Difference Between FTP and TFTP

Difference Between FTP and TFTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) are two protocols used for transferring files over a network.

Difference Between FTP and TFTP
Fig 1: Difference Between FTP and TFTP

However, there are several differences between the two:

Functionality: FTP is a full-featured protocol that supports many features such as user authentication, directory browsing, and file encryption. It provides a wide range of commands that allow users to perform various tasks such as uploading and downloading files, creating and deleting directories, and modifying file permissions. TFTP, on the other hand, is a simpler protocol that provides only basic functionality for transferring files, such as reading and writing files.

Port Number: FTP uses TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and typically runs on port 21 for control and port 20 for data transfer. TFTP, on the other hand, uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and runs on port 69.

Security: FTP supports user authentication and encryption, making it a more secure protocol. TFTP, on the other hand, does not support authentication or encryption, making it vulnerable to attacks such as eavesdropping, tampering, and impersonation.

File size: FTP does not have any limitations on file size, which means it can handle large files easily. TFTP, however, has a limitation of 512 bytes per packet, making it less suitable for transferring large files.

Error checking: FTP uses a complex mechanism for error checking, which ensures data integrity and reliability. TFTP, on the other hand, uses a simple mechanism for error checking, which makes it less reliable and more prone to errors.

Summary

In summary, FTP is a more complex and full-featured protocol that supports many advanced features such as user authentication and encryption, while TFTP is a simpler protocol that is primarily used for transferring small files in a network environment where security and reliability are not a major concern.

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