netrc(5) [ultrix man page]

netrc(5) File Formats Manual netrc(5)

Name
netrc - file used by ftp auto-login procedure (.netrc)

Description
The file contains frequently needed options for transfers. The file resides in the owner's home directory on the machine from which the
owner initiates the file transfer. If the file includes passwords, set permissions on the file with so that only the owner has read per-
mission.

The file uses the following format:

o Each line of the file defines options for a specific machine.

o A line in the file can be either a machine line or a default line.

o The default line must be the first line in the file if it is present.

o Fields in a default line appear in this order: default, default machine name.

o Fields in a machine line appear in this order: machine, machine name, options.

o Fields on each line are separated by spaces or tabs.

The following are valid options for a machine line:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Option Parameter Default Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------
machine machine name none Identifies a remote
machine name
login name local name Identifies user on the
remote machine
password password none Password for remote
login name
account password none Additional account password
macdef macro name none Defines a macro like the
ftp macdef command
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Example
This is an example of a file:
machine cactus login smith
machine nic.ddn.mil login anonymous password anonymous
machine palm.stateu.edu login smith password ualonerwelcome
macdef byenow
quit

macdef ls
dir

The first line allows to log Smith into the machine after prompting for and receiving Smith's password, as shown in this example:
$ ftp cactus
Connected to cactus.tech.edu
FTP server ready.
Password required for SMITH.
User logged in
ftp>

The second line of the file allows the user to perform an anonymous transfer after typing this command:
$ ftp nic.ddn.mil
See for a description of anonymous FTP transfers.

The third line allows Smith to log into the machine Smith will not be prompted for a password because this machine line includes password
information. Because the file includes password information, the file must not have read permission set for world and group.

The lines are macro definitions, which operate much like shell aliases. A blank line must follow each macro definition to signal the end
of the macro. The first macro definition defines as an alias for the command.

Check Out this Related Man Page

NETRC(5)						      BSD File Formats Manual							  NETRC(5)

NAME

     netrc -- user configuration for ftp

SYNOPSIS

     ~/.netrc

DESCRIPTION

     This file contains configuration and autologin information for the File Transfer Protocol client ftp(1).

     The .netrc file contains login and initialization information used by the auto-login process.  It resides in the user's home directory.  The
     following tokens are recognized; they may be separated by spaces, tabs, or new-lines:

     machine name
	       Identify a remote machine name.	The auto-login process searches the .netrc file for a machine token that matches the remote
	       machine specified on the ftp command line or as an open command argument.  Once a match is made, the subsequent .netrc tokens are
	       processed, stopping when the end of file is reached or another machine or a default token is encountered.

     default   This is the same as machine name except that default matches any name.  There can be only one default token, and it must be after
	       all machine tokens.  This is normally used as:

		     default login anonymous password user@site

	       thereby giving the user automatic anonymous ftp login to machines not specified in .netrc.  This can be overridden by using the -n
	       flag to disable auto-login.

     login name
	       Identify a user on the remote machine.  If this token is present, the auto-login process will initiate a login using the specified
	       name.

     password string
	       Supply a password.  If this token is present, the auto-login process will supply the specified string if the remote server requires
	       a password as part of the login process.  Note that if this token is present in the .netrc file for any user other than anonymous,
	       ftp will abort the auto-login process if the .netrc is readable by anyone besides the user.

     account string
	       Supply an additional account password.  If this token is present, the auto-login process will supply the specified string if the
	       remote server requires an additional account password, or the auto-login process will initiate an ACCT command if it does not.

     macdef name
	       Define a macro.	This token functions like the ftp macdef command functions.  A macro is defined with the specified name; its con-
	       tents begin with the next .netrc line and continue until a null line (consecutive new-line characters) is encountered.  If a macro
	       named init is defined, it is automatically executed as the last step in the auto-login process.

SEE ALSO

     ftp(1), ftpd(8)

Linux NetKit (0.17)						September 23, 1997					       Linux NetKit (0.17)

Linux and UNIX Man Pages

netrc(5) [ultrix man page]

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