netrc(4) File Formats netrc(4)
netrc - file for ftp remote login data
The .netrc file contains data for logging in to a remote host over the
network for file transfers by ftp(1). This file resides in the user's
home directory on the machine initiating the file transfer. Its permis-
sions should be set to disallow read access by group and others (see
chmod(1)).
The following tokens are recognized; they may be separated by SPACE,
TAB, or NEWLINE characters:
machine name
Identify a remote machine name. The auto-login process searches
the .netrc file for a machine token that matches the remote
machine specified on the ftp command line or as an open command
argument. Once a match is made, the subsequent .netrc tokens are
processed, stopping when the EOF is reached or another machine
token is encountered.
default
Same as machine name, except that default matches any name. There
can be only one default token, and it must be after all machine
tokens. The default token is normally used as follows:
default login anonymous password user@site
Such an entry gives the user automatic anonymous ftp login to
machines not specified in .netrc.
login name
Identify a user on the remote machine. If this token is present,
the auto-login process will initiate a login using the specified
name.
password string
Supply a password. If this token is present, the auto-login pro-
cess will supply the specified string if the remote server
requires a password as part of the login process. Note: if this
token is present in the .netrc file, ftp will abort the auto-
login process if the .netrc is readable by anyone besides the
user.
account string
Supply an additional account password. If this token is present,
the auto-login process supplies the specified string if the
remote server requires an additional account password. If the
remote server does not require an additional account password,
the auto-login process will initiate an ACCT command.
macdef name
Define a macro. This token functions the same as ftp macdef. A
macro is defined with the specified name; its contents begin with
the next .netrc line and continue until a null line (consecutive
NEWLINE characters) is encountered. If a macro named init is
defined, it is automatically executed as the last step in the
auto-login process.
Example 1: A Sample .netrc File
A .netrc file containing the following line:
machine ray login demo password mypassword
allows an autologin to the machine ray using the login name demo with
password mypassword.
~/.netrc
chmod(1), ftp(1), in.ftpd(1M)
SunOS 5.9 3 Jul 1990 netrc(4)