FTP.CGIAR.ORG: Anonymous/private FTP service for CGIAR Research Centers
Description of the service
CGNET has just set up a new FTP server for use by the CGIAR research centers. The server is a Pentium P266 running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Internet Information Server 4.0 (IIS4). The service consists of discrete private and public FTP areas, accessible with separate user ids and passwords. These areas can be administered by the IT director, or his/her delegate, at each center.
Each center initially receives five private FTP areas and one anonymous FTP area on ftp.cgiar.org. These areas can be administered as the center chooses. They come with seven accounts:
- One master account with read and write access to all of the areas;
- Five individual accounts, each with read\write access to one of the private areas;
- One anonymous area management account, with write access to the anonymous area (the anonymous area is world-readable.)
Passwords can be distributed to individuals or groups that need an FTP area. The master administrator can create subdirectories under the organization's private and/or anonymous areas. Password administration will be handled by CGNET. Additional private areas are available on request.
Using the FTP Service
Due to the way IIS4’s FTP service works, views of the directories through a plain vanilla FTP client can be inconsistent. If you use an FTP client with a GUI interface, some navigation may require the FTP command line.
As Master administrator:
The master account is called, for example, CIPFTP00. Connecting via FTP to ftp.cgiar.org, and logging in as CIPFTP00 with the appropriate password, takes one automatically to the CIPFPT00 home directory. A directory listing at this point shows the various subdirectories: 01, 02, 03, 04 and 05. The user can use the "cd" command to change to any of these. The user can also change directories to the center’s anonymous area by typing "cd anon". However, this directory is not visible in the listing beforehand. The master account has write privileges to any of these directories, including its own home directory.
As one of the five private area administrators:
An individual account is called, for example, CIPFTP03. Connecting to ftp.cgiar.org, and logging in as CIPFTP03 with the appropriate password, takes one automatically into the 03 subdirectory of the CIP area. A directory listing at this point will show any content in that area, as well as any subdirectories there.
As the anonymous area administrator:
An anonymous administrative account is called, for example, CIPFTPANON. Connecting to ftp.cgiar.org, and logging in as CIPFTPANON with the appropriate password, takes one automatically into the CIP subdirectory of the anonymous area. A directory listing at this point will show any content in that area, as well as any subdirectories there.
Please note that as any of the above users, if you are in your default area and you issue the "cd.." command to drop down one directory, you find yourself at the anonymous root directory. It can be difficult to find your way back to the directory you came from, and the easiest solution is probably to quit out of your FTP client and reconnect.
All of these areas are available from a web browser as well.
Here are some example URLs:
- To access the CIP master area as the CIP master user:
ftp://cipftp00:cipftp00password@ftp.cgiar.org - To access the CIP private area #3 as the CIP master user:
ftp://cipftp00:cipftp00password@ftp.cgiar.org/03 - To access the CIP private area #2 as CIP area #2 administrator:
ftp://cipftp02:cipftp02password@ftp.cgiar.org/02 - To access the CIP anonymous area as CIP anon area administrator:
ftp://cipftpanon:cipftpanonpassword@ftp.cgiar.org/anon - To access the CIP anonymous area as an anonymous user:
ftp://ftp.cgiar.org/cip
For more information
Please contact n.balzer@cgnet.com