IP Networking and Security(IP) HTTP & FTP Services

3 HTTP & FTP SERVEICES

STRUCTURE
3.1 INTRODUCTION

3.2 OBJECTIVES

3.3 HTTP

3.4 HTML

3.5 FTP

3.6 FTP SESSSION

3.7 TFTP

3.8 SUMMARY

3.9 SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

3.10 REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED FURTHER READINGS

3.1 INTRODUCTION
HTTP is a request/ response protocol. A web client establishes a connection with a Web
server and sends a resource request. The request contains a request method, protocol
version, followed by a MIME-like message. The message contains request modifiers,
client information, and possible body content.

3.2 OBJECTIVES
After reading this unit, you should be able to understand:
a) HTTP
b) FTP

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3.3 Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP)

HTTP is a request/ response protocol. A web client establishes a connection with a Web
server and sends a resource request. The request contains a request method, protocol
version, followed by a MIME-like message. The message contains request modifiers,
client information, and possible body content.
The Web server responds with a status line, including the message’s protocol version and
a success or error code. It is followed by a MIME-link message containing server
information, entity meta-information, and possible body content. Figure 2 shows where
the HTTP layer fits into Web client and servers.
Web Client
Web Server

Virtual
HTTP HTTP
Connection

TCP/IP TCP/IP
Protocol Internet Protocol
Suite Suite

Fig. 2 The Web client communicates with the Web server using an
HTTP virtual circuit

Details of HTTP can be found in the following Request for comments (RFC) :
 HTTP 1.0 specifications are described in RFC 1945:
http:// www.cis.ohio-state.edu/htbin/rfc/rfc1945.html
 MIME specifications are described in RFC 1521:
http:// www.cis.ohio-state.edu/htbin/rfc/rfc1521.html

Hypertext : The Motion Of The Web

The operation of the Web relies primarily on hypertext as its means of information
retrieval. HyperText is a document containing words that connect to other documents.
These words are called links and are selectable by the user. A single hypertext document
can contain links to many documents. In the context of the Web, words or graphics may
serve as links to other documents, images, video, and sound. Links may or may not
follow a logical path, as each connection is programmed by the creator of the source

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document. Overall, the WWW contains a complex virtual web of connections among a
vast number of documents, graphics, videos, and sounds.
Producing hypertext for the Web is accomplished by creating documents with a language
called Hyper Text Markup Language, or HTML. With HTML, tags are placed within the
text to accomplish document formatting, visual features such as font size, italics and
bold, and the creation of hypertext links. Graphics may also be incorporated into an
HTML document. HTML is an evolving language, with new tags being added as each
upgrade of the language is developed and released. The World Wide Web Consortium,
led by Tim Berners-Lee, co-ordinates the efforts of standardising HTML.

3.4 Understanding HyperText Markup Language (HTML)

Client Client

Graphical
User Web
Interface Resources

Web
HTML Server

HTTP HTTP

TCP/ IP TCP/ IP
Protocol Protocol
Suit Internet Suit

Figure 3 HTML is transported between the web client and web server over the HTTP
virtual connection.

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The HyperText Markup Language is a document-layout, hyperlink specification, and
markup language. Web clients use it to generate resource requests for Web servers,, and
to process output returned by the Web server for presentation. A markup language
described what text means and what it is supposed to look like. Figure 3 shows where
the HTML layer fits into Web clients.
A fundamental property of HTML is that the text it describes can be rendered on most
devices. A single HTML Web page on a Web server can be displayed on a PC, Mac,
UNIX, and so on.
HTML 3.2 specifications are available online at : http:// www.w3c.org/

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WEB CLIENT/ SERVER

A web is similar to the server in client/ server technology. The server, in client/ server
technology, usually connects to a database. The client, in client/ server technology,
makes a data request to the server, processes the returned data, and presents the result
through a graphical user interface.

A web client makes a resource request to the Web server, processes the returned
resource, and presents the result through a graphical user interface.
The difference between a server, in client/ server technology, and a Web server seems to
be one accepts requests for data, and the other accepts requests for a resource. The
differences are dramatic as we look closer.

Web
Client

Graphical
User
Interface

Server

Applicati
Database
on Logic

Database
Client Server

Vendor Vendor
Network Network
Software Software
Internet

Fig. 4 Above Client/ Server concept : A “fat client”

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The server, in client/ server technology, is typically a specialised database server. The
Microsoft SQL server product is a good example. A database server receives requests for
data from a client through a vendor proprietary network software. It locates the data and
returns it. The client applies application logic to the data, and presents the result through
a graphical user interface. This is a “fat client” because the application logic is in the
client. Figure 4 illustrates client/ server components.
Not just any client in client/ server technology can request data from the database server.
All clients must run the correct vendor proprietary network software. Like-wise, A
database server can only locate the return data form the vendor proprietary database,
without using a database gateway to another proprietary database.
The network connection between the client and the database server remains until one or
the other closes it, or until the network fails. The database server retains state information
about the client for the entire lifetime for the connection. This saves the database server
time in completing requests for data.

