File Transfer Protocol (FTP) BCIS 82 - Introduction to the Internet Marge Hohly
FTP definition FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a set of rules that allow you to transfer files between two computers across the Internet WITHOUT INVOLVING E-MAIL!
FTP Modes FTP allows users to connect in 2 ways: Full-privilege - Private FTP servers used by companies, government etc. Transfer information within an organization Used by qualified employees only
FTP Modes - cont. Anonymous FTP - Public Anyone can access Don’t need account Contains shareware, hardware drivers, programs, documents etc. placed in public domain
Client/Server Uses a program called a ‘Client’ Connect to a machine called a ‘Server’ Two directions: Uploading - send files to the server Downloading - receive files from the server
FTP FTP servers organize files in a tree-like hierarchical file structure. A main menu (root directory) displays a number of folders (subdirectories) and files. Folders called “pub” usually contains documents for the public, (anonymous FTP users). Move around to search for the files you want. Once located, copy the files over to your local computer by saving the files to your disk.
Downloading a document Many documents are prepared on one computer with various software Documents are not often readable on all computers Documents are not often readable with all software Adobe ‘Acrobat Reader’ - a free application Makes documents readable on a wide variety of computers Special type document - Portable Document Format (PDF) file
Examples of Downloads Software - like Adobe Acrobat http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html IRS Tax Forms and Publications http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/forms_pubs/index.html Small Business Administration Forms & Publications http://www.sba.gov/library/pubsroom.html
More Download sites Paine Webber Investment Research and News (updated weekly) http://www.painewebber.com:80/ResearchNews/ Gilbert and Sullivan ballads, scripts, scores, and newsletters http://diamond.idbsu.edu/gas/html/acrobat.html Center for Disease Control Cancer Prevention Publications http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dcpc/publica.htm
More Download sites Car Care Council Maintenance Tips (quarterly newsletter) http://www.autoshop-online.com/cchtml/mainttips.html Physics Education Research Papers http://www.physis.umd.edu/rgroups/ripe/perg/perow.html Print and Mail Passport Applications http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html
FTP Server URLs ftp://Server-name Server-name is the domain name of the FTP server. Access any FTP server by typing the FTP URL in the NetSite box e.g. ftp://wusrchive.wustl.edu ftp://oak.oakland.edu ftp://sumex-aim.stanford.edu ftp://ftp.mcom.com
FTP tools Some popular FTP tools: Fetch for Mac WS_FTP for Windows CuteFTP look at the icons to identify whether the items are folders, text files or binary files or executable programs.
File types Zip compressed files Exe executable Txt Text - ASCII Doc Document Bin Binary
Archie Search tool for locating only FTP sites Archie is roughly a card catalog system by keeping track of nearly all of the anonymous FTP sites. Archie has two parts: Server searches FTP sites maintains the database Client ask the server for information to provide to the users.
Archie sometimes the files that Archie returns are with the extension .zip that means the file is compressed. Compression is a process to shrink a file, making it easier to store and faster to transfer. .zip files need to be uncompressed after the transfer before you can use them.