launchctl
for the purpose of the hint.launchctl load...
loads the FTP service into launchd
's database of services. When you do an unload
, you are telling launchd
to not manage it anymore.
So a better way to do this--probably the proper way--is to first issue the command to load the service:sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist
Then, if you'd like to stop FTP, issue this command:sudo launchctl stop com.apple.ftpd
And if you decide you'd like to bring it back up, use this command:sudo launchctl start com.apple.ftpd
If you'd like for launchd
to forget about FTP, that is when you would run this:sudo launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist
The hint as-is will work, but seems a little counter-productive to make launchd
remember and forget about FTP all the time.