Set gFTP as Default FTP Client on Ubuntu - Command Line

gFTP: A Versatile FTP Client for Ubuntu Linux

gFTP stands out as a robust ftp client designed for the Ubuntu Linux operating system. It offers users the flexibility of both a graphical user interface (GUI) and a command-line interface (CLI).

Switching Between FTP Clients

A straightforward method exists to alternate between the system's default FTP client and gftp-text. The initial step involves verifying that gFTP is installed on your system.

The update-alternatives command is utilized to modify this configuration. Begin by opening a terminal window and executing the following command:

sudo update-alternatives --config ftp

Understanding the Output

The command's output will resemble the following:

~$ sudo update-alternatives --config ftp

There are 2 alternatives which provide `ftp'.
Selection Alternative
-----------------------------------------------
*+ 1 /usr/bin/netkit-ftp
    2 /usr/bin/gftp-text
Press enter to keep the default[*], or type selection number: 2

In this example, gftp is presented as option 2. Typing '2' and pressing the Enter key will select gftp-text as the default FTP client.

Testing the Configuration

To confirm the change, simply type ftp localhost in the terminal. The system should now utilize gftp instead of the previous default.

~$ ftp localhost
gFTP 2.0.18, Copyright (C) 1998-2003 Brian Masney <masneyb>. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this program,
please feel free to email them to me. You can always find out the latest news
about gFTP from my website at http://www.gftp.org/
gFTP comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details, see the COPYING file. This
is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain
conditions; for details, see the COPYING file

Username [anonymous]:

Conclusion

The process is remarkably simple, allowing for easy switching between FTP clients based on user preference and task requirements.