TFTP, or Trivial File Transfer Protocol, is a simple file transfer protocol widely used in computer networks for transferring files between systems. It operates with minimal complexity compared to other file transfer protocols like FTP, making it suitable for scenarios where simplicity and low overhead are advantageous.
TFTP uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol) as its transport protocol. It typically operates over UDP port 69, where both client and server communicate using this port. UDP’s connectionless nature allows TFTP to send data packets without establishing a formal connection, which makes it lightweight but also means it does not provide reliability mechanisms like error recovery or flow control.
The format of the TFTP protocol is straightforward and consists of simple request-response messages exchanged between a client and a server. TFTP messages include read and write requests (RRQ and WRQ), acknowledgment packets (ACK), data packets (DATA), error messages (ERROR), and optional options extensions (such as block size negotiation). This minimalistic format ensures efficiency in transferring files over the network.
Yes, TFTP is indeed a connectionless protocol. Unlike connection-oriented protocols such as TCP, which establish a connection before transmitting data and ensure reliable delivery through mechanisms like acknowledgments and retransmissions, TFTP operates directly over UDP, sending packets without establishing a formal connection. This approach simplifies the protocol but requires higher layers or applications to handle any necessary reliability or error recovery if needed.