a course that students can choose from a set of options, in addition to the core
curriculum. Elective subjects allow students to tailor their education to their interests and
career goals by selecting topics that are not mandatory but are available as part of the broader
curriculum. These subjects often provide specialized knowledge and skills that can enhance a
student's expertise in a particular area of their field.

The "Advanced Computer Network" subject in a diploma or engineering program typically covers in-
depth topics related to computer networking. The curriculum aims to provide students with a
comprehensive understanding of advanced networking concepts, protocols, and technologies.

Chapters / Syllabus

1. Network Layers & Protocols

2. Next Generation IP

3. Unicast & Multicast Routing Protocols

4. Transport Layer Protocols

5. Application Layer Protocols

Join Maharashtra’s No. 1 Online Class – Course Details Youtube Channel

 Ur Engineering Friend

Chapter 5 – Application Layer Protocols

( Part 2 )

File Transfer Protocol

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a standard network protocol used to transfer files between a
client and a server over a TCP/IP-based network like the internet. It is one of the oldest
protocols used to facilitate file sharing and has been in use since the early days of
networking.

Key Components of FTP:

1. Client and Server:

o The FTP client initiates the connection and requests file actions such as
uploading, downloading, renaming, or deleting files.
o The FTP server listens for incoming connections and processes the requests
made by the client.
2. Ports:
o Port 21: Used for the control connection where commands are sent from the
client to the server.
o Port 20: Typically used for the data transfer connection.
3. Data Connection Modes:
o Active Mode: The server actively connects to the client to transfer data. This
requires the client to open a specific port to accept incoming connections from
the server.
o Passive Mode: The server provides a port for the client to initiate the data
connection. This mode is more firewall-friendly and is commonly used.

Join Maharashtra’s No. 1 Online Class – Course Details Youtube Channel

 Ur Engineering Friend

How FTP Works:

1. Establishing Connection:
o The client connects to the server using its IP address and port 21.
o Authentication is performed using a username and password, or the server
may allow anonymous access.
2. Command and Data Channels:
o The control connection (on port 21) is used to send commands and receive
responses (e.g., login, directory navigation).
o A separate data connection (on port 20 or a dynamic port in passive mode) is
used for file transfers.
3. File Operations:
o The client sends specific commands to upload, download, rename, delete files,
or manage directories.
o The server processes the commands and performs the requested action.

Join Maharashtra’s No. 1 Online Class – Course Details Youtube Channel

 Ur Engineering Friend

FTP Architecture

The FTP Architecture follows a client-server model designed to transfer files over a
network. It defines how commands, responses, and data are exchanged between an FTP client
and an FTP server using two separate channels: a control connection and a data connection.

Components of FTP Architecture

1. FTP Client:
o The client is a software application used to connect to the FTP server.
o It sends commands to the server to perform file-related operations (upload,
download, delete, etc.).
o Examples: FileZilla, WinSCP, or built-in FTP utilities in operating systems.
2. FTP Server:
o A server application that listens for incoming client requests on the network.
o It authenticates clients and processes their file-related commands.
o It maintains the files and directories shared over FTP.

Join Maharashtra’s No. 1 Online Class – Course Details Youtube Channel

 Ur Engineering Friend

TFTP

TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) is a simplified version of the File Transfer Protocol
(FTP) designed for transferring files in a minimal and straightforward way. It operates on the
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) instead of the more complex TCP, making it faster but less
reliable.

Key Features of TFTP:

1. Simple Design:
o TFTP is lightweight and requires minimal resources.
o It is designed to transfer files between a client and server without advanced
features like authentication or directory listing.
2. Transport Protocol:
o TFTP uses UDP (port 69) for its operations, unlike FTP, which uses TCP.
o UDP is connectionless, so TFTP does not guarantee reliable delivery or error
recovery.
3. Stateless:
o TFTP does not maintain session states between the client and server.
o Each operation is handled as an independent transaction.
4. Limited Functionality:
o Supports basic file transfer operations like reading (downloading) and writing
(uploading).
o Does not include authentication, encryption, or directory management.
5. Small File Transfers:
o Often used for transferring small configuration files, firmware, or boot images
in network environments.

TFTP Protocol Operations:

1. File Transfer Requests:

Join Maharashtra’s No. 1 Online Class – Course Details Youtube Channel

 Ur Engineering Friend
o The client sends a request to the server to either read (RRQ) or write (WRQ) a
file.
2. Data Transmission:
o Files are transferred in fixed-size blocks (usually 512 bytes).
o Each block is acknowledged before the next one is sent.
3. Acknowledgments:
o The server or client acknowledges receipt of each block using an ACK
message.
o If an acknowledgment is not received, the sender retransmits the block.
4. Error Handling:
o Errors are reported using ERROR messages that include an error code and
description.

TFTP Packet Types:

1. RRQ (Read Request): Request to download a file from the server.

2. WRQ (Write Request): Request to upload a file to the server.
3. DATA: Packet containing a block of file data.
4. ACK: Acknowledgment for a data packet.
5. ERROR: Error message indicating an issue.

TFTP Workflow:

1. Client Request:
o The client sends an RRQ or WRQ packet to the server on port 69.
o The packet specifies the filename and transfer mode (usually "netascii" or
"octet").
2. Server Response:
o The server responds by starting the data transfer or acknowledging the write
request.
3. File Transfer:

Join Maharashtra’s No. 1 Online Class – Course Details Youtube Channel

 Ur Engineering Friend
o Files are broken into blocks (512 bytes by default).
o The client and server exchange DATA and ACK packets until the transfer is
complete.
4. Completion:
o The transfer ends when a block smaller than 512 bytes is received, indicating
the end of the file.

Advantages of TFTP:

1. Lightweight:
o Minimal overhead, making it ideal for resource-constrained environments.
2. Fast:
o Uses UDP, which is faster than TCP due to the lack of connection
establishment.
3. Simple Implementation:
o Easy to configure and use.

Disadvantages of TFTP:

1. No Security:
o Lacks authentication, encryption, and access control.
o Files are transferred in plain text, making it unsuitable for sensitive data.
2. Reliability Issues:
o UDP does not guarantee packet delivery or order, leading to potential data loss
or corruption.
3. Limited Functionality:
o Cannot handle complex operations like directory browsing or large-scale
transfers efficiently.

Join Maharashtra’s No. 1 Online Class – Course Details Youtube Channel