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None rated yet		How do I manually upload files using FTP To upload files from our computer, we need an application called an FTP client. Sometimes, our computer may have other applications with FTP clients embedded (included) in them. Examples of such applications that come with free FTP clients are FileZilla, DreamWeaver, Internet Explorer, etc. Most of us have connected to websites by typing a URL such as http://www.yahoo.com. Websites are accessed using the HTTP protocol. Similarly, to access FTP sites, we have to use an address such as ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/standards/RFC/rfc959.txt which connects us to an FTP server that distributes or shares RFC standards to the public. Since files may get easily corrupted, most FTP servers have authentication procedures and strict security measures. The easiest way to send files using FTP is to use your internet explorer. First, you have to turn the FTP settings ON. To accomplish this, open up an Internet Explorer and turn ON Tools->Internet Options->Advanced->Browsing->Use Passive FTP (for firewall and DSL modem capability). Save the changes. Open up an internet explorer and type in: ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/standards/RFC/rfc959.txt If the Internet explorer does nothing, your computer may have issues such as firewalls, anti- virus software or other applications that may be preventing you from opening up a connection to the FTP server. Request help from your system administrator or call customer service at the customer site that you are connecting to resolve any problems. If you have a graphical client, it is easy to ftp files. There are many free FTP clients on the market such as FileZilla, SmartFTP, GoFTP, FireFTP (for Mozilla Firefox Browser). Some of these may be free for a period of three months to enable users to check it out before buying it. Once you have a GUI client, you can install it and open it when you need to use FTP services to upload or download files from FTP sites. In most cases, the client will consist of two main panels, one that shows files or directories on your computer and the other that displays the files or directories on the remote FTP site computer. Transferring a file from one computer to another is just a simple matter of selecting the file on one window and dragging it (using the mouse) to the other panel which represents the other computer. So my moving your mouse a few inches, you may have moved your file across thousands of miles! Problems may occur in this simple method when network is down or authentication fails, or if the file is not available for transfer (it may be open or being used by someone at that second), etc. For the people who are familiar with UNIX, Linux or Windows DOS shell based scripts, using FTP has been very easy. To use terminal based FTP, open up a shell or terminal window. Type in the word “ftp” at the prompt. If you see the system respond with “ftp>”, then you have an FTP connection. If the FTP client is not ready, or if you don’t have the necessary permissions, or for a number of other reasons, you may not get this prompt immediately. Do ask a system admin if you experience problems getting to the ftp prompt. At the ftp prompt, you can use simple commands to get your file. The typical commands to get download a file called “newfile.txt” would be: ftp> open <address of FTP server> ftp> userid (or “anonymous” for some servers) ftp> password (or email address) ftp> dir (home directory – for Unix or Linux, you may also type in “ls”) ftp> get newfile.txt (if file is in the home directory – otherwise, use cd to get to the desired directory and then use the “get” command) ftp> bye (sometimes you may be able to use quit) You may also download multiple files from a directory by using the command: ftp> mget * If you have permissions, you may be able to add/delete files (mput, delete), make directories using “mkdir”, rename files, etc. Usually, a file is transferred in the binary format since it’s the most efficient method of transfer. However, if you are sending a text file or document, you can change to the correct format by using: ftp>ascii The newer methods of transfer may mask many of these low level commands. However, FTP is still being used in many parts of the world, especially by scientists in remote areas with minimal computer access for almost forty years and counting.
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