Port 115
Simple File Transfer Protocol
Simple File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is an early protocol designed for basic file transfer between computers on a network. Developed in the early days of the ARPANET, it facilitates a straightforward method to upload and download files using simple commands, mainly intended for smaller networks with minimal security concerns. Despite being largely deprecated today, it laid the foundation for many modern file transfer protocols..
Technical Details
Simple File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is a minimalistic protocol introduced in the early internet era to enable straightforward file transfers. It primarily provides functions such as file upload, download, directory listing, and basic management operations over a connection established on TCP port 115. Due to its simplicity, SFTP lacks many advanced features of later protocols, focusing solely on core file manipulation tasks.
SFTP operates on a client-server model, where clients initiate a straightforward control dialogue with the server to request file operations. The specifications were intentionally kept simple, resulting in limited support for access controls or detailed error handling. It relies on TCP for transport, which ensures reliable data delivery but does not inherently include any data confidentiality.
Over time, more sophisticated protocols such as FTP, FTPS, and SSH File Transfer Protocol (also called SFTP, but distinct from Simple FTP) replaced this protocol due to their richer feature sets, better security, and broader compatibility. The original Simple FTP is now largely obsolete but is important historically in networking.