Web servers receive requests for a resource from Web client through the standard TCP/
IP protocol Suite. The resource can be a file, or data returned by another process. The
Web server locates the file and returns it, or executes another process, supplies it with
input, and returns the output. The Web client does not apply application logic to the
resource. It presents the resource through a graphical user interface. This is a “thin client”
because it does not contain application logic. Figure 5 illustrates Web client/ server
components.

Client
Client

Graphical Web
User Resources
Interface

Database
Web
Server
Client

TCP/ IP TCP/ IP
Protocol Protocol
Internet
Suit Suit

Fig. 5 Client/ Server concept : A “thin client”

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Any web client can request a resource from any Web server, and any Web server can
request a resource from any other web server. This is possible because they use the
standard TCP/IP Protocol Suite.
The network connection between the Web client and Web server remains only until the
Web server has returned the resource. The Web server does not retain any state
information about the Web client.

3.5 File Transfer Protocol

The Internet File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is defined by RFC 959 published in 1985. It
provides facilities for transferring to and from remote computer systems. Usually the user
transferring a file needs authority to login and access files on the remote system. The
common facility known as anonymous FTP actually works via a special type of public
guest account implemented on the remote system.

3.6 FTP Session

An FTP session normally involves the interaction of five software elements.

User
This provides a user interface and drives the client protocol interpreter.
Interface

This is the client protocol interpreter. It issues commands to the remote server
Client PI
protocol interpreter and it also drives the client data transfer process.

This is the server protocol interpreter which responds to commands issued by

Server PI
the client protocol interpreter and drives the server data transfer process.

This is the client data transfer process responsible for communicating with
Client DTP
the server data transfer process and the local file system.

This is the server data transfer process responsible for communicating with
Server DTP
the client data transfer process and the remote file system.

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User
User
I/F

Server
FTP Commands User PI
PI

FTP Replies

File File
System System

Server
Data
User
DTP
DTP
Connection

FTP Server FTP User

Five software elements of FTP

RFC 959 refers to the user rather than the client. RFC 959 defines the means by which
the two PIs talk to each other and by which the two DTPs talk to each other. The user
interface and the mechanism by which the PIs talk to the DTPs are not part of the
standard. It is common practice for the PI and DTP functionalities to be part of the same
program but this is not essential.
During an FTP session there will be two separate network connections one between the
PIs and one between the DTPs. The connection between the PIs is known as the control
connection. The connection between the DTPs is known as the data connection.

The control and data connections use TCP.

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Client System Server

System

Control
a Control dataata

Available Ports Port-21 Port-20

Client Data
Server

TCP
/IP
Inte
rnet

The use of separate connections for control and data offers the advantages that the two
connections can select different appropriate qualities of service e.g. minimum delay for
the control connection and maximum throughput for the data connection, it also avoids
problems of providing escape and transparency for commands embedded within the data
stream.
When a transfer is being set up it always initiated by the client, however either the client
or the server may be the sender of data. As well as transferring user requested files, the
data transfer mechanism is also used for transferring directory listings from server to
client.

3.7 TFTP PROTOCOL

TFTP is a simple protocol to transfer files, and therefore was named the Trivial File
Transfer Protocol or TFTP. It has been implemented on top of the Internet User
Datagram protocol (UDP or Datagram) so it may be used to move files between
machines on different networks implementing UDP. (This should not exclude the
possibility of implementing TFTP on top of other datagram protocols.) It is designed to
be small and easy to implement. Therefore, it lacks most of the features of a regular
FTP. The only thing it can do is read and write files (or mail) from/to a remote server.
It cannot list directories, and currently has no provisions for user authentication. In
common with other Internet protocols, it passes 8 bit bytes of data.

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3.8 SUMMARY
In normal Internet operation the FTP server listens on the well-known port number 21 for
control connection requests. The choice of port numbers for the data connection depends
on the commands issued on the control connection. Conventionally the client sends a
control message which indicates the port number on which the client is prepared to
accept an incoming data connection request.

3.9 SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

a) How HTTP works?
b) Explain HTTP process
c) Explain FTP session
d) How FTP is different than TFTP?

3.10 REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED FURTHER READINGS

 Andrew S. Tanenbaum, D. J. (2010). Computer Networks (5th Edition).
 Stallings, W. (2010). Data and Computer Communications (9th Edition).
 http://compnetworking.about.com
 http://www.techiwarehouse.com

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