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A simple TFTP client using C++

By , 11 Sep 2008
 

Introduction

TFTP stands for Trivial File Transfer Protocol. It is still used today for transferring new firmware to routers and other embedded devices, and also for booting network terminals. For a detailed description, see RFC 1350.

Looking for a simple C++ implementation of this protocol, I couldn't find one. So, I had to write it. Hope this code will save some time for someone.

Using the Code

  1. Initialization

    The client uses the Winsock library, so you have to initialize it manually before using the code, or use the static function CTFTPClient::Startup.

    CTFTPClient::Startup();

    or

    WSADATA w;
    WSAStartup(0x0101, &w);
  2. Creation

    Create the TFTP client object.

    CTFTPClient* c = new CTFTPClient();
  3. Transfer

    Use the Get and Put functions to start the file transfer. When successful, it returns the TFTP_RESULT_CONTINUE value. Then, you have to call the Continue function to transfer another packet, till it returns TFTP_RESULT_DONE. Transferring the process can be controlled by reading the number of bytes and packets using the functions PacketsCount and BytesCount.

    // Sending file
    int rc = c->Put("c:\\123.txt","123.txt","127.0.0.1");
    while (rc==TFTP_RESULT_CONTINUE) rc = c->Continue();
    // Receiving file
    rc = c->Get("c:\\321.txt","123.txt","127.0.0.1");
    while (rc==TFTP_RESULT_CONTINUE) rc = c->Continue();

    If TFTP_RESULT_ERROR was returned by Get, Put, or Continue, use LastError to see what happens. See the demo project main function for a more detailed example.

  4. Cleanup

    Delete the TFTP client object and free the Winsock library.

    delete c;
    CTFTPClient::Cleanup();

    or

    delete c;
    WSACleanup();

Notes

Some protocol parameters were hard-coded. See the next macro in the tftpclient.h file.

  • TFTP_TIMEOUT - timeout waiting packet.
  • TFTP_RETRY - how many times resend packet, when server not responding.
  • TFTP_DEFAULT_MODE - TFTP transfer mode.

History

  • 11.09.08 - Initial release.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

About the Author

dim13
Software Developer
Ukraine Ukraine
Member
No Biography provided

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Bugrecvfrom return value is used incorrectlymemberChris Blaylock26 Jun '12 - 0:48 
In the code, the return value from ::recvfrom calls is compared against WSAECONNRESET, this is not valid, you can only check against SOCKET_ERROR, then use ::WSAGetLastError() to determine the actual error.
Questionblksize optionmemberMember 5166563 Apr '12 - 18:22 
Hi,
Is there a chance to add support for extensions? Like blksize?
Thanks.
Questionwhat about server..?memberieqa440927 Dec '10 - 4:01 
do we need to put this code in client coding only..??
AnswerRe: what about server..?memberdim131 Jan '11 - 1:29 
hi! server side code not implemented.
GeneralSmall bug in source codememberIgorNazar8 Sep '10 - 4:10 
Hello dim13! I'm find this project very helpful, and it's really save me much time. Thank You a lot! But when I was commenting out Your code, I'm found a little bug in function bool CTFTPClient::CPacket::AddMem(char* mem,int len) at line if (size+len>=TFTP_PACKET_DATA_MAX). The comparator must be changed from ">=" to ">".
GeneralRe: Small bug in source codememberdim131 Jan '11 - 1:37 
Hi Igor!
Thanks for testing. It seems you are right.
I'll make changes and retest code later.
Dmitry.
Questionthe file size was too large?memberzhaoxueqian27 May '10 - 22:37 
hi dim13,
the codes you wirted was really perfect!and i love it.
but the problem for now is :i couldnt send the file which have a large size.
the application will stop at the Packets:65536 , Bytes:33553920.
that is very strange!!!
 
help me please! dim13!
AnswerRe: the file size was too large?memberdim1327 May '10 - 23:42 
Hi!
It should be limitation of original TFTP protocol. Only 2 bytes used for packet number. AFAIR modern protocol versions allows to send up to 4Gb files, but this extension is not implemented in the code.
GeneralRe: the file size was too large?memberzhaoxueqian28 May '10 - 0:21 
anyway,thanks for your explanning.^ ^
AnswerRe: the file size was too large?memberdicht17 Apr '12 - 2:01 
Hi,
 
had the same Problem the fix is really simple....
 
in function ContinuePut() use the following :
 
while (true)
{
if (!Send(&p)) return TFTP_RESULT_ERROR;
 
//block number wrap around if file size > 32MB
if (m_packetnum>65535)
m_packetnum=0;
 
if (WaitACK(m_packetnum)) break;
retrycount++;
if (retrycount>TFTP_RETRY)
{
Error("No answer.");
return TFTP_RESULT_ERROR;
}
}
 

regards
dicht
GeneralCan't get packetmembercamelia100021 Apr '09 - 10:16 
Hello!
 
