FTP - Short Introduction

To may have a communications between two computers, there must be a common language. The configuration and the rules of this language are named protocol. The most used protocol on the Internet is the HTTP protocol and so the URL address has this aspect: http://domain/file.

As you probably know there are also another protocols such as: FTP, MAIL, TELNET, GOPHER, NEWS.

Suppose this:

• we registered a domain name (for example mydomain.com)
• we found a host server
• we have built the website, the files are stored on the personal computer

The next step is to upload the website on the server. In other words, transferring the files that compose the website from our personal computer to the server.

FTP (File Transport Protocol) - is the protocol used for uploading and downloading files on/from a server.

There are three ways for a success upload, using:

• specifics FTP commands in MS-DOS
• a specified software called FTP client
• the admin web page at the address indicated by the administrator of the server

The first method, using FTP commands, that isn’t used so much anymore, because involves knowing these commands, unlike the other two where the operating manner is graphical.

The FTP client is a software which will open a session (connexion), on 21th port, between the personal computer and the web server:

For a FTP client configuration there are used the information provided by the host administrator:

1. FTP Host Address - can be the FTP server name or the IP address
2. FTP Site Username - the user name used for identification
3. FTP Site Password - the password used for identification
4. FTP Site Connection Port - 21th port
5. Loging Type - Normal
6. Transfer Type - usually Auto-Detect.

The FTP clients, no matter the producer, has a similar interface with 5 distinct areas:

1. Necessary parameters for the connexion (area 1)
2. Local Panel - files stored on the local computer (area 2)
3. Remote Panel - files stored on the web server in our domain proper directory (area 3)
4. Log Panel - the list of messages from local computer and the FTP server answer (area 4)
5. Queue Panel - the list of sent and received files (area 5)

These areas are represented in the image below - in this case we have the FTP Client called SmartFTP.

Example of FTP clients: CuteFTP, SmartFTP or the free versions: FileZilla and WS FTP LE.

Besides this you can also use Total Commander, but you have to know how to make a connection. I will “teach” you how to set a FTP count using this program and how to transfer files on the server. Go to Net menu and then choose FTP Connect. It will appear a new window like in the image below.

If you hit the button New connection… you can set a new connexion to a FTP server. It will appear a new window like in the image below:

Here are some explanations:

• Session: here you can type any name representative for your session
• Host name: you have to type the correct connexion address to FTP server and the port(if it’s not the standard one).
• User name: you have to specifies the name that you connect through FTP
• Password: here type the password that you connect through FTP
• Remote Dir: here you are not forced to write something. Some servers configuration has the first director the domain name, others has “root” or “public_html”. After you are connected you will see the directors structure and you can edit this settings latter to connect yourself at the worked director.
• Local dir: you can type the current director on the local computer where you have the files that you want to save on the server.

After completed all the fields hit “OK” and then you can connect by clicking the Connect button.

If you want to have a log with all the actions go to Configuration > Options, select from the list in the left side FTP and in the right side type the location you want to save the log file.

The last step is to transfer the files. You can upload more than one file.

For files transferring using the admin web page choose File Manager. The files will be uploaded in the public_html directory stored on the web server. This method is used when we do not transfer a lot of files because this procedure needs some operations for every file.

For transferring a lot of files or a hole website it is recommended a FTP client this way we can select and send simultaneous all the files.

For other questions I invite you to talk on forum.

Here are some usefully links for downloading FTP clients:

• SmartFTP can be downloaded at the address: http://www.smartftp.com/download/
• If you want to use CuteFTP this is the web address: http://www.cuteftp.com/products/ftp_clients.aspx
  
• FileZilla is often used as a FTP client for the simple fact it is free. Click here for downloading!

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