FTP Questions - Page 1

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FTP Questions

1) What in the world is FTP!?

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the simplest and most secure way to exchange files over the Internet. Whether you know it or not, you most likely use FTP all the time. The most common use for FTP is to download files from the Internet. When downloading a file from the Internet you're actually transferring the file to your computer from another computer over the Internet. This is why the T (transfer) is in FTP. You may not know where the computer is that the file is coming from but you most likely know it's URL or Internet address.

Here at Talos4 Hosting, we manage our very own FTP server. Which means, you can upload files the same way as you download them. Upload is basically the exact opposite from downloading a file, such that rather than transferring a file from another computer over the Internet to your own, you are transferring a file TO another computer over the Internet.

Please read our section below on how to SET UP an FTP session on your computer.

2) Do I need a special program to use FTP?

No, but we recommend that you do find one. You may access a free FTP Manager within your control panel for you to use (with nothing to install!). However, you'll have to upload each file one at a time and it can get time consuming. There are, in fact, several free FTP Editors on the web and we recommend you to check out CuteFtp or zdnet downloads and perform a search for FTP editors (take note that some may require some form of payment if you like them.. but others will allow you to use them free of charge with the exception of some features).

FrontPage, DreamWeaver, CuteFTP and such utilities already have an FTP transfer tool BUILT IN to them, so no need to look for additional sources. Personally, I use DreamWeaver MX to access this site and maintain/manage all the files I need. I enjoy dreamweaver because it not only manages my FTP, but it also allows me to design HTML and such (as this site uses). Of course, I may use some other programs as well, but I could basically do everything I needed with this software (although it comes at a price:

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