Web Design and Graphics Room. Thread, What is FTP whats it for

If you have a website some hosts allow you to use FTP to upload and maintain your site.
Others like IDF use a filemanager, some hoste's allow both options.
However its not just for website builders use, it can be used to download updates etc as stated below.

Understanding FTP
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. A protocol is a language that enables computers to speak to one another. FTP is used to make files and folders publicly available for transfer over the Internet. In some cases you may need to get permission from the network computer's administrator to log on and gain access to files on the computer. But often you'll find that you can use FTP to gain access to certain networks or servers without having an account, or being an official password holder, with that computer. These "anonymous" FTP servers can contain a broad range of data that is publicly available through FTP.

The Internet address (URL) for an FTP server looks slightly different from the URL you use for a typical Web page. For example, Microsoft has an "anonymous" FTP server at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com , where you can download files ranging from product fixes, updated drivers, and utilities, to Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and other documentation.

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Knowledge is not knowing all the answers,
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www.smitheram.co.uk

Moderator of, Web Design/Graphics Room.
P4-XP pro-IE7-B/B-ZA-AVG

If you download the good free FTP program, it comes with links for downloading information and updates like Microsoft.
Its called FTP Commander

http://www.internet-soft.com/ftpcomm.htm

You can do it with a browser like IE but a dedicated program like the one above gives better control.

Just a foot note Tip.
If anyone uses an FTP program, remember to disconnect from the server before closing the program.
If you for forget or accidental hit the closing X you can be locked out of the site and server, until the server refreshes itself, can be up to 2 hours.

__________________
Knowledge is not knowing all the answers,
but knowing where to find the answers.
www.smitheram.co.uk

Moderator of, Web Design/Graphics Room.
P4-XP pro-IE7-B/B-ZA-AVG

Here are a few FTP links if they are of any use to you.
The prefix for the full url will be ftp://ftp.name.whatever

Apple Computers
ftp.apple.com

Books - Adison Wesley Longman
ftp.awl.com

Hardware - U.S.Robotics,inc
ftp.usr.com

Hardware - ZyXel
ftp.zyxel.com

Linux - SCO
ftp.sco.com

Microsoft
ftp.microsoft.com

Sites for Programers - Dr. Dobb's Journal & Source
ftp.ddj.com

Sites for Programers - Software Development
ftp.mfi.com

Space Information
ftp.sunet.se

VMS - Montagar VMS Archive
ftp.montagar.com

Walnut Creek CDROM
ftp.cdrom.com

__________________
Knowledge is not knowing all the answers,
but knowing where to find the answers.
www.smitheram.co.uk

Moderator of, Web Design/Graphics Room.
P4-XP pro-IE7-B/B-ZA-AVG