How to Download Files and Directories from an FTP Server Using Terminal in Linux: Wget vs. Curl

To efficiently download files and directories from an FTP server to your local system in Linux, consider using tools like Wget or Curl. Here are sample commands for both tools, along with relevant configuration tips.

Using Wget:

bash

wget -r ftp://username:password@ftp_address/path_to_directory

In this command:

  • username: Your username on the FTP server.
  • password: Password for your FTP account.
  • ftp_address: Address of the FTP server.
  • path_to_directory: Full path to the directory you want to download.

Using Curl:

bash

curl -O ftp://username:password@ftp_address/path_to_directory/*

In this case:

  • username: Your username on the FTP server.
  • password: Password for your FTP account.
  • ftp_address: Address of the FTP server.
  • path_to_directory: Full path to the directory you want to download.

Please note that storing the password in the command is secure only if you are certain that no one can access command history or other places where the command might be saved. It's safer to use SSH keys for authentication if the FTP server supports it."

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