The FTP service on the Internet is designed for direct file exchange, it is built on the "client-server" technological basis. There is an interaction between the client and the server using the FTP protocol. A client is someone who sends requests to a specific server and 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 benefits of using the FTP service?
The FTP service on the Internet is designed to receive and transfer all kinds of files. It has its own servers, which store large archives with all sorts of data and files. In such archives there are huge volumes of completely different information. There are also duplicate archives in which information is completely identical between several servers, they are called mirrors.
The benefits of this service are in several ways:
1. Possibility of data transmission through the world network. Using the protocol, it is possible to download almost any files to a computer: music, archives,text information and programs.
2. The ability to remotely manage files on the server of any computer connected to the network. That is, in other words, you can manage the 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, there is no need to go from one page to another in search of the necessary information, as is the case in any browser.
To work with the FTP service, specialized programs are needed, they are the ones that ensure the operation of 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 interacts directly with the protocol at the transport layer, otherwise TCP:
- Initial standard - RFC-114.
- Last - RFC-959.
This service differs from other developed applications 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 already processed responses from it. To organize this connection, the Telnet protocol is needed (sending a request and waiting for a processed response, after receiving it gives a signal that it is possible to send a command).
2. Connect existing or all sent and received files. Once a Telnet connection has been established, the file transfer is carried out by a logical process that organizes TCP,it checks the availability of ports in the FTP server. Such communication channels are constantly formed and, if necessary, are eliminated.
FTP protocol can work in two modes:
- active;- passive.
What is an FTP client?
FTP client is a specific user interface that implements FTP file transfer. It turns out that the FTP service on the Internet is designed to exchange files between several computers connected by a local or Internet network. At the same time, it does not matter at all what platforms these computers are equipped with or at what distance they are from each other.
In fact, such a client is arranged in the same way as a server, but it is controlled only by a local machine, automated or by a person. It turns out that you cannot manage the FTP client via the Internet - only via 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 be integrated under any browser, automatically intercept the necessary files for the user. FTP downloaders have convenient management, a beautiful interface, and in the event of a connection failure, they will resume downloading after it is turned on.
What is meant by FTP server?
FTP server are special programs that runon a personal computer, they run in the background. They allow you to make a full-fledged FTP server out of an ordinary computer, and managing the FTP service allows you to download or upload any necessary files. Such a program automatically monitors all requests that come from other computers, then processes them and gives a response. When installing this server, be sure to designate a limited directory accessible to other software clients. Each file and directory has its own individual attributes, you can restrict access to them if you wish, for any computers. For example, one file can only be read, another can be written, a third is absolutely open to any machine, and so on.
FTP servers are limited systems, they are available only to registered users, when connecting to them, you must enter a login and password. There are many so-called open servers, otherwise they are also called anonymous. To enter there, you must enter the login - anonymous and password - password.
Archie - FTP archive search program
Searching for the required FTP server on the Internet is a very time-consuming and complicated task, and a special Archie software module was developed to facilitate it. You can work with it via e-mail, via Telnet session or locally. It should be understood that the FTP archive service and archie are completely different technologies in terms of capabilities. Most often, in order to access the archie server, the user must first access the archie client.
To work throughTelnet user should open a Telnet session, write the word archie in the required line. It looks like this: telnet archie.mcgill.ca login: archie. After the line appears: archie>. You can also ask about the capabilities of the server by typing the command in the line: help.
How to create an FTP server on the Internet by yourself?
Because the FTP service on the Internet is designed to exchange files between Internet users, and with its help it can be done quickly and easily, some users want to install their own server. It is possible to fulfill this desire, but only with the necessary theoretical knowledge about the Internet and certain programs, as well as 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 quite easy to install and intuitive if you know some of the nuances of creating FTP. Initially, it must be found on the Internet and installed on your computer. There shouldn't be any problems installing it. But in setting up the program, it will be necessary to perform some actions - this is necessary for the further correct operation of the created FTP service.
An Internet FTP file transfer service created through the GuildFTPd program
After downloading and installing this program on your computer, you need to go to the settings panel (GuildFTPd options), there will be several tabs and items. The General category contains all the main settings thatdetermine the number of connections, port numbers and other important parameters. Here you need to make all the necessary settings. For each server, they are individual and depend only on the wishes of the creator.
Next comes the Server category. Here you need to enter the name of the server to be created. It is advisable to reduce the volume occupied by the server, for this, move the Log Level slider to the left.
Now you need to choose which method will create the server. The GuildFTPd system works in such a way that future users should be divided into groups, on the basis of which a specific server will be created: based on personal accounts or the desired directory.
Which type of FTP server to create? Server based on personal accounts
This type is suitable when a file server is organized, which will be used by friends. In this case, it will be possible to make a personal file system for each individual user.
To do this, a group is created, it is given a name, and shared access to the root directory is made. To do this, click on the Add button and go to the Edit Path section. Then a user base is created, Admin, then Add User, here you need to enter the identification data (login, password) of all future users of the server being created. There can be any number of such users, it is advisable to immediately decide on them if, for example, 16 people will use it. The FTP service on the Internet is designed to exchange documents between an unlimited number of people.
When the main base is ready, if necessary, a virtual file system can be created for each user. To do this, go again to Add - Edit Path, specify the names of files and folders for each individual login.
How is an open FTP server created?
This is the second way to create your own server, but it is more suitable for a large number of users and for online marketing. The Internet services of the FTP server are perceived positively, there are a very large number of such services on the network.
Creating a public server is much easier than with personal accounts. In this case, only one user is created, in the line for specifying the name, enter anonymous. Also, be sure to uncheck the box next to the list name. Then it remains only to upload file directories that will be available to any Internet user.
