ftp vs. a hosting company

digital321 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 02:24 PM

i'm confused... why (or when) would you need to upload your 'files' to an ftp site, and which files are you uploading... versus using your hosting company? is ftp designed for something else other than your website content, i.e. pictures, flash, etc. for uploading? i guess i'm asking when would you use an ftp site for upload... and when would you use your hosting company for uploads... and what content do you upload for both, whew!

thanks!!

MentalClinic · #2 (**permalink**) 12-09-2007, 06:46 AM

FTP = File Transfer Protocol
HTTP = HyperText Transfer Protocol

So, I don't know what you mean by "using hosting company", but I'm guessing you mean some control panel that hosting company provides, where you can also upload files?

FTP, like name already says, is made for file transferring. FTP cannot display images, even text directly. It is made purely for file transfer.
HTTP is protocol you use every day to browse the web, as HTTP can display images, text.. complete websites.

There is no such thing as "FTP site", there is just a directory with no index file that HTTP can automatically find and display. Usually you can view directory with both protocols if they are not password protected.

Now, to upload files I would definitely recommend using FTP, you can upload unlimited files at once, also FTP is usually a bit faster. But if you want to upload one file which is few mb's or smaller there's no difference really. But many times you need to upload 30-40 directories/files, then I would definitely use FTP.

jazzguy · #3 (**permalink**) 12-09-2007, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital321

i'm confused... why (or when) would you need to upload your 'files' to an ftp site, and which files are you uploading... versus using your hosting company? is ftp designed for something else other than your website content, i.e. pictures, flash, etc. for uploading? i guess i'm asking when would you use an ftp site for upload... and when would you use your hosting company for uploads... and what content do you upload for both, whew!

thanks!!

As MentalClinic states FTP is for file transfers...which basically means getting the files that make up your site which are on your hard-drive (ie: transferring them) onto the server that you are hosting them on for all the world to see...

Much like transferring money from a checking account to a savings account...it's just a separate tool to make life a little easier. You would have to find an FTP client or program on the Web...I've heard good things about Cute FTP which I believe is free of charge. I personally use a ten year old copy of WS-FTP which suits my needs just fine...

Hope this helps. All the best.

Rob · #4 (**permalink**) 12-09-2007, 02:32 PM

Filezilla is another free one, FTP = File Transfer Protocol in human terms moving data from your hard drive to your web server or (host)

marketingmama · #5 (**permalink**) 12-26-2007, 02:08 AM

Cute FTP isn't free anymore but there is one called Core FTP lite that is free. I use it and it works exactly the same as Cute FTP.

When you upload your pages, all you have to do, after you connect to the host through the FTP software is drag and drop your pages into the window. It's really easy, you'll be fine.

One thing about images though, make sure that you have the actual images uploaded to your server and then linked to your pages through your server or the images won't show up.

Did that make sense? I knew what I meant. i know that no one told me that when I was a newbie and I was almost insane by the time I figured it out.

Sheree

foong · #6 (**permalink**) 12-26-2007, 02:41 AM

FTP clients are basically offering almost the same features nowadays, guess it is hard to think of anything new to add to it anymore.

I used to have CuteFTP, later changed to smartFTP then FileZilla and now FireFTP !

I love FireFTP because it runs in FireFox (it just open a new tab in your current firefox browser window), I don't need to minimize the browser and launch FTP program, upload then bring back browser window to check, and switch again to FTP for upload etc.

marketingmama · #7 (**permalink**) 12-26-2007, 04:01 AM

OOH, anything that runs with Firefox has got my vote.

Yeah, I think you're right about them all being pretty much the same. I mean, what fancy things could they possibly do?

That's why I just use the free one.

Sheree

Rob · #8 (**permalink**) 12-26-2007, 03:53 PM

I went from WS-FTP then Filezilla, and i must say im going to look into this FF FTP sounds very interesting!

lisa · #9 (**permalink**) 12-26-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foong

I love FireFTP because it runs in FireFox (it just open a new tab in your current firefox browser window), I don't need to minimize the browser and launch FTP program, upload then bring back browser window to check, and switch again to FTP for upload etc.

I use Filezilla too but plan on checking into FireFTP myself. I hate having to go back and forth between browser/FTP program as I check my updates.

foong · #10 (**permalink**) 12-26-2007, 08:50 PM

Ah...just in case you need the URL :-

http://fireftp.mozdev.org/

Have fun

pathfinder · #11 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital321

i'm confused... why (or when) would you need to upload your 'files' to an ftp site, and which files are you uploading... versus using your hosting company? is ftp designed for something else other than your website content, i.e. pictures, flash, etc. for uploading? i guess i'm asking when would you use an ftp site for upload... and when would you use your hosting company for uploads... and what content do you upload for both, whew!

thanks!!

im not sure what you mean.. but, FTP client is used to upload your local files to your remote space which is what you are paying for your hosting company. you might mean a sort of uploading page you have from sortta Control Panel...

I prefer to use a FTP program since it is more convenient for me

marketingmama · #12 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 09:13 AM

FTP is not a "site" that you upload your pages to, it's a piece of software that you use to upload your pages quickly and securely to your host company. That's it, that's all it is but you do need it. Don't use the "upload file" thing in your control panel at your host company.

Sheree

digital321 · #13 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:18 PM

ok, now i get it. but marketingmama, that's a good point you brought up... why shouldn't i use the host's upload ftp software? i have Dreamweaver and i think it comes with an ftp capability and i think internet explorer does too. what do you guys think of these two?

thanks for the advice!

lisa · #14 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital321

ok, now i get it. but marketingmama, that's a good point you brought up... why shouldn't i use the host's upload ftp software? i have Dreamweaver and i think it comes with an ftp capability and i think internet explorer does too. what do you guys think of these two?

thanks for the advice!

I use 2 different FTP programs because it depends on what I'm doing. If I'm installing a new script that has a lot of files to upload, I like to use an external program like Filezilla.

For example, when I installed this vbulletin forum there are tons of files and several directories are created on my server so it's easier to use Filezilla. Plus if you need to change permissions (CHMOD) to files or monitor ASCII/Binary transmissions, it's best to use an external program rather than your host's control panel or HTML editor like Dreamweaver.

But if I'm working on my site and am just uploading basic image and/or .HTML files then I just use Dreamweaver's built-in FTP feature. I hardly ever use my host's control panel.

digital321 · #15 (**permalink**) 12-30-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa

Plus if you need to change permissions (CHMOD) to files or monitor ASCII/Binary transmissions, it's best to use an external program rather than your host's control panel or HTML editor like Dreamweaver.

omg lisa... what are those?? what types of permissions are you changing and do i need to monitor my websites ASCII/Binary transmissions too??

also, do you guys know of one place where i can learn to understand these terms?? thanks!

but overall, in a nutshell... you recommend filezilla as a good choice? does it cost? thanks again!

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