Defference between rcp and ftp

[Liu Zhimin]

Why rcp spends much more time than ftp when transferring a lots of files? Which is better to choice?

[Prashanth Waugh]

Hi,

If ur transfering file from unix machine to unix then rcp is best. if y r transfering from unix to windows or windows to unix FTP is best

Regards
Prashant

[Liu Zhimin]

Thanks! I want to transfer files between unix and unix. But I can not believe the fact: time spent much more rcp than ftp.

[Venkatesh BL]

Well, what kind of 'time diff' are you noticing between the two? May be some time is spent on authenticating the copy priviledges between the server and the client. But, should not be too much.

[TTr]

What kind of network you are traversing between these two UNIX servers? FTP by default gets high priority and uses a lot of bandwidth in most network devices in the local network and WAN. Talk to your network admin about a protocol based traffic report. You can also ask for prioretizing rcp traffic but it may not always be an easy task if too many network devices are involved.

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi:

FTP should be faster than 'rcp'. FTP will attempt to send multiple blocks of data while waiting for acknowledgement.

Regards!

...JRF...

[SKR_1]

FTP is best then rcp.

Thanks

SKR

[Liu Zhimin]

Thanks to you all! I decide to choice FTP!

[Dennis Handly]

If you care about security then you should use scp or sftp.

[Steven E. Protter]

The inherent problem of both rcp and ftp is a lack of security.

The data stream in both cases is not encrypted.

The authentication of ftp is is clear text.

Which means the password of the user being used is being transmitted in the clear for all to see with the most simple of network sniffers.

rcp has most of the same problems as ftp.

So, as explanation for Dennis post, my answer is you should use neither.

You should install the HP Secure Shell package, which is HP's openssh port, available at http://h20392.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/displayProductInfo.do?productNumber=T1471AA

And you should set up password free authentication:

http://www.hpux.ws/?p=10

Neither is as fast as rcp or ftp.

But having a secure authentication AND data stream is going to make you look good on your next security audit.

SEP