How to Use FTP Software

One of the activities that people perform on the Internet is to transfer information by means of FTP (File Transfer Protocol) from one server to another or to upload or download information from the server. Most FTP utility programs operate in a similar manner to Windows Explorer. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• FTP utility program installed and configured on your computer
• Account name and password on a server on the Internet
• Address of the server by either name or IP address

1. Start the FTP program on your computer after you have brought up your Internet connection.

2. Enter the server address into the "Connection" information locations. You may enter either the IP address or the name of the server, such as "www.XXXXX.com."

3. Fill in the fields for your login information. Type your account name and fill in the password fields.

4. Click the "Connect" button and wait for the system to log you in with the information that you specified.

5. Examine your FTP program and view the contents of both your local machine and the contents of the server. These will typically be local system on the right and remote (server) on the left.

6. Realize that if you have directory structure on your remote system, then you can move about the disk in the same way that you move on your local machine in Windows Explorer.

7. Drag and drop items that you want to upload or download much as is done on a Windows or Apple computer. When you are finished, simply click the "Disconnect" button and you are logged off the remote server.

Tips & Warnings

• Always protect your computer from the Internet by using a Firewall and scan anything you download from the Internet.

Resources

• Tutorial on FTP operation
• Download of a common FTP program