FTP (File Transport Protocol)

FTP Accounts

File Transport Protocol or "FTP" is the most common way to connect from your local computerto the server so you can upload or edit your web site files.

Most web design software uses FTP to publish your site files to the server or you can download a free stand aloneFTP Client software listed in our Client Resources.

 You must firstcreate your FTP account in cPaneland then enter its settings into your FTP or Web Design Software

FTP is included with all Hosting accounts and allows you to:

  • Create or Delete Folders
  • Upload multiple files to the server from your computer
  • View Files and Folders and their Date/Time and Permission Status
  • Download Files to your local computer
  • Delete Files or Folders on the Server

    ** Hint, If you want your home page to auto-open, make sure its named index.htm or index.html or index.php.

How it works

Log into your cPanel server and Create a new FTP user account and assign it a secure password. By default cPanel will automatically create a path to your public_html folder where all of your web site files will go. You will then click on the "Configure FTP Client" link to view the FTP Settings which you will enter into your FTP or Web Design software.

 

Creating your FTP account on the Server

Log into your cPanel server control panel and click on the FTP icon located in the Files section.

1. Create your FTP Account: Enter an arbitrary Name for your ftp account such as admin , this will create your login which will be in form admin@domain.com


2. Assign a password : We HIGHLY suggest you use the built in password generator and create a strong password.
Your FTP port is open to the entire world and the only thing that insures that only you have access is the strength of your password. If you decide to enter your own password the system will display your password strength.


3. Select your Server Directory: This is the directory that the FTP account can access. The default website directory /public_html/ will be entered for you which means you anytime you use this account it will automatically connect to your public web directory. If you want to create an account that can access only a specific subdirectory such as public_htm/blog you would enter the sub-directory in the Directory field. For advanced users requiring access above the web root you can enter "/".

4. Select your FTP Account Quota: This is if you want to limit the amount of data that can be uploaded to the server and should be left to unlimited unless your giving access to someone else and want to limit the amount of data they can upload.

Configuring your FTP Software

All FTP Clients (the software you use to build or upload your website) will need to be setup with your FTP Credentials so that it can connect and communicate to the FTP server. Regardless of which software you use the settings may be found by clicking on the "Configure FTP Client" which will display a summary of your settings and even provide a customized configuration file you can import into many popular FTP systems to auto configure them.


** IMPORTANT:

Do NOT Set An Initial directory in your FTP Software or Design Program (leave blank) since your FTP account will automatically put your files into the correct public_html directory.



Uploading your Website Files

Almost all Web Design software will have its own built in FTP system where you will enter your FTP Credentials. You can also download any of theFree FTP Softwaresuch asFilezillafound in our client area. Most strand alone FTP Clients will have a split window allowing you to view your local computer files on one side and the server folders and files on the other. Follow the instructions for your specific program. In most cases you will highlight the files and folders of your website and then click the upload arrow or right click and select upload which will show the files being copied up to the server.

Note: Our servers support standard FTP or encrypted FTPS . We do not support SFTP because we block external ssh ports to improve server security.

Remember in order for your home page to auto load it must be named index.htm or .html or .php.

Downloading Files from the Server

Connect to the server via FTP and Right click on your mouse in most FTP programs will display the Download option.

 

Chmod Permissions

Folders and files have permissions. The normal default permissions is either 644 for general files and 755 for files run by owner. You can view the files dates and permissions in most ftp programs and Right click to bring up the chmod menu to change the file permissions. ** Note our servers use secure Suphp which does not permit world writable folders.
 
 

COMMON FTP PROBLEMS
 
 
1. WRONG NAMING CONVENTION: Do not create an FTP user that is part of your domain name or named ftp or that contains your master cPanel user name, instead create a simple user like your first name or admin.
 
2. INCOMPLETE OR OLD FTP USERNAME: After you create a new FTP account it will be in the form of User@yourdomain and look like its an email address. This is your full FTP user and must be entered in its entirety into your FTP software or it won't work.
 
3. IMPROPER PATH CONFIGURATION OF FTP SOFTWARE:Most FTP software will offer the option to set an initial path for it to put your files intoWHICH SHOULD BE LEFT BLANKbecause your FTP account already has the path defined. If you improperly designated a path such as pubic_html in your Software it would Create a new public_html folder within the existing public_html folder and your files would not auto load and be hidden.
 
4. BROWSER CACHING CAUSES DISPLAY ISSUES:If you uploaded new files and your page appears unchanged the problem may be your browser is storing an old snapshot of the page and needs to be forced to update. Clear your browser cache and reload the page.
 
5. FILES NOT ACTUALLY UPLOADED:You may think you have uploaded files but not actually done so. If your using astand alone FTP softwareit will show connection logs verifying you are connecting and uploading to the server. If you are using software with built in FTP that don't allow you to definitively see you are connecting log into your cPanel and use the File Manager to view the actual files and their size, extensions and date modified on the server. Remember all web files must be uploaded into the public_html directory to be viewable on the Internet and only files named index.htm or index.html or index.php will auto load. All other files must be called via yourdomain.com/filename ie: acme.com/aboutus.htm
 
6: YOU TRIP THE FIREWALL WHEN CONNECTING TO FTP: If you have multiple failed FTP connections you will trigger the firewall causing your FTP software to error or display a "Cannot Connect To Server". You will know you have tripped the Firewall when going to your client area via help.yourdomain in any browser. This is most likely due to use of incorrect FTP Username, Password or Port. Reset the Firewalland then Log into your cPanel and click on the FTP icon to display your FTP account and click on the "Change Password" to update the password in case your not sure what it is then click on the "Configure FTP Client " link to view your servers FTP credentials and make sure your software is using them exactly as displayed.
 
7: YOU TRIP THE FIREWALL WHILE DOWNLOADING OR UPLOADING FILES USING FTP: If your FTP software spawns more than 30 connection threads the security system can interpret this as an FTP Flood Attack and block your FTP Software. Reset the Firewalland close and reopen your FTP software and locate its Advanced Settings Menu and make sure its set to not spawn more than 10 simultaneous connection.

I Lost my FTP Password?

FTP passwords were set when you created the FTP account and are encrypted and not recoverable. If you lost the password for a given FTP account you will need to log into cPanel, select the FTP account, and use the "change password" option to assign a new password.
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