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what is ftp | anonymous FTP | mirror sites | directories | software

What is FTP?

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

One of the most useful services of the Internet is FTP, or File Transfer Protocol. FTP is a network protocol. It also refers to the method by which we transfer data and program files between computers on the Internet. We refer to computers configured to accept FTP requests as FTP servers. These servers store a tremendous amount of information, and they are available to anyone on the Internet using FTP.

In an FTP client/server connection, the user's computer is called the client or local computer. The FTP server is called the host or remote computer. Downloading refers to transferring files from the FTP server to the client computer. Uploading refers to transferring files to the FTP server from the client computer.

In ordinary terms? .FTP is a quick and cool way to move files from one computer to another. Don't let all the terminology scare you off. There is freeware on the market that is very user friendly and easy to use.

When downloading from a site, or when building a webpage, FTP is the only way to go.

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Anonymous FTP

Having a computer hooked onto the Internet does not mean that everyone else on the Internet has access to its files. Similarly, having an FTP server on the Internet does not mean everyone can access it. Some system administrators may choose to restrict access to their files to a local or selected group of users. Others administrators may choose to make all of their files available to everyone.

When an FTP server has an access restriction, it requires a user identification code and password before allowing access to its files. If it has no access restriction, the FTP server allows any and every user to access its files; we call these servers anonymous FTP servers.

Although the anonymous FTP server has unrestricted access, it usually still has a logon procedure. Most anonymous FTP servers are set up to accept "anonymous" as the user identification. For the password, they accept, and sometimes require, the user's e-mail address. Entering your e-mail address is a courtesy to the site's owners and gives them an idea of who is accessing their files. Very rarely is this information used for any other purpose.

Site administrators can restrict anonymous FTP services to a specific number of concurrent users to reduce the drain on their server's overall performance. For instance, they can limit the number of users connected at one time to 25, 250, or whatever they want. Administrators may also restrict access to certain times of the day, often outside their regular business hours.

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Mirror Sites

Some FTP servers and the files they store are very popular with many users. Reaching a site that is too busy to accept new client requests is common. It is like getting a busy signal during the rush to buy concert tickets by phone. Administrators establish mirror sites as a solution to this problem.

Mirror sites are FTP servers that maintain an exact copy of the files from one or more FTP servers. For example, an FTP server at the University of Toronto may mirror the files of a University of Calgary FTP server. All of the files on the Calgary server are available from the Toronto server.

Administrators usually set aside a separate section in their file storage area for the files of the mirrored sites. The administrators refresh the contents of the mirrored files periodically. Accessing a mirror site that is closer or less busy than the original site can be advantageous to a user. By being closer, the file transfer may involve fewer network connections and less network traffic. This can help to make the file transfer faster. A less busy server ensures a better chance of connecting.

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Directories and Files

Most FTP servers run under the UNIX operating system. UNIX uses hierarchical file storage similar to both PC and Macintosh computers. What is called a directory on a PC or a folder on a Macintosh is called a directory in UNIX. Directories can hold both files and subdirectories. Accessing a specific file involves knowing all of the directories in the path from the top or root directory down to the file.

Some directory and file names on an FTP server may look strange or obscure. Often this is due to UNIX, since it allows long directory and file names. A user may also see directories and files that are a part of the server's operating system. UNIX system directories include bin, etc, and usr. Usually these directories have nothing of interest to the user and are often restricted anyway.

Common FTP-related directory names include pub, mirrors, uploads, and incoming. The most commonly used directory for files on an FTP server is the pub directory. Under it are stored the many subdirectories and files for public use. The mirrors directory holds the copies of files from mirrored sites. Depending on how many files the server has stored, it may have many subdirectories to traverse to get to the desired file. Most FTP programs make navigating through the server's directories as easy as it is on a hard drive.

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FTP Client Software

To transfer files between an FTP server and a desktop computer, the local computer needs to be running FTP client software. All these client programs orchestrate the file transfer communications between the client computer and the FTP server. Such programs include Prishtina for the PC and Fetch for the Macintosh. Many of today's popular Web browsers also have FTP download capabilities, but they do not have upload capabilities or the additional features found in most FTP programs.

Each FTP program has its own interface, some more intuitive and user-friendly than others. Whatever the program, they all work the same way. After starting, the first thing they require is an FTP server with which the file transfer is to occur. The IP address or domain name identify the server to the program. Depending on the server, it might also require a user identification code and password. Some programs can store a list of regular or favorite servers, including the user identification code and password required for server access.

Interested in giving FTP a try?

Click on one of the links below.

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