ZFTP is a file transfer program tuned to the needs of the HEP environment. Using the standard FTP program, files often reach the remote system in an unreadable format. This is due to differences such as file format (presence or absence of FORTRAN control words etc.) or, more importantly, differences used in the internal representation of data between machines. When files are transferred between systems using ZFTP, these problems are solved. Not only is data conversion performed automatically on the fly, but the file format is such that no further manipulation is required before processing with standard programs. Thus, an ntuple file produced on the Cray may be transferred to an Apollo workstation with a single command.
In addition, considerable advantages arise from the standard interface on all systems and the power of KUIP which provides macros and many other facilities. All of the functionality is also available through FORTRAN routines which are available as part of PACKLIB. This is used to advantage in the FATMEN package, to provide convenient remote file transfer.
The ZFTP program is started by typing the command zftp. As with the standard ftp program, if the nodename is given on the command-line, a connection will be established to that node, e.g. zftp vxcrnb Otherwise, use the OPEN command to establish a connection to a remote machine.
Valid options are described in the description of the OPEN command.