---
name: "simpleftp"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "inn"
version: "2.7.4-4"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/simpleftp"
---

# simpleftp(1)

Rudimentary FTP and HTTP(S) client

## NAME

simpleftp - Rudimentary FTP and HTTP(S) client

## SYNOPSIS

**simpleftp** *url* \[...\]

## DESCRIPTION

**simpleftp** is a Perl script that provides basic support for fetching files in a batch oriented fashion.  It takes one or more FTP or HTTP(S) URLs on the command line.  The file(s) will be retrieved from the remote FTP or web server(s) and placed in the current directory with the same basename as on the remote; e.g., \<https://downloads.isc.org/pub/usenet/CONFIG/active.gz\> is stored as *active.gz* in the current directory.

The script properly understands usernames, passwords and ports specified as follows:

```
    ftp://user:password@host:port/path/file
```

**simpleftp** has a hard-coded timeout of 30 seconds.  It uses binary mode and passive mode for FTP data transfers.

It exits with status 0 on success.  Otherwise, the exit status is the number of failed transfers.

INN only uses **simpleftp** when running **actsyncd**.  If **wget** (or also **ncftpget** or **ncftp** for the sole scope of FTP) is found at configure time, then it will be used instead of this script.

## BUGS

**simpleftp** is an extremely poor substitute for more complete programs like the freely available **wget** utility you are encouraged to use instead. It was written only to provide elementary support in INN for non-interactive fetching of the files in \<https://downloads.isc.org/pub/pgpcontrol/\> or \<https://downloads.isc.org/pub/usenet/CONFIG/\> without requiring administrators to install yet another package.  Its shortcomings as a general purpose program are too numerous to mention, but one that stands out is that downloaded files by **simpleftp** override existing files with the same name in the local directory.

HTTP support requires the `"HTTP::Tiny"` Perl module, only installed in Perl 5.14.0 and above as a Perl core module.  Besides, the `"IO::Socket::SSL"` and `"Net::SSLeay"` Perl modules are required for HTTPS support.  In case they are not installed, **simpleftp** cannot handle these protocols.

## HISTORY

Tossed off by David C Lawrence \<tale@isc.org\> for InterNetNews. Rewritten to use `"HTTP::Tiny"` and `"Net::FTP"` by Julien Élie.

## SEE ALSO

[actsync(8)](/actsync/8.md).