rfc:rfc1545
Network Working Group D. Piscitello Request for Comments: 1545 Bellcore Category: Experimental November 1993
FTP Operation Over Big Address Records (FOOBAR)
Status of this Memo
This memo defines an Experimental Protocol for the Internet community. This memo does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Discussion and suggestions for improvement are requested. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
This paper describes a convention for specifying longer addresses in the PORT command.
Introduction
This RFC specifies a method for assigning long addresses in the HOST-PORT specification for the data port to be used in establishing a data connection for File Transfer Protocol, FTP (STD 9, RFC 959). This is a general solution, applicable for all "next generation" IP alternatives, and can also be extended to allow FTP operation over transport interfaces other than TCP.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to all the folks in the IETF who casually mentioned how to do this, but who left it to me to write this RFC. Special thanks to Rich Colella, Bob Ullmann, Shawn Ostermann, Steve Lunt, and Brian Carpenter who had the time and decency to comment on the initial draft. :-)
1. Background
The PORT command of File Transfer Protocol allows users to specify an
address other than the default data port for the transport connection
over which data are transferred. The PORT command syntax is:
PORT <SP> <host-port> <CRLF>
The <host-port> argument is the concatenation of a 32-bit internet <host-address> and a 16-bit TCP <port-address>. This address information is broken into 8-bit fields and the value of each field is transmitted as a decimal number (in character string
Piscitello [Page 1] RFC 1545 FTP Over Big Address November 1993
representation). The fields are separated by commas. A port command
is thus of the general form "PORT h1,h2,h3,h4,p1,p2", where h1 is the
high order 8 bits of the internet host address.
To accommodate larger network addresses anticipated for all IP "next generation" alternatives, new commands and reply codes are needed for FTP. This memo addresses these needs.
2. The LPRT Command
The LPRT command allows users to specify a "long" address for the
transport connection over which data are transferred. The LPRT
command syntax is:
LPRT <SP> <long-host-port> <CRLF>
The <long-host-port> argument is the concatenation of the following fields;
o an 8-bit <address-family> argument (af)
o an 8-bit <host-address-length> argument (hal)
o a <host-address> of <host-address-length> (h1, h2, ...)
o an 8-bit <port-address-length> (pal)
o a <port-address> of <port-address-length> (p1, p2, ...)
The <address-family> argument takes the value of the version number
of IP (see Assigned Numbers, STD 2, RFC 1340), or generally speaking,
an Internet layer protocol. Relevant assigned IPng version numbers
are:
Decimal Keyword ------ ------- 0 reserved 1-3 unassigned 4 Internet Protocol (IP) 5 ST Datagram Mode 6 SIP 7 TP/IX 8 PIP 9 TUBA 10-14 unassigned 15 reserved
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The value of each field is broken into 8-bit fields and the value of each field is transmitted as an unsigned decimal number (in character string representation, note that negative numbers are explicitly not permitted). The fields are separated by commas.
A LPRT command is thus of the general form
LPRT af,hal,h1,h2,h3,h4...,pal,p1,p2...
where h1 is the high order 8 bits of the internet host address, and p1 is the high order 8 bits of the port number (transport address).
3. The LPSV Command
The L(ONG) PASSIVE command requests the server-DTP to listen on a data port other than its default data port and to wait for a connection rather than initiate one upon receipt of a transfer command. The response to this command includes the address family, host address length indicator, host address, port address length, and port address this server is listening on. The reply code and text for entering the passive mode using a long address is 228 (Interpretation according to FTP is: positive completion reply 2yz, connections x2z, passive mode entered using long address xy8). The suggested textual message to accompany this reply code is:
228 Entering Long Passive Mode (af,hal,h1,h2,h3,h4...,pal,p1,p2...)
4. Permanent Negative Completion Reply Codes
The negative completion reply codes that are associated with syntax
errors in the PORT and PASV commands are appropriate for the LPRT and
LPSV commands (500, 501). An additional negative completion reply
code is needed to distinguish the case where a host supports the LPRT
or LPSV command, but does not support the address family specified.
Of the FTP function groupings currently defined for reply codes
(syntax, information, connections, authentication and accounting, and
file system), "connections" seems the most logical choice; thus, an
additional negative command completion reply code, 521 is added, with
the following suggested textual message:
521 Supported address families are (af1, af2, ..., afn)
Where (af1, af2, ..., afn) are the values of the version numbers of
the "next generation" or other protocol families supported. IP
address noted earlier.
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5. Rationale
An explicit address family argument in the LPRT command and LPSV reply allows the Internet community to experiment with a variety of "next generation IP" alternatives within a common FTP implementation framework. (It also allows the use of a different address family on the command and data connections.) An explicit length indicator for the host address is necessary because some of the IPNG alternatives make use of variable length addresses. An explicit host address is necessary because FTP says it's necessary.
The decision to provide a length indicator for the port number is not as obvious, and certainly goes beyond the necessary condition of having to support TCP port numbers. Currently, at least one IPng alternative (TP/IX) supports longer port addresses. And given the increasingly "multi-protocol" nature of the Internet, it seems reasonable that someone, somewhere, might wish to operate FTP operate over Appletalk, IPX, and OSI networks as well as TCP/IP networks. (In theory, FTP should operate over *any* transport protocol that offers the same service as TCP.) Since some of these transport protocols may offer transport selectors or port numbers that exceed 16 bits, a length indicator may be desirable. If FTP must indeed be changed to accommodate larger network addresses, it may be prudent to determine at this time whether the same flexibility is useful or necessary with respect to transport addresses.
6. Conclusions
The mechanism defined here is simple, extensible, and meets both IPNG and possibly multi-protocol internet needs.
7. References
STD 9, RFC 959 Postel, J., and J. Reynolds, "File Transfer Protocol",
STD 9, RFC 959, USC/Information Sciences Institute,
October 1985.
STD 2, RFC 1340 Reynolds, J., and J. Postel, "Assigned Numbers",
STD 2, RFC 1340, USC/Information Sciences Institute,
July 1992. (Does not include recently assigned IPv7
numbers).
STD 3, RFC 1123 Braden, R., Editor, "Requirements for Internet
Hosts - Application and Support", STD 3, RFC 1123,
USC/Information Sciences Institute, October 1989.
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8. Security Considerations
Security issues are not discussed in this memo.
9. Author's Address
David M. Piscitello Bell Communications Research NVC 1C322 331 Newman Springs Road Red Bank, NJ 07701
EMail: dave@mail.bellcore.com
Piscitello [Page 5]
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