Trivial File Transfer Protocol

The Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) can read and write files to and from a foreign host.

Because TFTP uses the unreliable User Datagram Protocol to transport files, it is generally quicker than FTP. Like FTP, TFTP can transfer files as either NETASCII characters or as 8-bit binary data. Unlike FTP, TFTP cannot be used to list or change directories at a foreign host and it has no provisions for security like password protection. Also, data can be written or retrieved only in public directories.

TCP/IP implements TFTP in the tftp and utftp user commands and in the tftpd server command. The utftp command is a form of the tftp command for use in a pipe. TCP/IP does not provide an API to this protocol.

For more information, see the tftp or utftp command description and the tftpd daemon description in Commands Reference, Volume 5.