what is FTP & what does it do for you

[Direct Current]

I am getting ready to inbark on building my own website and I have incounter something on the use of website. What in the world is FTP and what do I use it for? Help!!!!

[dm01]

FTP is the File Transfer Protocol, just like HTTP (which you see in the address bar presently) is the HyperText Transfer Protocol. Don't ask me how they work, because I don't actually know.

FTP allows fast, easy transfer of files between computers and servers, taking a fraction of the time that HTTP requires. The downside is the files are not readable by the browser until they are downloaded or uploaded. For this reason, you should NEVER download a file from a FTP server if you are not sure of what it is, even if it claims to be a simple .html file.

To use FTP, you would require a FTP client (such as FileZilla http://filezilla-project.org/), your site URL or IP address, and the FTP username and password for your site. Your host should be able to help you with the last one. Once you are connected to the server, you can upload or download files and folders.

If you have built and tested your site entirely within localhost (running the files from your hard drive), it is recommended to upload the entire folder at one time. This ensures the files are uploaded in the same hierarchy, and in turn preserves link integrity.

If you have any other questions, please ask.

[jamiemac2005]

Originally Posted by dm01

Don't ask me how they work, because I don't actually know.

protocols 101: they all work and are sent in the same way[excluding secure socket connections] (client sends a request to a server, server replies in packets of data) but with different protocols different info is sent, on a basic level http looks something like this:

[HTTP Header]
[Doc/Server info]
[actual content]
[HTTP Footer]

It's my understanding that the HTTP Header is a fair bit larger than an FTP header, and server info is emmitted because only the IP is needed, also HTTP does a lot more packet error checking(which requires sending a basic checksum style byte)... Doesn't make a large difference looking at a single packet but when you think about the few bytes different for each packet of data over the entire file the data needed to send the file is a lot less over FTP...

I'm sure someone else will have a more in depth/better understanding of this than me but the general gist is there =] haha.

[Direct Current]

Thanks a bunch jamiemac2005 & dm01. That explain a lot, enough to know I don't need to mess with it right now.

Reason I ask, was I am build my own website under my own domain name thru 1&1.com website builder for beginners, But the instruction are far from a beginner level of understanding. I am not suppose to have to use HTML or FTP, but I can use UPload to use my on logo. But its a chalange and take it one step at a time.

But there is something you may know; When you buy a domain name and I understand it is in park but should it not be listed on the net like yahoo or google or something or does that happen once you get the web page set up.
My domain name does have the ".com" on the end.

[FredT]

I don't really understand your last question. Are you saying that you bought a domain (for example www.mydomain123.com), but when you type that domain into the browser your site doesn't show up?

If you've already parked the domain like you mentioned, you still have to change the nameservers. You need to ask 1&1 hosting for the necessary nameservers and then you need to go to the domain registrar you bought the domain name from, login, and change the nameservers accordingly.

[simpswr]

FWIW . . Windows XP and above can FTP via Internet Explorer

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/135975