Re: get md5 sum of a remote file via net::ftp / net::sftp

As pointed out, unless there is a precalculated md5 of the file published at the remote end that you can compare your locally calculated value against, calculating an md5 locally doesn't buy you anything.

For a simplistic check, but one that will detect common errors like ascii-v-binary tranfers and partial transfers, use the size method of NET::Ftp to get the remote size of the file and compare that against the local size after transfer. It won't detect in-transit corruption nor deliberate replacements, but then neither will a local MD5 without something reliable to compare against.

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Comment on Re: get md5 sum of a remote file via net::ftp / net::sftp Download Code

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Re^2: get md5 sum of a remote file via net::ftp / net::sftp by avo (Pilgrim) on May 11, 2006 at 20:53 UTC
Very good point. I think I will write a daemon that does MD5 for me via TCP/IP and then do the FTP having the MD5 of the remote file before the transfer. SSH is a good idea as well. I will now just have to decide on the quickest. I have POE server in mind - that will be quick enough ... Will post the script here when done.	[reply]


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