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Auto FTP Manager
v4.12
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Understanding How FTP Works
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Data exchange has
been important right from the early days of
computing. A popular means of data exchange is
connecting computers to
one another to form a network. A computer that requests
a service is called a
Client
and a computer that provides the service is known as a
Server.
The File Transfer
Protocol (FTP)
is used to
transfer files
between two
computers over a
network (including the
Internet). In this article we will look at how
to work with FTP
using a client software such as
Auto
FTP Manager. Auto FTP Manager is an advanced FTP client that automates file
transfers between your computer and the FTP server.
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What is FTP? |
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When you want to
copy files from two
computers that are
on the same local
network, often you
can simply "share" a
drive or folder, and
copy the files using
the same method you
would use copying
files from one place
to another on your
own PC. |
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What if you want to
copy files from one
computer to another
that is halfway
around the world? You would probably use
your Internet
connection. However,
for security
reasons, it is very
uncommon to share
your folders over
the Internet.
File transfers over
the Internet use
special techniques,
of which one of the
oldest and most
widely-used is FTP.
FTP,
short for "File
Transfer Protocol,"
can transfer files
between computers in
any location that
has an Internet
connection, and also
works between
computers using
totally different
operating systems. |
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The
process of
transferring files
from your client
computer to the
server computer is termed "uploading"
and the reverse process is termed "downloading". |
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Requirements for using FTP |
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1. |
An FTP client like Auto FTP Manager installed
on your computer.
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2. |
Certain
information
about the
FTP
server
you want
to
connect
to: |
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a. |
The FTP server address. This looks a lot like the address you
type in Internet Explorer to browse websites. One such example is
"ftp.videodesk.net". Sometimes the server address will be given as a numeric address, like "64.185.225.87". |
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b. |
The user name and password required for the FTP connection. Some FTP servers
let you connect to them anonymously. For anonymous connections, you do not need
a user name and password. |
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o transfer files,
provide your client
software (Auto FTP
Manager) with
correct address,
user name, and
password to connect
to the FTP server.
After that, you can
use Auto FTP
Manager's File Manager to upload, download and delete files. Using the File Manager is a lot like working with Windows Explorer. |
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FTP Internet Connection |
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In FTP two separate
Internet connections
are required. FTP
uses one connection for commands and
the other for
sending and
receiving data.
FTP has a standard
port number on which the FTP server
"listens" for
connections. A
port is a "logical
connection point"
for communicating
using the Internet Protocol
(IP). The
standard port number used by
FTP servers is 21 and
is used
only for sending commands. Since port 21 is used exclusively for sending
commands, this port is referred to as a command port. For example, to get
a list of folders
and files present on
the FTP server, the
FTP Client issues a
"LIST" command. The
FTP server then
sends a list of all
folders and files
back to the FTP
Client. |
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So what about the
internet connection
used to send and
receive data? The port that is used for transferring data is referred
to as a data port. |
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Active and Passive
Connection Mode |
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The
FTP server may
support Active
or Passive
mode of connection, or both.
In an Active FTP
connection, the
client opens a port
and listens and the
server actively
connects to it.
In a Passive FTP
connection, the
server opens a port
and listens
(passively) and the
client connects to
it. You must grant
Auto FTP Manager access to the
Internet and to choose the right type of
FTP Connection Mode. |
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Most FTP client
programs select
passive connection
mode by default
because server
administrators
prefer it as a
safety measure.
Firewalls generally
block connections
that are "initiated"
from the outside.
Using passive mode,
the FTP client (like
Auto FTP Manager) is
"reaching out" to
the server to make
the connection.
The firewall will
allow these outgoing
connections, meaning
that no special
adjustments to
firewall settings
are required.
Allowing active FTP
would mean reducing
the protection level
of the firewall.
If you are
connecting to the FTP
server using
Active mode of
connection you must
set your firewall
to accept connections
to the port that
your FTP client will
open. However,
many Internet
service providers block incoming
connections to all
ports above 1024
i.e. the data ports
used by most FTP
clients. It's
generally a good
idea to use
Passive mode to connect to
an
FTP server. Most FTP
servers support the
Passive mode. For
Passive FTP
connection to
succeed, the FTP
server administrator
must set his / her firewall to accept
all connections to
any ports
that the FTP server may
open. However,
this is the server
administrator's
problem (and
standard practice
for servers). You can go
ahead, make and use FTP
connections. |
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FTP Communication |
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Once the FTP Client
manages to open the
two internet
connections, one for
command and one for
data, it starts
communicating with
the FTP server. You
are now ready to
transfer your files
and folders between
the two connected
computers. |
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