FTP - executable file permission

[David Shore]

What is the umask setting to allow a file that is FTP'd to be executable?
Currently any file that is FTP'd to my HP UX 11.0 box is 664 (-rw-rw-r--)

[Steven E. Protter · Accepted solution]

Yes:

Write a cron script that periodically checks permissions on the directory and changes them.

There is no way in Unix to have default executable permissions on a file without a second act allowing executable permissions.

The reasoning behind this is that the designers of Unix want a human being to think before granting such priviledges. This is for security reasons.

Having this happen automatically makes it to easy to upload damaging code to a server.

SEP

[Graham Cameron_1]

If you are copying from another unix box, you can use tar or cpio with rcp to copy files, this will retain ownerships and permissions.
In some places, including here, rcp is forbidden, but rexec, which prompts for password, is ok.
Syntax, to copy files under somedir on source box, to destdir on destbox using account destdir, is
--
cd somedir
tar cf - .|rexec destbox -l destid "cd destdir;tar xvf -"
--
You will be asked for the password for destid. If you omit the "-l destid" you will be askd for the password for whatever id you are logged in as on the source box.
-- GRaham