What is TFTP ?
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) is a simple file
transfer protocol that allows a client to retrieve or
transfer files from a server.
It is a UDP-based protocol that uses port 69 for
communication.
TFTP supports only two transfer modes: "netascii" and
"octet." Netascii mode is used for transferring text files,
while octet mode is used for transferring binary files.
Advantages of TFTP
Lightweight: TFTP is designed to be lightweight, meaning
it uses fewer system resources than other file transfer
protocols such as network switches and
routers.Simple: TFTP has a simple packet format and supports only
two transfer modes, making it easy to implement and use.Fast: TFTP uses the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) instead
of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which makes it
faster than other protocols.Easy to configure: TFTP is easy to configure and does not
require complex setup or authentication.Widely supported: TFTP is widely supported by many network
devices, including routers, switches, and firewalls.Low overhead: TFTP has a low overhead, meaning it uses
minimal network bandwidth and system resources.
Disadvantages of TFTP
No authentication: TFTP does not provide any authentication mechanisms, which means that anyone who has access to the TFTP server can download or upload files to it.
Slow transfer speeds: TFTP uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol), which does not provide any error-checking or congestion control mechanisms. This can lead to slower transfer speeds.
Limited file size: TFTP has a maximum file size limit of 32 MB, which makes it unsuitable for transferring large files.
No encryption: TFTP does not provide any encryption mechanisms, which means that data transferred using TFTP can be intercepted and read by third parties.
How can we configure TFTP server in Ubuntu?
Step 1: Open the terminal and update the package lists for apt
sudo apt update
Step 2: Install the TFTP server software on the PC that will act as the server using the following command:
sudo apt install tftpd-hpa
Step 3: Check the status of the TFTP daemon service called "tftpd-hpa" on a Linux system
sudo systemctl status tftpd-hpa
Step 4 : Open and edit the configuration file for the TFTP daemon service called "tftpd-hpa" on a Linux system
sudo gedit /etc/default/tftpd-hpa
Step 5 : Make tftp Folder
sudo mkdir /tftp
Step 6 : Change the ownership of the directory "/tftp" to the user and group "tftp" on a Linux system.
sudo chown tftp:tftp /tftp
Step 7 : Restart the TFTP daemon service called "tftpd-hpa" on a Linux system.
sudo systemctl restart tftpd-hpa
How can we configure TFTP Client in Ubuntu?
Step 1 :
sudo apt install tftp-hpa
If you got errrors run below commands
sudo lsof /var/lib/dpkg/lock
sudo lsof /var/lib/apt/lists/lock
sudo lsof /var/cache/apt/archives/lock
sudo rm /var/lib/apt/lists/lock
sudo rm /var/cache/apt/archives/lock
sudo rm /var/lib/dpkg/lock
sudo kill -9 <process_id>
Server Command
ip a show
Client Command
Step 1 : Start a TFTP client session with a TFTP server located at the specified IP address.
sudo tftp <<server's ip_address>>
Step 2 : Download a file called "server.txt" from a remote TFTP server to the local system.
get server.txt
Server Command
Upload a file called "client.txt" from the local system to a remote TFTP server.
put client.txt
Conclusion
Overall, TFTP is a simple and lightweight protocol that is suitable for transferring small files in a low-security environment. However, it may not be the best choice for transferring sensitive or large files, or for use in high-security environments where data privacy is a concern.
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