How to Set up an FTP Connection

Read through this article to learn everything you need to know about setting up a FTP Connection.

What is FTP?

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, which is a set of standardised rules that enables you to manage website files from your Hosting Manager. It is a protocol that involves two programs (a client and a server) in order to process and implement requests over a network such as the internet.

If you want to know how to get started with FTP (File Transfer Protocol), click here.

What is Anonymous FTP?

Anonymous FTP, as its name suggests, is basically the same as regular FTP (File Transfer Protocol). However, unlike most FTP access, Anonymous FTP is not restricted and usually has a common login username and password, which makes it easy for anyone to access.

Usually, you use the word “anonymous” as your login username and your email address as the password. In some cases, it may not even require a username and password.

If you want to find examples of anonymous FTP servers, you can use the Archie search engine.

How to set up an FTP connection

You can access, edit, organise, and manage your web files and folders more efficiently with an FTP connection, compared to just accessing them through the File Manager. However, there are things you need to have and software you need to set up, before you can establish an FTP connection.

Things you need to establish an FTP connection:

• FTP Client or Internet Browser
• Host Name (server name)
• Username (log in)
• Password

Some common FTP client software you can use:

Windows

• Windows 8
• Windows 7
• Cute FTP
• FileZilla
• Smart FTP
• WS FTP
• Notepad++

Mac

• CyberDuck
• Fetch

There are two ways you can create an FTP connection—via Internet Browser or an FTP client.

Internet Browser

1. Open a web browser tab.
2. Put “ftp” before your domain name and TLD in the browser address.
   Example: ftp.[yourdomain].com
3. A pop-up box will appear. Type in your username and password. Click Log In.

The files and folders in your domain’s home directory will be displayed in the next page.

FTP Client

1. Select an FTP client and download the installer.
2. Install the FTP client in your computer.
3. Once installed, open the FTP client and supply the following information:

   Hostname	This is the path of your FTP connection. Just add “ftp” before your domain name. Example: ftp.yourdomain.com
   Username	This is your hosting username.
   Password	This is the key that will enable you to access your FTP connection.
   Port	This is the port that your FTP connection will be using. The default port is 21.

If the log in is successful, you will get the following notifications:

        Status:	TLS connection established.
        Status:	Connected
        Status:	Retrieving directory listing...
        Status:	Directory listing of "/" successful
        

How to monitor FTP connections to your site

If you want to monitor visitors logged in or accessing your site through FTP, follow the steps below:

1. Access your Hosting Manager.
2. On the Home page, click the word Files or the [ v ] arrow symbol. Click the FTP Connections icon.
3. You’ll be redirected to the FTP Connections page. You can see list of the visitors or users who are currently logged in to your site under Current Connections.

To make sure that all current FTP connections are being displayed, refresh the list. You can do this by clicking the Reload button.

Terminate a current FTP connection

If you want to know how to terminate a current connection, click the link below:

• How to terminate FTP connections

You can also learn more about FTP in our get started with FTP guide. Please let us know if you need any further assistance, or if you have any questions. We’d love to help!