How to Make a FTP Connection With a Username & Password

The File Transfer Protocol or FTP is used to transfer files over the Internet or other network. FTP servers can support user accounts or anonymous log ins. If the FTP server you want to connect to requires a user account to log in, the administrator will have provided you with a user name and password for the account. You must provide this information before uploading or downloading any files.

Instructions

1. Open a terminal window on Linux or a command prompt window on Windows.

2. Type the command "ftp hostname" to connect to the FTP server. Replace "hostname" with the host name or IP address of the FTP server.

3. Type the user name for your account at the first prompt.

4. Type the password for the account at the second prompt. You have now made a FTP connection.

Tips & Warnings

• You can access an FTP server through a web browser by typing "ftp://username@hostname" and providing the password when prompted.

• You can also use a graphical FTP client such as Filezilla, WinSCP or CuteFTP to connect to the account.

References

• Dave Lozinski: The Basics of FTP

Resources

• WinSCP
• FileZilla
• CuteFTP