Telnet is effective for troubleshooting file transfer problems

Telnet is effective for troubleshooting file transfer problems

[Must-see for site administrators] Telnet is surprisingly useful for file transfer!

For website administrators, file transfer problems are a major issue that affects update work. Because websites are published via a server, specialized knowledge is required to troubleshoot problems. However, in some cases, it can be cost prohibitive to have a specialized engineer on-site just for that purpose. In this article, we will introduce how to use telnet to troubleshoot file transfer problems.

1. Telnet is useful for file transfer

Have you ever experienced an error that prevented you from uploading files to the server when updating your company's website? Furthermore, some FTP software only displays vague messages like "Name not found" or "Communication not possible," leaving you unsure of how to deal with the situation.

If you are unable to upload files to a server due to an unknown error, there are several ways to find out the cause. One of the easiest ways is to connect to the server via telnet. Telnet is a protocol used to access another computer via a TCP/IP network and remotely control servers, primarily FTP servers and mail servers.

With telnet, the device (PC) that connects to the server and remotely controls it is called the "telnet client," and the device being remotely controlled (PC, server, router, etc.) is called the "telnet server." To use telnet, telnet must be installed on both the client and server sides beforehand.

2. Check the status of file transfer using telnet

To troubleshoot a problem, you first need to know the current status of the device in question. Telnet is one way to find out the current status of a device.

To find the cause of an error using telnet, enter your ID and password from the client to connect to the server. Then manually send a command. Then, check the message returned from the server. By repeating this process, you can find the cause of the error.

Telnet has been around since the early days of the TCP/IP protocol. Telnet only carries out simple text-based communication. However, precisely because of its simplicity, it is the ideal protocol for investigating the exchange of basic commands, data, status, etc., and as a result, it can also be used to investigate the cause of problems when file transfer, etc. occur.

Since telnet cannot encrypt communications, it has recently been replaced with SSH (Secure Shell), which does, but telnet is still used because it has many advantages over telnet.

3. Telnet for remotely troubleshooting file transfer issues

One of the greatest advantages of telnet is its versatility. Not only can it be used across operating systems such as Windows, UNIX, Linux, and MAC, but it can also be used to remotely control various network devices such as routers and printers in completely different environments (server functionality has been discontinued in Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 and later, and only client functionality is available).

Furthermore, telnet allows for remote control, so you can remotely troubleshoot file transfer and other issues without being near the PC or network device. If your company has a server engineer on-site, they can respond immediately when a problem occurs. However, there are not many companies that have a dedicated engineer on-site. Few companies employ engineers just to deal with problems that may occur at any time.

Telnet allows remote control, which gives you a wider range of options in case something goes wrong, so it's a good idea to remember it.

summary

Telnet is extremely useful in emergencies and has three major advantages.

  1. Identifying the cause of file transfer problems leads to quicker solutions
  2. Compatible with various operating systems including Windows, UNIX, Linux, and MAC, allowing use in any environment
  3. Can be operated from a distance

However, to fundamentally resolve issues such as file transfer problems, specialized server knowledge is still required. Therefore, it is important for website administrators to be aware of the existence of telnet, and to have a system in place to collaborate with external engineers who can be called upon immediately in an emergency, in order to minimize the impact of problems.

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