What is TFTP
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) and its Products
Trivial File Transfer Protocol, simply known as TFTP, is a simple file transfer protocol that helps a client to download a file from remote location and upload file into a remote server or system.
Trivial File Transfer Protocol is the simplest form of File Transfer Protocol. It transfers data using User Datagram Protocol (UDP). It does not support acknowledgements. Hence Trivial File Transfer Protocol is not reliable as packet delivery is not guaranteed with acknowledgements. It does not have any advanced features as it is in its basic form of File Transfer Protocol. Trivial File Transfer Protocol uses port number 69 to perform all its operations.
Trivial File Transfer Protocol simply uploads and downloads files from remote systems or servers. The main drawback of this protocol is that it cannot list, rename or delete files and folders that are available in the remote systems. Trivial File Transfer Protocol does not need any authentication to upload or download files.
Hence Trivial File Transfer Protocol is not very secure. Trivial File Transfer Protocol is more useful in smaller networks (Local Area Networks) than in large networks like internet as it offers less security. Trivial File Transfer Protocol will not provide any kind of error checking capabilities as it uses User Datagram Protocol
In the Trivial File Transfer Protocol, the client request remote system or server to transfer a particular file. We can set various optional parameters while sending the request to the remote server; if not set default values are taken.
If the server or remote system grants permission to access the data, remote system or server sends data in the form of blocks whose length is specified in the request. By default, the block length is 512 bytes. Each block is sent in an IP packet to avoid fragmentation.
There are three modes of data transfer that can be defined using Trivial File Transfer Protocol:
a. Netascii
b. Octet
c. Mail Transfer
Trivial File Transfer Protocol is majorly used to update Operating System (Internetwork Operating System) of router, Update certain codes, boot from remote systems when hard disks are not available, backing up IOS stored in the router etc.
There are various platforms available that support Trivial File Transfer Protocol. Some of them are as listed below
a. Solarwinds Trivial File Transfer Protocol
b. Tftpd 32 Trivial File Transfer Protocol
c. Open Trivial File Transfer Protocol
d. WhatsUp Gold Trivial File Transfer Protocol
All products have their own specifications and differ from each other.
Read more
- Solarwinds TFTP Server Configuration
- Solarwinds Trivial File Transfer Protocol TFTP Server Installation
- Benefits of Segmenting a Network using a Router
- What is Loopback Interface in a Cisco Router