How to list a FTP directory with examples.ftp.FTPClientExample.java program? I know the directory path on the anonymous server.

If you know the directory path on an anonymous FTP server, you can use the following command to list the directory on the FTP server:

java -a -A -d examples.ftp.FTPClientExample host path

Where:
   -a - Use active mode for data connections to avoid firewall settings
   -A - Use anonymous login
   -d - List a directory
   host - Host name or IP address of the FTP server
   path - Path name of the directory on the FTP server

Here is an example of running examples.ftp.FTPClientExample.java program to list the /pub/davis directory from the space.mit.edu FTP server:

C:\fyicenter> java 
   -cp .;C:\local\commons-net-3.5\commons-net-3.5.jar
        ;C:\local\commons-net-3.5\commons-net-examples-3.5.jar 
   examples.ftp.FTPClientExample -a -A -d space.mit.edu /pub/davis

220-space.mit.edu NcFTPd Server (free educational license) ready.
220-
220- This server is operated by the MIT Center for Space Research.
220- Only anonymous FTP access is allowed to this server.  Use the
220- login Name `ftp', and use your e-mail address for the password.
220-

Connected to space.mit.edu on 21
USER *******
331 Guest login ok, send your complete e-mail address as password.
PASS *******
230 Logged in anonymously.
SYST
215 UNIX Type: L8
Remote system is UNIX Type: L8
TYPE A
200 Type okay.
PORT 192,168,1,7,238,190
200 PORT command successful.
MLSD /pub/davis
150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for MLS.
226 Listing completed.
Type=cdir;Modify=20040203180606;UNIX.mode=0755; /pub/davis
drwxr-xr-x    0   -1 2004-02-03 18:06:06 GMT /pub/davis
Type=pdir;Modify=20160902130025;UNIX.mode=0755; /pub
drwxr-xr-x    0   -1 2016-09-02 13:00:25 GMT /pub
Type=file;Size=537;Modify=19950811161207;UNIX.mode=0644; VMS.readme
-rw-r--r--    0  537 1995-08-11 16:12:07 GMT VMS.readme
Type=file;Size=10175;Modify=20000426170956;UNIX.mode=0644; acsite.m4
-rw-r--r--    010175 2000-04-26 17:09:56 GMT acsite.m4
Type=dir;Modify=20091214023711;UNIX.mode=0755; jed
drwxr-xr-x    0   -1 2009-12-14 02:37:11 GMT jed
Type=dir;Modify=20130924151431;UNIX.mode=0755; misc
drwxr-xr-x    0   -1 2013-09-24 15:14:31 GMT misc
Type=dir;Modify=20080925205417;UNIX.mode=0755; most
drwxr-xr-x    0   -1 2008-09-25 20:54:17 GMT most
Type=dir;Modify=20120317034319;UNIX.mode=0755; slang
drwxr-xr-x    0   -1 2012-03-17 03:43:19 GMT slang
Type=dir;Modify=20121222011319;UNIX.mode=0755; slrn
drwxr-xr-x    0   -1 2012-12-22 01:13:19 GMT slrn
Type=dir;Modify=20040228142210;UNIX.mode=0755; slsc
drwxr-xr-x    0   -1 2004-02-28 14:22:10 GMT slsc
Type=file;Size=0;Modify=19960429185651;UNIX.mode=0644; 
   {READ_BUGS_FILE_IF_PRESENT}
-rw-r--r--    0    0 1996-04-29 18:56:51 GMT {READ_BUGS_FILE_IF_PRESENT}
Type=file;Size=0;Modify=19960429185454;UNIX.mode=0644; 
   {SPECIFY_BINARY_BEFORE_DOWNLOADING}
-rw-r--r--    0    0 1996-04-29 18:54:54 GMT {SPECIFY_BINARY_BEFORE_DOWNLOADING}

NOOP
200 No-op okay.
QUIT
221-
221-    Thanks for stopping by!
221

⇒ Download FTP File with FTPClientExample.java

⇐ Run examples.ftp.FTPClientExample.java

⇑ Using commons-net.jar in Java Programs

⇑⇑ FAQ for Apache commons-net.jar