FTP reply code table

Reply Short Description Detailed Description
1yz Positive Preliminary Reply The requested action is being initiated; expect another reply before proceeding with a new command. (The user-process sending another command before the completion reply would be in violation of protocol; but server-FTP processes should queue any commands that arrive while a preceding command is in progress.) This type of reply can be used to indicate that the command was accepted and the user-process may now pay attention to the data connections, for implementations where simultaneous monitoring is difficult. The server-FTP process may send at most, one 1yz reply per command.
2yz Positive Completion Reply The requested action has been successfully completed. A new request may be initiated.
3yz Positive Intermediate Reply The command has been accepted, but the requested action is being held in abeyance, pending receipt of further information. The user should send another command specifying this information. This reply is used in command sequence groups.
4yz Transient Negative Completion Reply The command was not accepted and the requested action did not take place, but the error condition is temporary and the action may be requested again. The user should return to the beginning of the command sequence, if any. It is difficult to assign a meaning to "transient", particularly when two distinct sites (Server- and User-processes) have to agree on the interpretation. Each reply in the 4yz category might have a slightly different time value, but the intent is that the user-process is encouraged to try again. A rule of thumb in determining if a reply fits into the 4yz or the 5yz (Permanent Negative) category is that replies are 4yz if the commands can be repeated without any change in command form or in properties of the User or Server (e.g., the command is spelled the same with the same arguments used; the user does not change his file access or user name; the server does not put up a new implementation.)
5yz Permanent Negative Completion Reply The command was not accepted and the requested action did not take place. The User-process is discouraged from repeating the exact request (in the same sequence). Even some "permanent" error conditions can be corrected, so the human user may want to direct his User-process to reinitiate the command sequence by direct action at some point in the future (e.g., after the spelling has been changed, or the user has altered his directory status.)
x0z Syntax Error These replies refer to syntax errors, syntactically correct commands that don't fit any functional category, unimplemented or superfluous commands.
x1z Information These are replies to requests for information, such as status or help.
x2z Connections Replies referring to the control and data connections.
x3z Authentication and Accounting Replies for the login process and accounting procedures.
x4z Unspecified Unspecified
x5z Filesystem status These replies indicate the status of the Server file system vis-a-vis the requested transfer or other file system action.
Holger.Kiehl@dwd.de
Last updated: 15.03.1997
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