RFC: accessing FTP tree through HTTP

[Cristian KLEIN]

Hi everybody,

I recently observed that a large number of FreeBSD mirrors (i.e. almost all) 
don't give access to the FTP tree through HTTP. For example, if I type in my 
browser http://ftp.freebsd.org, I get the FreeBSD Project Page, whereas I would 
have expected a directory listing of the FTP tree (like 
http://ftp1.ro.freebsd.org/).

I would like to know whether there is a specific reason why not many mirrors 
implement this. If there is no specific reason, could we perhaps make this 
„standard” for FreeBSD mirrors?

The reason why I would like to see this implemented is because many times I had 
to install FreeBSD behind „unfriendly” NAT, which did not translate FTP. Not 
having HTTP connectivity is generally considered not having Internet 
connectivity, so HTTP access is guaranteed in almost any network.