Week 9 FTP and Athene

Wikipedia define FTP as File Transfer protocol, which is a method by which files may be shared over a computer network, such as the internet. To make use of FTP the user must have access to a server to be able upload and download files on that server.

A rudimentary interpretation of this is that FTP is a pipeline through which files may be uploaded and downloaded from a server. It does however require FTP soft ware such as Fetch or WSFTP .

Throw this one in for all those that are struggling, new use for computer!!!

The main objectives of FTP are,

• To promote sharing of files (computer programs and/or data).


• To encourage indirect or implicit use of remote computers


• To shield a user from variations in file storage systems among different hosts.


• To transfer data reliably, and efficiently.

Without an FTP it is impossible to make content from a local (own) computer freely available to a remote (in this case the CSU server).

There are several modes of operation for the FTP,

• Active mode~the FTP client opens a dynamic port and sends the server information via the FTP.


• Passive mode~ the FTP server opens a dynamic port and sends the FTP client the server's IP address to connect to, then information is exchanged via the FTP


• Extended passive mode~the FTP server operates exactly the same as passive mode, however it only transmits the port number (rather than the IP address) and the client is to assume that it connects to the same IP address that was originally connected to.

There appeared to be one limitation with regards to FTP and using a simple text editor or program such as Microsoft Word in that, picture files were not so simple to upload by simply including in the text and saving as a htm or html format.

Using a standard FTP can leave the client open to data interception by any other person using the same network. Hence the need to use a secure connection to prevent the interception using Secure File Transfer Protocol SFTP .

Now thats all the mundane work done!! Now for the interestingness... It is great to be a stage that we are actually going to be able to build an interesting web page and it will do something. If only to use a template provided by iWeb program. It is a step forward from blogging. But it all seems to be coming together.