Why FTP?

FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is a standard network protocol used to transfer files between a client and a server on a computer network. It enables users to upload, download, and manage files on a remote server, which is especially useful for website development, sharing large files, or managing files on servers that don’t support direct access. FTP is particularly useful because:

1. Efficient File Management: It allows users to upload or update large batches of files in one go, making it ideal for managing complex sites or extensive data backups.
2. Security Options: Though basic FTP is not secure, Secure FTP (SFTP) and FTP Secure (FTPS) provide encryption, ensuring data integrity and security during transfers.
3. Cross-Platform Compatibility: FTP is widely supported across operating systems, making it versatile for file sharing between different platforms.

Overall, FTP’s simplicity and ability to handle large files make it indispensable in web development and server management.

Ways to FTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) relies on software tools to make file transfers easy and user-friendly. Two popular tools for FTP management are FileZilla and cPanel.

1. FileZilla: This is a free, open-source FTP client (available for Windows, Mac, and Linux) that provides an easy-to-use interface for transferring files between a local machine and a server. FileZilla supports secure FTP (SFTP) and FTP Secure (FTPS), ensuring safer transfers. Users can drag and drop files, manage simultaneous transfers, and pause or resume large uploads/downloads, making it a powerful choice for website updates and file management on remote servers.
2. cPanel: This is a web-based control panel commonly provided by hosting companies, which includes a built-in FTP manager. Through cPanel, users can create and manage FTP accounts, adjust access permissions, and even transfer files using the built-in File Manager. The FTP features in cPanel are especially helpful for website administrators who may not be familiar with standalone FTP clients. It also allows for secure FTP connections, often without needing separate software installation, making it a convenient, all-in-one solution for hosting management.

Both tools make FTP more accessible and user-friendly, with FileZilla offering robust, dedicated file transfer capabilities and cPanel providing a comprehensive hosting environment that includes FTP as part of broader website management. These tools enhance FTP’s usefulness by streamlining uploads, managing server files efficiently, and offering various levels of access control.

FileZilla (FTP) Instructions for Beginners

See the attached document below, it corresponds with the FTP (file transfer protocol) written instructions.

To use FileZilla to FTP into a server and download folders, follow these steps:

Open FileZilla: If you don’t have it installed, download and install it first from filezilla-project.org.

Enter Your Login Information, this information is detailed in the visual document below.
Host: enter an IP address
User: username
Password: 
Port: 21 -OR- 22 (you can often leave blank too if unsure)
Path: /public_html/wp/wp-content

Now Click the Quickconnect button. If your login information is correct, you’ll connect to the server, and the directories on your server will display on the right side of the window.

Navigate to the Folder You Want to Download from: use the path provided 

The right side of FileZilla shows your server’s file structure. Locate the folder(s) you want to download.

The left side shows your local computer’s files. Choose the destination folder where you want to download the files to Download into.

Right-click the folder(s) on the server side and select Download. OR Click and Drag the folders from one side of the screen to the other.  FileZilla will start transferring the files to your chosen local directory.

Check Transfer Progress:

The transfer queue at the bottom shows the progress of each file being downloaded. Once they all show as successful, your download is complete.

This should download your entire folder(s) to your local machine.

There is a very large amount of information to FTP so I would suggest doing it in stages.

FYI this program will transfer information to the server too, so only download, please do not upload anything. 

Follow the steps on the chart below, I have also attached it as an image to this email.

FileZilla Step by Step diagram below:

To see the diagram larger zoom in with your web browser.