What is FTP?
FTP stands for "File
Transfer Protocall". That is the standard
for transfering files between one computer to
another.
The internet is based on
"HyperText Transfer Protocall", that is
the http:// that you see in front of all the
www's. If you replace that http with ftp your
browser will attempt to access another port on
the server. Although the info appears to be the
same FTP generally requires an authentication
username and password for access.
FTP was the standard for
uploading and downloading files to a website. You
would build pages on a program in your computer.
Then seperate the files into binary files like
images and multi media and text files like html
pages and data files.
Using another FTP program,
you would upload each file into the correct
directory on your webserver and be able to serve
out your page provided the path info in the html
document is correct.
Wait one minute! That
sounds a bit complicated.
That is because it is quite
complicated. That is why everyone employed
expensive webmasters that knew how to use
multiple programs to build their website.
Today, companies like
BumbleBee Works have built simplified http
interfaces that allow the upload and download of
files directly into webpages. Making the use of
FTP obsolete.
FTP has also died in
popularity to programs like Secure File Transfers
and sitebuilders that simply publish sites
automaticaly.
FTP is dated and has
various security flaws mostly related to its
popularity and all the hackers trying to breach
servers.
In most cases, hosting
companies do not even allow FTP ports to be open
on web servers. Getting a clients password is
relatively easy and once that is achived, the
entire server is comprimised.
FTP is something you should
know about, but unless you are a expert webmaster
or developer you wont likely need it.
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