How to recursively download a folder via FTP on Linux

How to 🔄 Recursively Download a Folder via FTP on Linux

So, you want to download an entire folder via FTP on your Linux system, but you've hit a roadblock 🛑 with only being able to get individual files using the 'get' command? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of recursively downloading a folder using the command line FTP client. 🚀

The Problem 😕

The command line FTP client on Linux does not have a built-in option to recursively download folders. This can be frustrating when you need to transfer an entire directory with its subdirectories and files. But fear not! We're here to help you overcome this limitation with a solution that works like a charm. 💪

The Solution ✔️

To recursively download a folder via FTP on Linux, you can make use of the ncftpget command. Here's how you can do it:

1. Install ncftp if you haven't already:

   sudo apt-get install ncftp

2. Use the following command to download the folder:

   ncftpget -R ftp.example.com /remote/path/to/folder /local/path/to/save

   • ftp.example.com is the FTP server address.

   • /remote/path/to/folder is the path of the folder on the server.

   • /local/path/to/save is the path where you want to save the folder locally.

That's it! The ncftpget command will automatically download the folder along with all its subdirectories and files. 🎉

Common Issues and Troubleshooting 🔍

1. Permission Denied 💔 - If you encounter a "Permission Denied" error, make sure you have the necessary permissions to access the folder on the FTP server. Contact your server administrator or check your login credentials.

2. Connection Timeout ⏰ - If you experience connection timeouts, ensure that you have a stable internet connection. You can also try increasing the timeout duration by using the -t option in the ncftpget command.

Your Turn! 💬

Now that you know how to recursively download folders via FTP on Linux, give it a try and let us know how it goes! Have you ever encountered any challenges while working with FTP on Linux? Share your experiences in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you! 😊

Happy downloading! 📂💻