What is FTP?
From XpertDNS
What is FTP?
The first thing you need to do to put your website online is learn how to access your account. Most will use FTP (file transfer protocol) to transfer files from your computer to the server, and vice versa. (If you use FrontPage, much of this will not apply to you. You will need to see the FrontPage section of the FAQ.)
FTP Access
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the preferred method of uploading and downloading files to your website. It utilizes a connection to one machine over port 21 to directly upload files or get files for download. FTP can also be used to arrange files and edit them on a very basic level. You have unlimited access to your account via FTP 24 hours a day. This allows you to create and maintain your web pages on your own computer, then upload the files to your website at your leisure.
There are many pieces of software, both free and for a charge, that act as FTP clients. WS_FTP by IPswitch, CuteFTP and Fetch are among the more popular FTP clients available.
- NOTE: If you are using FrontPage, you should NEVER use regular FTP to upload your files. This will damage the extensions. Stick with one or the other all the time.
When you are ready to publish your site, there are three pieces of information that you will need to have on hand to publish to your web space:
- Your domain name or IP Address. (You will need to use your IP Address for the first couple of days while your domain name becomes effective throughout the Internet.)
- Your account username.
- Your account password.
