All About FTP

What's FTP, and why should you know anything about it?

For many of us, FTP is an invisible process that is invoked when we download a file from the Internet.

The formal definition of FTP: "Short for File Transfer Protocol, the protocol for exchanging files over the Internet. FTP works in the same way as HTTP for transferring Web pages from a server to a user's browser and SMTP for transferring electronic mail across the Internet in that, like these technologies, FTP uses the Internet's TCP/IP protocols to enable data transfer. FTP is most commonly used to download a file from a server using the Internet or to upload a file to a server (e.g., uploading a Web page file to a server)." (From Webopdia.)

OK, that probably didn't help any. In plain English, FTP is a means by which two computers talk to one another so that data can be transferred.

The difference between your computer reading and displaying a web page, and your computer accepting and storing a file (an MP3, for example), is the difference between HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), and FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

When you download a file, your browser does the work of the transfer for you. It determines what the file is, asks you where you'd like to store it, and brings the file to your computer, where you can later access and use it.

As Wikipedia explains: "There are two computers involved in an FTP transfer: a SERVER and a CLIENT."

(Let's stop there for a moment: a "SERVER" is the computer that has data or applications stored on it. It "SERVES" data to you. A "CLIENT" is your computer, or any computer using this/these stored data or applications.)

Continuing on with Wikipedia, "The FTP server, running FTP server software, listens on the network for connection requests from other computers. The client computer, running FTP client software, initiates a connection to the server."

Again, let's pause a moment. Most of us, as stated before, rely on our Internet Browser to assist us in the download of files from the Internet. However, if we want to UPLOAD a file to location, or for restricted-access servers, we will need software on OUR computers for this purpose (the software is called an FTP CLIENT). This software will manage the download or upload of data for us.

OK, let's go on: "Once connected, the client can do a number of file manipulation operations such as uploading files to the server, download files from the server, rename or delete files on the server and so on. Any software company or individual programmer is able to create FTP server or client software because the protocol is an open standard. Virtually every computer platform supports the FTP protocol. This allows any computer connected to a TCP/IP based network to manipulate files on another computer on that network regardless of which operating systems are involved (if the computers permit FTP access). There are many existing FTP client and server programs, and many of these are free."

In other words, FTP software isn't like Windows or PhotoShop - anyone can create a program that will SERVE and/or RECEIVE files via FTP.

When you use an FTP client, you are literally logging on to another computer, locating a file or application, and requesting that that file or application be copied to your computer. (Or, conversely, you are logging on to another computer, and moving a file or application from your computer to the other computer.)

FTP is commonly used for transferring non-proprietary data, such as website data, image files, non-copyright video and audio, and so forth. It's not a particularly secure protocol, though there are ways of improving the security. There are both anonymous and password-protected FTP sites. Anonymous FTP allows anyone to access the FTP site, browse, and download files. Password protected sites will require the user to have an ACCOUNT. This isn't the same as, say, signing up for a Google account: the owners of the FTP site will provide you with the necessary username/password, and frequently, that username/password will be functional for a short period of time and then deactivated.

If you have a website, you will probably use an FTP client. (Many WYSIWYG website hosts will allow you to add your text and graphics directly to your site without structuring them on your computer, and then uploading them to their server.) The website host (if it's not a WYSIWYG host) will provide you with an ftp location and account as part of the monthly fee you pay for the hosting service. You will create your HTML files and store your associated graphics on your local machine, and when you're ready, you'll launch your FTP client software, log on to the host's ftp site, and upload your data. This data will be used to display your web pages.

FTP clients are like any other computer application (such as Microsoft Word, for example). You launch it to use it, you use an interface to perform tasks, and you close it when you're finished (you won't need to store any data, as the whole purpose of the program is to move stored data from one place to another).

I use CuteFTP. For a while several years ago, it was the darling of web developers. I am not sure if that is the case any longer, but it's inexpensive, easy to use, and, as I've already learned how to use it, there's no further learning curve for me. All FTP software will require a little education, of course, but if you keep in mind that your tasks are:
1. To know where the files are you want to UPload, and what they are called
2. To know the URL (address), username and password of the site or sites you want to upload to or download from
3. To know where you want DOWNloaded files stored on your local machine (and what you have called them)
the rest is just figuring out how each particular piece of software is set up.

For the most part, you will be able to store any number of URLs (and sometimes, the associated UN/PW combos) in the FTP client. When you want to upload or download a file, you will open a connection to one of the stored site (or add a new URL). During that opening activity, you will be asked for your logon information. Assuming it's correct, you will be able to see, and browse, the files on that FTP site - either to find the proper place to put your file, or find the file you want to download. It will look much the same way that Windows Explorer does (to see this, if you don't typically use it, right click on "Start" and select "Explore." You will see all the directories, sub-directories, and files on your computer).

Then, there will be some type of command or action for uploading (often just a drag and drop), or for downloading (a typical FTP client weakness is not making it crystal clear where you want the downloaded files to be stored. If you "lose" your file, just do a search on the file name, and if you can't remember the name, look for files created on the appropriate date).

And that's really all there is to it! Some FTP sites will restrict file size (media files can eat up enormous amounts of space!), and many will have a relatively small number of users that can be logged on at the same time. For that reason, good manners demands that when you're finished uploading or downloading a file, you log off the FTP site.

Try a free FTP client if you have an immediate use, but don't plan or do a lot of file transfer on a regular basis, or consider one of the Pro versions if you will be using FTP a great deal.


CuteFTP
8.0.2
Mac or Windows
$39.99 (Home), $59.99 (Pro)


Fetch
5.1
For the Mac
$25, Free for education


FileZilla
Windows
2.2.28
Free

For a more complete listing, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_FTP_clients

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