It's hard to imagine doing my job as a network engineer without utilizing a TFTP Server. Whether I'm backing up and pushing configs or upgrading IOS, being an engineer without a TFTP Server would be sort of like trying to be a mechanic without a pair of pliers. Sure, you could probably work around not having them, but if you could only have one tool in your toolbox that's the one it would be.
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) is a lightweight protocol developed to help make pushing images and configurations to network devices and appliances fast and easy. When you think about how it works, it's pretty much just like it sounds. It's lean and mean - UDP based and without any sort of authentication - it gets the job done quickly and effeciently. Many different types of devices utilize TFTP from cable modems to CSUs and from routers and switches to firewalls.
TFTP Servers have come a long ways over the years. The latest version of the SolarWinds TFTP Server is a great example of this. Multi-threaded, faster than greased lightening, able to handle large files (up go 4GB) in a single transfer, easy to install and configure, and with a small footprint it's probably installed on more network engineers' laptops than any networking tool out there.
You can of course download this free tool from the SolarWinds.Com website along with all of the other free goodies out there. You don't even have to say "Trick or Treat".
Happy Halloween and Flame on...
Josh
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