DEV Community

Cover image for TFTP ( Trivial File Transfer Protocol ) Server and Client Configurations
AyushDabhi
AyushDabhi

Posted on

2

TFTP ( Trivial File Transfer Protocol ) Server and Client Configurations

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

  1. Lightweight: TFTP is designed to be lightweight, meaning
    it uses fewer system resources than other file transfer
    protocols such as network switches and
    routers.

  2. Simple: TFTP has a simple packet format and supports only
    two transfer modes, making it easy to implement and use.

  3. Fast: TFTP uses the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) instead
    of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which makes it
    faster than other protocols.

  4. Easy to configure: TFTP is easy to configure and does not
    require complex setup or authentication.

  5. Widely supported: TFTP is widely supported by many network
    devices, including routers, switches, and firewalls.

  6. Low overhead: TFTP has a low overhead, meaning it uses
    minimal network bandwidth and system resources.

Disadvantages of TFTP

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Limited file size: TFTP has a maximum file size limit of 32 MB, which makes it unsuitable for transferring large files.

  4. 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
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

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
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Step 3: Check the status of the TFTP daemon service called "tftpd-hpa" on a Linux system

sudo systemctl status tftpd-hpa
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

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
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Step 5 : Make tftp Folder

sudo mkdir /tftp
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Step 6 : Change the ownership of the directory "/tftp" to the user and group "tftp" on a Linux system.

sudo chown tftp:tftp /tftp
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Step 7 : Restart the TFTP daemon service called "tftpd-hpa" on a Linux system.

sudo systemctl restart tftpd-hpa
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

How can we configure TFTP Client in Ubuntu?

Step 1 :

sudo apt install tftp-hpa
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

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>

Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Server Command

ip a show
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

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>>
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Step 2 : Download a file called "server.txt" from a remote TFTP server to the local system.

get server.txt
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Server Command

Upload a file called "client.txt" from the local system to a remote TFTP server.

put client.txt
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

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.

Image of AssemblyAI tool

Transforming Interviews into Publishable Stories with AssemblyAI

Insightview is a modern web application that streamlines the interview workflow for journalists. By leveraging AssemblyAI's LeMUR and Universal-2 technology, it transforms raw interview recordings into structured, actionable content, dramatically reducing the time from recording to publication.

Key Features:
🎥 Audio/video file upload with real-time preview
🗣️ Advanced transcription with speaker identification
⭐ Automatic highlight extraction of key moments
✍️ AI-powered article draft generation
📤 Export interview's subtitles in VTT format

Read full post

Top comments (0)

Image of AssemblyAI

Automatic Speech Recognition with AssemblyAI

Experience near-human accuracy, low-latency performance, and advanced Speech AI capabilities with AssemblyAI's Speech-to-Text API. Sign up today and get $50 in API credit. No credit card required.

Try the API

👋 Kindness is contagious

Explore a sea of insights with this enlightening post, highly esteemed within the nurturing DEV Community. Coders of all stripes are invited to participate and contribute to our shared knowledge.

Expressing gratitude with a simple "thank you" can make a big impact. Leave your thanks in the comments!

On DEV, exchanging ideas smooths our way and strengthens our community bonds. Found this useful? A quick note of thanks to the author can mean a lot.

Okay