The Internet

FTP

• Loading files -- Users need permission to send (or load) files onto a server, as the files will occupy the server's space. For example, if you wish to publish your web page on the Internet, you will need to load the files on a server through your user account, unless the server has a directory open to anonymous users.
• Retrieving files -- Users can retrieve files from another computer using anonymous FTP.
  • Retrieving through a FTP software -- If you do not have a Web browser, you will need a FTP software to retrieve the files, and you may need a separate software to view or display the files.
    • FTP softwares
  • Retrieving through a Web Browser -- you can display and view most of the files first before you copy them to your computer. To connect to a FTP site through a Web browser, you need to specify the protocol in the URL. For example
    • ftp://ftp9.netscape.com/pub/navigator/3.01/windows/n32e301p.exe -- takes you to Netscape's FTP server to download the 3.01 version Netscape Navigator.
    • ftp://ftp.univ-rennes1.fr/pub/Images/ASTRO/anim/space/ -- allows you to download a movie on space from Universite de Rennes 1 - France
• FTP file formats -- there are all types of files, including text, graphics, audio, video, binary program, etc., available on FTP servers. The format of a file is usually represented by the extension of the file name. For example: book.gif. Some common file formats are
  • .au -- an audio file
  • .gif, .jpg -- an image file
  • .ps -- a file in PostScript form, it requires a PostScript printer to print and a separate software for viewing.
  • .txt -- a text file
  • .zip -- a compressed file, you need a decompressed software to expand it.
  • More about FTP
  • Finding FTP sites
    • Tile.net's list of FTP sites
    • Monster FTP list