What is FTP and how do I use it?

FTP stands for File Transport Protocol, a method of transferring files from one computer to another on the Internet. All Hosting For Humans package plans include unlimited, 24-hours-a-day FTP access (A la Carte customers must purchase it as a separate service). You’ll use FTP to transfer web content (HTML documents, jpgs, gifs, or other web content) from your local computer to your web directories on our servers.

Users of AOL, CompuServe, Prodigy or other proprietary Internet Service Providers may have an FTP interface built-in to their internet access software, and should refer to the online help files or documentation of their ISP (of course, if you get stuck, send email to support@hostingforhumans.com). If you have a regular dial-up ISP, you will first need to download FTP software appropriate to your computer hardware.

If you are a Win95/98/2000 User, We recommend the FTP programs CuteFTP or WS_FTPle. You can download WS_FTPle here or CuteFTP, which may be downloaded for free here.

If you are a Mac user, we suggest that you try Fetch, which may be downloaded for free here.

Configuring and Using Your FTP Software

Though there are differences within each software program, the process of configuring the various FTP software interfaces is roughly the same. Your FTP software will ask you for a server or host name, a username, login, or user ID, a password, and sometimes an initial remote and/or initial local directory.

Your username (which is the same thing as your login or user ID), password, and host name (or IP address) was sent to you in your initial account activation email.

The hostname or IP address tells your FTP software to connect to the Hosting for Humans web server that we’ve configured for your website files. When you first sign up with us, you may need to log on using your IP address until your new or transferred domain name propagates through the internet. Your username and password identifies you to the server, which will direct you to the area set aside for your website files. Your initial remote directory, if you wish to set it, should be “htdocs/” — all files you wish to make publicly available via the world wide web should be placed there. Your initial local directory is the directory on your hard disk where the HTML and other files for your web site are located.

Transferring files via the FTP programs we recommend is fairly self-explanatory —select the files you wish to transfer by clicking on them, drag them to the folder you’d like to send them to, and release your mouse button (drag and drop). Be sure to read our FAQ on file naming conventions if you’re new to this, and as always, if you have any questions or problems, contact us at support@hostingforhumans.com and we’ll get right back to you.

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