FTP
(File Transfer Protocol) is the simplest and most secure way to
exchange files (like
video, audio or Power Point) over the Internet.
It
can be vital for transferring large files if your email has a size
limit for attachments. When downloading a file from the Internet
you're actually transferring the file to your computer from another
computer over the Internet. This is why the T (transfer) is in
FTP. An FTP address looks a lot like an HTTP, or Website, address
except it uses the prefix ftp:// instead of http://.
Example Website address:
http://www.mainstreamcom.net
Example
FTP site address: ftp://ftp.23/18/51/Mainstreamftp
So, then what is an FTP Site?
An FTP site is like a large filing
cabinet. With a traditional filing cabinet, the person who does
the
filing has the option to label and organize the files however they see
fit. They also decide which files to keep locked and which remain
public. It is the same with an FTP site.
The virtual 'key' to get into an FTP site is
the User ID and Password. When connecting to an
FTP site that allows anonymous
logins, you're frequently not prompted for a name and password.
Hence,
when downloading from the
Internet, you most likely are using an anonymous FTP login and you
don't even
know it. When you use our ftp site, we will send you the location, user
name
and password via email. Sometimes you need to click on your right mouse
button
to call up the log-in window.
To make an FTP connection you can use a
standard Web browser (Internet Explorer works the best) or a dedicated
FTP
software program, referred to as an FTP
'Client'. FTP clients are included
on most Windows machines, and can also be downloaded for free from the
internet. Contact your company network and internet specialists to
enable your
computer to use an FTP Client.
Remember, downloads can take a long time and
ftp sometimes gives you very little feedback about the file being
downloaded or
uploaded, so be patient. And never try to run a file directly from the
server,
as the transfer rate of ftp will not support this action. Always
download your
files to your hard drive to utilize them. Sending
or receiving files from our site
requires time and equipment, therefore, we charge an hourly rate for
the service. So in some cases, it may be
less costly to
send or receive files on a disc via a delivery service or mail,
especially if the
file size total is over fifty megs. The
best way to use an FTP site is for sharing project content with
decision makers
who are traveling or at a remote location.
So
the next time you need to use or FTP site...
Just
Ask Mainstream.
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