9.5.2 Automated Upload Procedure

Once you have registered your information as described in the previous section, you will be able to do ftp uploads for yourself using the following procedure.

For each upload destined for ftp.gnu.org or alpha.gnu.org, three files (a triplet) need to be uploaded via ftp to the host ftp-upload.gnu.org.

1. The file to be distributed (for example, foo.tar.gz).
2. Detached GPG binary signature for (1), made using ‘gpg -b’ (for example, foo.tar.gz.sig).
3. A clearsigned directive file, made using ‘gpg --clearsign’ (for example, foo.tar.gz.directive.asc).

The names of the files are important. The signature file must have the same name as the file to be distributed, with an additional .sig extension. The directive file must have the same name as the file to be distributed, with an additional .directive.asc extension. If you do not follow this naming convention, the upload will not be processed.

Since v1.1 of the upload script, it is also possible to upload a clearsigned directive file on its own (no accompanying .sig or any other file) to perform certain operations on the server. See FTP Upload Directive File - v1.1, for more information.

Upload the file(s) via anonymous ftp to ftp-upload.gnu.org. If the upload is destined for ftp.gnu.org, place the file(s) in the /incoming/ftp directory. If the upload is destined for alpha.gnu.org, place the file(s) in the /incoming/alpha directory.

Uploads are processed every five minutes. Uploads that are in progress while the upload processing script is running are handled properly, so do not worry about the timing of your upload. Uploaded files that belong to an incomplete triplet are deleted automatically after 24 hours.

Your designated upload email addresses (see Automated Upload Registration) are sent a message if there are any problems processing an upload for your package. You also receive a message when your upload has been successfully processed.

One relatively easy way to create and transfer the necessary files is to use the gnupload script, which is available from the build-aux/ directory of the gnulib project at http://savannah.gnu.org/projects/gnulib. gnupload can also remove uploaded files. Run gnupload --help for a description and examples.

gnupload uses the ncftpput program to do the actual transfers; if you don't happen to have the ncftp package installed, the ncftpput-ftp script in the build-aux/ directory of gnulib. serves as a replacement which uses plain command line ftp.

If you have difficulties processing an upload, email ftp-upload@gnu.org.