rftp(1) rftp(1)
NAME
rftp - reconstruct a mail-retrieved ftp file from the mail spool
directory
SYNOPSIS
rftp -eV[-b | -f]
DESCRIPTION
rftp reconstitutes files retrieved from ftp sources and (typically)
compressed, uuencoded, and split into N parts.
The command, frftp -b issued anywhere from your account will initiate
rftp as a daemon process that wakes up every N seconds (default is
900) and checks the mail spooler. If your ftp files have been
received and if they can be processed to reconstruct whatever you
requested from bitftp, (bitftp@pucc.princeton.edu), then the file will
be reconstructed and placed in a temporary directorry, $HOME/ftptmp.
-e Checks your environment. If this information is incorrect, you
need to check the header rftp.h. -V Prints the current version.
The commmand rftp -f works similarly for files retrieved by ftpmail,
(ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com).
rftp does a considerable amount of error checking in attempting to
make sure that the files are reconstructed properly. It mails various
error messages to whomever you designate (default is $USER), and in
most cases, recovers and continues to attempt to reconstruct the
mailed ftp file.
ERROR CONDITIONS
Mail will inform you of the following errors that will cause the
daemon process to exit:
1. If the information file returned by the bitftp or ftpmail servers
indicated an initial failure.
2. If a valid filename is not returned.
3. If the ftp host is not found.
4. If those files returned could not be successfully reconstructed
into the ftp file requested. (Some parts of the file may have been
missing.)
5. If the last-numbered part could not be determined.
6. If write permission to create the temporary files is not
permitted.
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rftp(1) rftp(1)
7. If $HOME/ftptmp/ftpmail exists as unwritable by rftp. (In this
instance, you should determine what the file is and remove it from the
$HOME/ftptmp directory before running rftp again.)
8. If the environment variables HOME and USER are not set.
9. If permission is refused to create the $HOME/ftptmp directory.
EXAMPLES
For example, the following in the body of mail sent to
bitftp@pucc.princeton.edu
FTP prep.ai.mit.edu UUENCODE
USER anonymous
cd /pub/gnu
get tar-1.12.shar.gz
QUIT
will eventually result in your receiving 29 files: 28 uuencoded,
split, and numbered files of ``tar-1.12.shar.gz'', and one file which
details the processing by bitftp@pucc.princeton.edu. Saving 28 files
in correct order, then uucat'ing, and uudecoding is not an
extraordinary problem. But doing the same with 50 or more files can be
a tedious undertaking, subject to error. rftp was written to
eliminate the errors that are likely with the larger number of files
send back.
This, send to bitftp@pucc.princeton.edu
FTP prep.ai.mit.edu UUENCODE
USER anonymous
cd /pub/gnu
dir
QUIT
will return a complete list (``ls -l'') of the /pub/gnu directory of
prep.ai.mit.edi.
In an analogous fashion, the following mail to ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com
reply your_login@your_host.addr.org
connect archive.cis.ohio-state.edu
compress
uuencode
dir /pub/backup
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rftp(1) rftp(1)
get backup-2.6beta.tar.Z
quit
will result in 22 files being saved (in correct order), uucat'd,
uudecoded, and finally stored as ``backup-2.6beta.tar.Z''
NOTES
rftp presently only reconstructs two kinds of encoded and split files,
and only ones that are uuencoded.
rftp leaves all mail untouched in the spool directory. When the
reconstruction is complete, you can delete anything you wish to by
hand.
Wide use of this tool, or one similar, should significantly reduce the
number of ftp-mailed files being requested a second or third time.
SEE ALSO
uudecode(1), uucat(1)
BUG REPORTS TO
Gary Kline kline@tao.thought.org
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