You could parse the output of lftp or ncftpls in long-listing mode:

Or indeed use rsync -l $ rsync -l rsync://rsync.iana.org/tz/tzdata-latest.tar.gz lrwxrwxrwx 27 2012/08/03 05:28:07 tzdata-latest.tar.gz -> releases/tzdata2012e.tar.gz Thanks for your help Neil Masson Unless stated otherwise above: IBM United Kingdom Limited - Registered in England and Wales with number 741598. Registered office: PO Box 41, North Harbour, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3AU