ultrix man page for netrc

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.

See Also
       ftp(1c)

																	  netrc(5)