I found very useful this project that you developped !
Still , I have a problem in running it on a XP system .
 
When I try a "get" on localhost from one folder to another ,the local file is created but is empty and the following error appears:
"Transfering.......
Packets: 1 Bytes : 0
Done.
 
Error:Can't get packet."
 
The remote file is a txt file only 1KB long so I don't think that filesize is the problem.
 
When I try a "put" on localhost from one folder to another , the remote file is not created and I get the error :
"Transferring....
 
Done.
Error: recv error."
 
What do you suggest that I should do/configure on my computer so that I can run your application? I should mention that Firewall is turned off , so it's not preventing the file transfer.
 
I thank you for your help!
GeneralRe: Can't get packetmemberdim1321 Apr '09 - 22:50 
Hi!
 
It looks like problem on server side.
According to log socket was created and write request packet was successfully sent to server.
But client was get no response.
 
Check server IP and port number.
Trace write request packet way to the server. Be sure that server really got it.
Try to use another client with your TFTP server or try to use client code with another TFTP server application.
 

Dmitry.
GeneralRe: Can't get packetmembercamelia100021 Apr '09 - 23:31 
Thanks for your response !
 
I changed the tftp server from tftpd32 to a SolarWinds and now it works fine !
 
Your project is awsome ! Congratulations!
GeneralFailure on 4019th file transfermemberBoris The Bold24 Sep '08 - 1:32 
I'm using your code in my application to transfer files (about 15k) to an embeded system (OS9). However during stress testing my application just shutsdown (no error message) when trying to transfer the file for the 4019th time. This is consistent. I think there may be a resource or memory leak somewhere.
 
Below is the code I'm using:
 
int icount = 0;
do
{
icount++;
CString sText;
sText.Format(L"TFTP count = %d", icount);
pMainDlg->staticStatus.SetWindowText(sText);
Logger.Event(LogError, W2A(sText));
CTFTPClient::Startup();
CTFTPClient* pTFTP = new CTFTPClient();
CString sHost;
sHost.Format(L"%d.%d.%d.%d", MA01IPAddr.S_un.S_un_b.s_b1, MA01IPAddr.S_un.S_un_b.s_b2, MA01IPAddr.S_un.S_un_b.s_b3, MA01IPAddr.S_un.S_un_b.s_b4);
 
int rc = pTFTP->Put(W2A(sMapFile), W2A(sMA01MapFile), W2A(sHost));
while (rc == TFTP_RESULT_CONTINUE) rc = pTFTP->Continue();
bTranferSucceeded = (rc == TFTP_RESULT_DONE);
 
delete pTFTP;
CTFTPClient::Cleanup();
}while (bTranferSucceeded);
 
The outer loop does no exit when the problem happens, the application just closes without the usual window application crash dialog.
AnswerRe: Failure on 4019th file transfermemberdim1324 Sep '08 - 3:21 
Can't reproduce this error.
Sending 5000 small files to local windows TFTP server was successful and Visual Studio reported no memory leaks.
 
Try to call CTFTPClient::Startup(); and CTFTPClient::Cleanup(); outside the loop. May be it's some problems with winsock library.
 
Thanks for testing,
Dmitry.
QuestionWhy low vote?memberErnest Laurentin11 Sep '08 - 11:20 
I don't see any reason for the low vote for this article. Of course, I recommend to reformat the article (remove those &quot) but that's not a reason to put a new writer down.
 

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. - Martin Luther King Jr.
Ernest Laurentin

AnswerRe: Why low vote?memberbcraun13 Sep '08 - 4:44 
@Ernest,
 
+1
GeneralLOVE YOUR ARTICLE.memberMrGoodly11 Sep '08 - 10:59 
If you can even call it an article, that is. It is unformatted, poorly written and it, overall, sucks.
 
But good job anyway.

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