File Transfer Protocol is a concept that not everyone understands or knows how to work with easily. Each web hosting company has its own way to handle this process, though the basics may be rather similar in nature. For those new to hosting, the term may be one of the most confusing and intimidating among the hosting jargon. Lunarpages does not assume that everyone has a first hand knowledge of processes such as FTP and thus makes Lunarpages FTP easy to do.
FTP or file transfer protocol is the process of transferring files from one location to another over a network or the World Wide Web. In order for the process to work you must have an FTP server (usually your web hosting account) as well as an FTP client. To explain the terminology a little farther for those who are unfamiliar with FTP, the FTP client is a program that you would need to have previously installed on your computer that allows it to form a connection with your hosting account. The ability of your FTP client to connect with the FTP server is how you are able to move and upload files from one location to another. Some examples of FTP clients include the following:
• FireFTP
• CoreFTP Lite
• Filezilla
These three programs are only a minor sampling of what is available—there are many more possibilities from which you can choose. Once you have established your FTP client and server, you are ready to begin. Of course, you need to learn how to make the two work together so that you are able to transfer files from one location to another.
Lunarpages provides a number of tutorials for setting up your FTP on the tutorial section of their website. The basic process involves the following:
• Hostname is your domain name or server name. You will need to change the name when you begin to set up your FTP account. For those on a Windows server who have purchased a dedicated IP, you will use that as your hostname.
• The user name is the user name you selected or were provided by your FTP server.
• Password is self-explanatory
• Passive FTP is turned ON if you have a Linux account of OFF for those who have Windows accounts.
If you want to set up additional FTP accounts you have created, you will need to use the full file format as your user name along with the password you created for the particular FTP account.
Although the process of transferring files from one location to another may seem rather complicated to the new user, Lunarpages FTP is a simple process. Like anything else you may wish to do with your web pages, the process will become easier as you become more familiar with it. The tutorials on Lunarpages will help you develop the FTP accounts you need and transfer the files. After you have completed the process a few times, you will be more at ease with it and be able to complete it quickly and efficiently.
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