Trivial File Transfer Protocol is a technology for transferring files between network devices and is a simplified version of the more robust File Transfer Protocol.
TFTP was developed in the 1970s for computers lacking sufficient memory or disk space to provide full FTP support. Today, TFTP is also found on both consumer broadband routers and commercial network routers.
TFTP transfers data over the network using the UDP protocol and uses the UDP 69 port. The TFTP protocol does not have features such as file listing, file deletion, file name change, and checking provided by other file transfer protocols.
Home network administrators sometimes use TFTP to upgrade their router firmware, while professional administrators might also use TFTP to distribute software across corporate networks.
How TFTP Works
Like FTP, TFTP uses client and server software to make connections between two devices. From a TFTP client, individual files can be copied (uploaded) to or downloaded from the server. In other words, the server hosts the files while the client requests or sends them.
![Tftpd32 download Tftpd32 download](http://www.tftp-server.com/images/srvconf_1.gif)
TFTP can also be used to remotely start a computer and back up network or router configuration files.
TFTP relies on UDP for transporting data.
TFTP Client and Server Software
Command-line TFTP clients are included in current versions of Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Some TFTP clients with graphical interfaces are also available as freeware, like TFTPD32, which includes a TFTP server. Windows TFTP Utility is another example of a GUI client and server for TFTP, but there are several other free FTP clients that you can use, too.
Microsoft Windows does not ship with a TFTP server but several free Windows TFTP servers are available for download. Linux and macOS systems typically use the tftpd TFTP server, although it might be disabled by default.
Networking experts recommend configuring TFTP servers carefully to avoid potential security problems.
How to Use the TFTP Client in Windows
The TFTP client in Windows is not enabled by default. Turn it on through the Programs and FeaturesControl Panel applet:
- Open Control Panel then open Programs and Features.
- Select Turn Windows features on or off from the left side of Control Panel to open Windows Features. Alternatively, execute the optionalfeaturescommand in Command Prompt or the Run dialog box.
- Scroll down in the 'Windows Features' window and put a check in the box next to TFTP Client.
- You may need to reboot for the changes to take effect.
After it's installed, you can access TFTP through Command Prompt with the tftp command. Use the help command or see the tftp command-line reference page on Microsoft's website.
TFTP vs. FTP
Trivial File Transfer Protocol differs from FTP in these key respects:
- Original versions of TFTP only allowed transferring files up to 32 MB in size. Some newer TFTP servers remove this restriction or might cap it at 4 GB.
- Unlike FTP, TFTP has no login feature, so it doesn't prompt for a username and password. Avoid using TFTP to share sensitive files — you can't protect them or audit their access.
- Listing, renaming, and deleting files over TFTP is usually not allowed.
- TFTP uses UDP port 69 to establish network connections while FTP uses TCP ports 20 and 21.
![Udp port 123 Udp port 123](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125859976/498715681.jpg)
Because TFTP is implemented using UDP, it generally works only on local area networks.