All About FTP ( File Transfer Protocol )

Index

1. What is FTP?
2. Do I have to use a FTP program to download a file?
3. How do I find files to download?
4. What do I need to use FTP?
5. Do I have to use an FTP program to upload a file?
6. Where can I get an FTP program?
7. How do I download a file from my account or upload a file to my account using FTP on Ziplink?
8. Why do I have a www directory and an anonftp directory?
9. How would other people upload or download a file from my anonftp directory?
10. Do I use FTP to upload file to my Web site and how do I do it?
11. How do I change permissions on the files that I upload?
12. How do I use FTP with just a shell account?

Related information can be found in Downloading Files

1. Q. What is FTP?

   A. File Transfer Protocol is the Internet standard for downloading a file directly to your computer or uploading files from your computer to an FTP server.
   
   

2. Q. Do I have to use a FTP program to downloadd a file?

   A. If you need to get a file from an FTP server you would have to use and FTP program to get it. Netscape, Internet Explorer, and other Web browers support FTP to download with. You can find out more by going to Downloading Files.
   
   

3. Q. How do I find files to download?

   A. Go to Downloading files to get that information.
   
   

4. Q. What do I need to use FTP?

   A. Depending on the platform that you are using you will need a piece of software that supports FTP. Or you can use your shell account to FTP go to the Unix FAQ to find out more.
   
   

5. Q. Do I have to use an FTP program to upload a file?

   A. Yes, Netscape 3.0 can upload files to an FTP site, but it doesn't support the ability to change file permissions, delete files or create new directories. So we recommend that you use a full featured FTP program
   
   

6. Q. Where can I get an FTP program?

   A. Click one of the following OS's to go to a page where you can download a FTP program.
   Note that these are third party pieces of software. Ziplink can't be held responsible should they adversely affect your system in anyway, nor can Ziplink fully support every piece of FTP software there is. We do believe that these programs will enhance your on-line experience.
   Mac - Fetch
   Windows95/WindowsNT - CuteFTP or WS-FTP
   Windows3.1 - CuteFTP or WS-FTP
   
   
   

7. Q. How do I download a file from my account or upload a file to my account using FTP on Ziplink?

   A. Using what ever FTP software that you have you will have a place to make a connection. It should ask you for a host address which is ftp.ziplink.net . It will then want your username (the one without the p in front) and your password. When you make the connection it will show you all of the file and directories that you have on the system.
   
   

8. Q. Why do I have a www directory and an anonftp directory?

   A. The www is for you to put up your own Webpage and the anonftp is for you to allow others to upload or download files from your directory.
   
   

9. Q. How would other people upload or download a file from my anonftp directory?

   A. If someone wanted to upload a file to your anonftp directory they would have to go to the following address ftp.ziplink.net/users/yourusername(without the p). Once they made the connection they could then upload a file to your directory, or if you put a file there they could download it. Note this doesn't give them access to any of your privet files unless you decide to put them in this directory.
   

10. Q. Do I use FTP to upload file to my Web site and how do I do it?

    A. Yes, you would follow the directions in answer 7 above. When you choose to make the FTP connection it would put you in your root directory. You will see that you have an anonftp directory and a www directory. You will have to move into your WWW directory usually by double clicking on it. After you are in your directory you would then choose to put or upload a file. We won't know the exact command, but it should be apparent. After it finishes uploading your file will now be in your www directory. For more information on putting up your Web go to Building a Webpage
    
    
    

11. Q. How do I change the permissions on the files that I upload?

    A. Though we won't know how to do this in every FTP program, here is how you do it in the three most commonly used FTP programs.
    
    To change permissions with WS-FTP ( Win 95, NT )
    1. Right-click anywhere in the program and choose "FTP Commands", then "Site"
    2. Type the Unix command to change permissions on the file. i.e, "chmod 755 test.txt" ( See "Unix" below )
    
    To change permissions with Cute FTP ( Win 95, 3.x, NT )
    1. Highlight the file you need to change.
    2. From the "Commands menu", choose "Custom commands", then Change file access mask.
    3. Enter the Unix mask number for the permissions you want. i.e, "755" ( See "Unix" below )
    
    To change permissions with Fetch (MAC)
    1. Highlight the file you need to change.
    2. From the "Remote" menu, choose "Set permissions".
    3. Check the permissions you would like to give and click "OK".
    
    
    

12. Q. How do I use FTP with just a shell account?

    A. Go to the UNIX FAQ whitch will cover this information.
    
    

For more information go to Downloading Files

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