The FTP service on the Internet is designed ... FTP File Transfer Service

FTP on the Internet is designed for direct file exchange, it is built on a technological basis "client-server". There is an interaction between the client and the server through the FTP protocol. A client is one who sends requests to a specific server, and also receives and transmits information. A server is a system that receives files from a client, processes them, and then transfers them further.

What are the advantages of using the FTP service?

FTP on the Internet is designed to receive and transfer all kinds of files. It has its own server, which stores large archives with all kinds of data and files. In such archives huge amounts of absolutely different information. There are duplicate archives in which the information is completely identical between several servers, they are called mirrors.

The advantages of this service consist in several points:

1. The ability to transfer data through the global network. Using the protocol, it is possible to download almost any files to the computer: music, archives, text information and programs.
2. The ability to remotely manage the server files of any networked computer. That is, in other words, it is possible to manage files of a computer located on the other side of the world from one computer.
3. It is convenient to work with information, files or documents, you do not have to go from one page to another in search of the necessary information, as it happens in any browser.

To work with the FTP service, specialized programs are needed, they provide the protocol. There are several types of such programs: FTP-server, FTP-client and archie.

What is the FTP protocol?

The FTP file service uses a protocol that directly interacts with the protocol at the transport level, otherwise TCP:

• The initial standard is RFC-114.
• The last one is RFC-959.

From other developed applications this service differs in that it uses only two TCP connections in order to transfer any information and files:

1. Control connection - it is designed to send commands to the server and receive from it already processed responses. To organize this connection, you need the Telnet protocol (sending the request and waiting for the processed response, after receiving it, gives the signal that it is possible to transfer the command).
2. Connect existing or all sent and received files. After the Telnet connection is established, file transfer is performed by a logical process that organizes TCP, it checks the port availability in the FTP server.
Such communication channels are constantly formed, and, if necessary, eliminated.

FTP-protocol can work in two modes:

- active;
- passive.

What is an FTP client?

An FTP client is a specific user interface that implements transmission over the FTP file protocol. It turns out that the FTP service on the Internet is designed to exchange files between several computers connected to a local or Internet network. It does not matter what platforms these computers are equipped with or at what distance they are located from each other.

In fact, such a client is configured in the same way as a server, but it is managed only by a local machine, or by a human. It turns out that you can not manage an FTP client through the Internet - only through a computer.

There are types of FTP client - the so-called download managers. For example, ReGet, Go! Zilla and many others. Thanks to them, the user can download from any Web server. The main feature of such programs is that they can integrate under any browser, automatically intercept the necessary files for the user. FTP-loaders have convenient management, a beautiful interface and in the event of a connection failure, they will resume the resume after it is turned on.

What is meant by an FTP server?

FTP-server are special programs that run on a personal computer, they work in the background. They allow you to make a full-fledged FTP server from the most common computer, and the management of the FTP service allows you to download or upload any desired files. Such a program automatically tracks all requests that come from other computers, then processes them and gives an answer. By installing this server, you must specify a limited directory available to other software clients. Each file and directory has its own individual attributes, you can, if desired, restrict access to any computers. For example, one file can only be read, another can be written, the third file is absolutely open for any machine and so on.

FTP-server - these are limited systems, they are available only to registered users, when connecting to them, you must enter your login and password. There are many so-called open servers, otherwise they are also called anonymous. To enter there, you need to enter login - anonymous and password - password.

Archie - a search program for FTP-archives

Finding the necessary FTP-server on the Internet - the task is very time-consuming and complex, for its facilitation was developed a special program module Archie. You can work with it through e-mail, through Telnet-session or locally. It should be understood that the service of FTP archives and archie are absolutely different technologies. Most often, in order to gain access to the archie server, the user first needs to contact the archie client.

To work through Telnet, the user should open a Telnet session, in the correct line write the word archie. It looks like this: telnet archie.mcgill.s login: archie.
After the line: archie> appears. You can also take an interest in the server by entering: help.

How to create an FTP server on the Internet?

Since the FTP service on the Internet is designed to exchange files between Internet users, and with it you can do it simply and quickly, some users want to install their own server. You can implement this desire, but only having the necessary theoretical knowledge about the Internet and certain programs, as well as about file sharing.

There are many programs that allow you to create a personal FTP server on a personal computer. One such specialized program is GuildFTPd. It is simple enough to install and intuitive, if you know some of the nuances of creating FTP. Initially, it should be found on the Internet and installed on your computer. Problems with its installation should not arise. But in the configuration of the program you will need to perform some actions - this is necessary for the further correct operation of the created FTP-service.

Internet file transfer service FTP, created through the program GuildFTPd

After downloading and installing this program on the computer, go to the settings panel (GuildFTPd options), there will be several tabs and items. The General category contains all the main settings that determine the number of connections, port numbers and other important parameters. Here you need to make all the necessary settings. At each server they are individual and depend only on the desires of the creator.

Next comes the Server category. Here you must enter the name of the server you are creating. It is desirable to reduce the volume occupied by the server, for this Log Level slider to be moved to the left.

Now we need to choose which method will be used to create the server. The GuildFTPd system works in such a way that future users should be divided into groups, based on this, a certain server will be created: based on personal accounts or the desired directory.

What kind of FTP server should I choose? Server based on personal accounts

This view is suitable when the file server is organized, which will be used by friends. In this case, for each individual user it will be possible to make a personal file system.

To do this, create a group, it is given a name, it is shared in the root directory. To do this, click on the Add button and go to the Edit Path section. Then you create a user database, Admin, then Add User, then you need to enter the credentials (login, password) of all future users of the server being created. Such users can be any number, it is desirable to immediately determine their own, if, for example, a person will use 16. FTP on the Internet is designed to exchange documents between an unlimited number of people.

When the main database is ready, if necessary, a virtual file system can be created for each user. To do this, go back to the Add-Edit Path, specify the names of the files and folders for each individual login.

How to create an open FTP server?

This is the second way to create your own server, but it is more suitable for a large number of users and for Internet marketing. Internet services FTP-server perceive positively, there are a lot of such services on the network.

Creating an open server is much easier than with a personal account. In this case, only one user is created, in the line indicating the name, enter anonymous. Also, be sure to uncheck the box next to the list name. Next, it only remains to upload the file directories that will be available to any Internet user.