If you are new to the world of websites, programming, or just getting started with content management systems like WordPress, you have likely come across the term FTP. Like many things on the web, it can seem like another abstract and complex concept.
While the internet is indeed full of protocols, not everything is complicated. FTP is the set of rules that allows you to upload your blog or website files to the professional hosting plan you have contracted.
If you want to understand what FTP is, at Bacan we explain in detail what this service is based on, how to upload your files, and the free applications available to get your business online.
What is FTP and what is it for?
Also known as File Transfer Protocol. And that is exactly what it does — it transfers files between your computer and your hosting service.
More specifically, it defines how files are transferred within a connection based on client-server architecture. You may already be familiar with this concept — it is the same relationship established between your device and any website. Your device is the client, which requests information from the server, and the server responds with the requested data.
To connect to a server via FTP, ports 20 and 21 are used. At Bacan, port 21 is used. Via FTP you can send any type of file to your hosting — both text files (HTML, CSS, JS) and binary files (images, music, video, etc.)
FTP Client vs FTP Server — What is the difference?
An FTP client is software installed on the user's computer (the person who wants to upload or download files from the server) that allows them to establish a connection via the internet using the FTP protocol to a remote server.
On the other hand, the FTP server has integrated software that allows it to communicate via FTP with multiple clients. This means clients can send upload or download requests whenever they want. All our hosting servers have FTP servers.
Types of FTP servers available
There are two main types of servers: anonymous servers and authenticated servers. Let us look at the differences.
Anonymous FTP
These are a special type of FTP server where no username or password is required to download or modify files on the server. By default, the user entered is "anonymous" or "unknown."
This option is generally a security risk for a server, as it allows anyone to upload any type of file to the server. For this reason, we do not offer anonymous FTP servers at Bacan.
Authenticated FTP servers
Access is made via a username and password. If you sign up for one of the hosting plans at Bacan, your account will include an authenticated FTP server.
In these cases, if a client wants to upload or download files from the FTP server, they must have valid credentials to log in.
How to create an FTP server
If you need to create your own FTP server, you have several options:
1. Install a Linux machine on a computer and add an FTP server. The one we use is: https://www.pureftpd.org
2. Purchase hardware such as a NAS drive — this is usually an expensive option and requires advanced networking knowledge.
3. Sign up for a hosting service that includes an FTP server. Fortunately, if you sign up for one of Bacan's hosting and free domain plans, you will not need to create an FTP server yourself. When you get your hosting account, it already includes a fully operational FTP server.
If you are curious, there are also FTP servers you can install on your own computer for local use. The right choice will depend on your operating system. For Windows, the most common is FileZilla Server, as it is free and open source.
The 4 most popular free FTP clients
Which clients can you use to connect to an FTP server?
There are many FTP clients available. Below we review the most well-known and those we recommend to our clients.
FileZilla
FileZilla is an open-source project with a long history since its launch in 2001, supported by a community that works daily to maintain and support this FTP client. In addition to being one of the most widely used, it is also free and cross-platform. You can use it on Windows, Linux, or macOS.
It is a client-side software with various features. It allows you to upload and download files in the conventional way, as well as configure it for more specific tasks such as: queued transfers, editing, creating directories, and much more. It supports not only FTP connections but also SSL and SSH.
You can download FileZilla from its official website: FileZilla Project
WinSCP
WinSCP is a tool designed exclusively for Windows. It supports data transfer via different protocols such as SFTP, FTPS, and SCP. WinSCP is open source, though with a smaller community.
One of its advantages is that it offers right-click shortcuts on files or directories on your computer. It also includes a plain text editor so you can modify files on your website remotely from your FTP client.
You can download WinSCP from its official website: WinSCP
Cyberduck
Still in the realm of open-source FTP clients, Cyberduck is one that was designed primarily for macOS but also supports Windows. An interesting fact about Cyberduck is that it has a paid version — we will focus on the free version.
It is notable for having a simple graphical interface that lists each file and directory stored on your remote FTP server. It supports various FTP protocols as well as connections to cloud servers, which is why it is also used to manage content in cloud services.
You can download Cyberduck from its official website: Cyberduck
SmartFTP
Last but not least, another client designed for Windows environments. Its graphical interface resembles the current Windows design, accompanied by many features for remote work.
It can connect via FTP and supports technologies such as SSH and WebDAV, as well as manage content stored in the cloud on Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. As an added bonus, it includes a plain text editor with special features.
You can download SmartFTP from its official website: SmartFTP
How to configure FileZilla
To connect to a remote FTP server, you need to download one of the clients mentioned above. Since FileZilla is the most popular software for this task, here is a detailed guide on how to configure it.
The first step is obviously to download FileZilla. If you have not done so yet, you can click here to go to the official page.
Installation
Once the download is complete, all that is left is to install the program. FileZilla has an installation wizard with the typical Next button, so the process should only take a few minutes.
Click I Agree.
Wait a few seconds while the program loads the installation files.
Select the first option and then click Next.
Again, click Next.
Select the installation directory. We recommend leaving the default. Click Next.
The program will begin to decompress and install the files on your computer.
When complete, this screen will appear. Leave Start FileZilla Now selected to open the program. Click Finish.
FileZilla will show you a window like this.
Configuration
Was the installation simple? The configuration process is just as easy. Before continuing, you will need your FTP server credentials: a username, a password, and the domain.
If you do not have them yet, you need to request them from your hosting provider. At Bacan, they are provided when you sign up for one of our hosting plans that include unlimited FTP service. Note that your main FTP access uses the same username and password as your control panel login.
First, click on the Site Manager option. It is located in the top left corner of the application.
A window will appear where you can enter the necessary details. First, click New Site and then enter the name of the server you are configuring. In this example, we used Bacan FTP Example.
Now fill in the fields on the right side of the window with the details provided by your hosting provider (Bacan in this case). The domain was: bacan-example.com, port 21, user Bacan Example, and password BacanFTP123.
Finally, click Connect. It will ask if you want to save the password — we recommend selecting yes if you are working on a personal device.
At this point, FileZilla will show you the files on the server on the left side and the contents of your local computer on the right. You can now upload or download files to modify the content of your website.