What Is a FTP Host?
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is an older technology that allows administrators to share files over a network or the Internet. The service is available for hosting operating systems such as Internet Information Service (IIS) from Microsoft Windows. The protocol is a text base login technology, so its security is not as strong as HTTPS. However, giving anonymous access for downloading files is generally much easier than newer technology.
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Basic Use
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For simple text files or download content with minimal restrictions, FTP is a simple directory that lists available content to users through a web browser. By clicking a link on an FTP server, the browser knows to download the content. FTP is configured in browsers like Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari.
Graphical Interfaces
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Some software developers have made graphical user interfaces to interact with FTP servers. Programs like CuteFTP and SmartFTP give drag-and-drop capabilities to people who aren't familiar with FTP command syntax.
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Connecting via a Command Line
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Connecting to an FTP from the command line has the syntax below:
ftp ftp.mydomain.com
Replace "ftp.mydomain.com" with your FTP server location.
Logging and Security
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Most FTP servers log attempts to access the files. Security is poor with FTP. Any passwords sent to the server are plain text with no encryption.
Anonymous Access
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Anonymous access is common with public FTP servers. By typing "ftp.domain.com" in the address bar of your browser, you can view open directories and files available on the server. Replace "ftp.domain.com" with the name of the open FTP server.
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