Info - FTP Tutorial

FTP stands for "File Transfer Protocol" a bit of computer lingo to describe the process of being able to access computers around the world and copy files to andfrom them.
What is FTP and What's Out There?
What is Anonymous FTP?
User IDs and Passwords
FTP Terminology
Mirror Sites
Expanding a File
FTP in your Web Browser

What Is FTP and What's Out There?

FTP is a powerful tool that enables you to access computers anywhere in the world and copy files from them to your own computer. This process is known as "downloading". The opposite term to describe the act of making a file available for others to copy is, of course, "uploading". The average user is unlikely to be uploading, but will certainly be downloading -- anything from information and pictures to full fledged application programs. The process of downloading files through FTP is the subject of this course.

What's out there?

The wide variety of material available through FTP includes:
Text information Many libraries and other sources of stored text information have FTP sites available where you can access and copy text documents.
Pictures Everything from movie stars to world maps. Look for distinctive file extensions that identify graphic/picture files, including .bmp, .eps, .gif, .jpg, .pic and .tif.
Sounds Look for .aif, .aux, .snd and .wav file extensions that identify sound files.
Games Games ranging from simple to incredibly complex are out there to download and try out.
Video Clips Viewing full motion video on your computer is not in a league with your VCR or TV, but there are plenty of samples out there if you're interested. Look for .avi and .mov file extensions that identify movie files.
Applications A tremendous variety of shareware and freeware is available. These are free standing applications that perform various functions for you on your computer.
Upgrades The makers of shareware applications, as well as makers of commercial software products, often make available new versions of their products with improvements to specific functions, known as "upgrades".

The free or very low cost material that's out there in the FTP world available to you is vast and varied. With a spirit of adventure and a little patient searching, you'll soon find out how easy and worthwhile FTP can be.


What Is Anonymous FTP?

Anonymous FTP is the process of connecting to a remote computer that does not require any identification or password to access what are called its public or "pub" files. "Anonymous" is typed in the User ID field and the Password is your e-mail address. On many servers, both fields can also be left blank. Vast archives of information and software are available to all by anonymous FTP.

Regular (non-anonymous) FTP means that the user is authorized to access a particular FTP site and has been assigned a User ID and Password to gain entry. Since most people's FTP experience will be entirely with Anonymous FTP, that is the focus of our course.

User IDs and Passwords

In order to gain access to a regular FTP site, a "user ID" must be issued to you by the administrator of the site. You then choose a "password" known only to you that is used in combination with the user ID to connect your computer to the FTP site's computer.

The bulk of the FTPing you'll be doing, however, does not require advance approval from the site. This is what is known as "anonymous FTP".

 FTP Terminology

Anonymous FTP A system to retrieve documents, files and programs from computers on the Internet which provide public access.
ASCII File (Stands for "American Standard Code for Information Interchange" and is pronounced "ask-ee") A system of representing text by numbers that enables various computers to display the text in a uniform way. In FTP, it is a method for transferring text only files.
Bandwidth How much "stuff" that goes through a network connection, measured in bits (see below) per second. One text page is about 16,000 bits. A 28.8 modem can move about 15,000 bits each second.
Binary File The number system used to produce computer data, where all information is represented by one of two digits, "1" or "0", known as "bits". In FTP, binary files are made up of something other than text, such as pictures, graphics or sounds.
Bit A bit is the smallest unit of computer data, represented by "1" or "0", whereas a byte (see below) is a combination of bits, usually 8, that represents a single character.
Byte A bit (see above) is the smallest unit of computer data, represented by "1" or "0", whereas a byte is a combination of bits, usually 8, that represents a single character. Frequently seen variations of byte include kilobyte, or one thousand bytes, and megabyte, which is one million bytes or one thousand kilobytes. Phew!
Download To copy a computer file (which can contain text, graphics, sound, even a whole application) from another computer to yours.
Get FTP talk for downloading -- getting from the remote computer, as opposed to "putting" -- uploading to the remote computer.
Helper Application A program that operates outside the FTP program, but provides a function that enhances the FTP program's operation.
Local Refers to your computer, as opposed to "remote", which refers to the computer to which you connect for the purpose of downloading files.
Mirror Site A site which contains an exact copy of the files at another site. Popular sites develop mirror sites so that more people can access the files. The best use of bandwidth is to use the mirror site that is closest to your geographic location.
Password A combination of letters and/or numbers known only to you that is entered along with a user ID to authorize a connection from your computer to an FTP site's computer.
Put FTP talk for uploading -- putting on the remote computer, as opposed to "getting" -- downloading from the remote computer.
Remote Refers to the computer to which you connect for the purpose of downloading files.
Upload To copy a file from your computer to another.
User ID In order to gain access to an FTP site, a "user ID" must be issued to you by the administrator of the site. You then choose a "password" known only to you that is used in combination with the user ID to connect your computer to the FTP site's computer.


Mirror Sites

A mirror site is one which contains an exact copy of the files at another site.

Popular sites limit the number of anonymous users who can connect at one time, so mirror sites are developed so that more people can access the files. The best use of bandwidth is to use the mirror site that is closest to your geographic location.


 Expanding a File

Many files that you download will be compressed to speed the process. This 'compressing' is often called 'zipping', so a compressed file would be called a 'zip file'.

It is important that you have an application available to expand a compressed file so that you can use it normally. You can download the most popular uncompressing program for Windows from http://www.winzip.com.

It may also be a good idea to grab a copy of ZipIt, developed by Thomas A. Brown. This program allows you to both zip and unzip files. Very convenient if you work or play in a cross-platform environment where you might want to compress a file and send it to someone using Macintosh.

Note: As with any shareware, please pay your shareware fee if you use the program more than 5 times. This is common courtesy and will win you brownie points on the Internet. Please read the documentation that accompanies the shareware for details on registering your copy.

FTP In Your Web Browser

It is possible to access FTP sites and download files right in your Web browser. Many Web sites provide links right in the text of a Web page which automatically access an FTP site and initiate the download of a particular file. This requires no knowledge or even awareness of FTP on your part.

However, you can also display the directories of FTP sites and choose files to download in your browser just like in an FTP program. To access a remote server this way, open the new location window, just as if you were going to type in the URL of a Web site. An FTP site can be accessed the same way. Where Web site addresses begin with "http", FTP site addresses begin with "ftp". When you are connected, you will see the same directory listing with subdirectories and files as you would in an FTP program. To download a file, simply double click it.

Why use an FTP program?

If this is so simple in your Web browser, why even get FTP software? The main advantage of the major FTP programs is their comprehensive, built-in lists of FTP site addresses which give the newcomer a great source of jumping-off places to explore the world of FTP.