FTP Basics

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a application layer protocol that is used for transferring large files between clients and servers. Many people use it to upload Web pages to Web servers. When using FTP there are some basics you need to understand

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Logging In

You will need the server's IP address or domain name. You will usually have to provide a user name and password to complete your login.

Anonymous Logins

Some FTP servers allow users to log into them anonymously, allowing the server to be easily accessible to the public. Many large tech companies do this so users can download software like patches, updates and demos.

Using FTP as a Client

If you are going to only be downloading from an FTP server and not uploading files (read-only access), you can simply use a Web browser like IE or Firefox. Otherwise, there are many free FTP programs available for download.

Creating an FTP server

There are many programs available for building an FTP server. A free one that many use is the Linux-based ProFTPD. Port 21 must be open on your computer's firewall for it to act as a server.

Security

Even with a username and password set, these login credentials are not encrypted. A person snooping on your network with a network analyzer can view your credentials in plain text. To avoid this you must use a specific method of securing FTP, such as FTP over SSH.