Using FTP to transfer your Website Files

When you are ready for your site to go public or live, you will need to upload your files to our server. You will need an FTP client that supports secure FTP installed in your computer. Your homepage (the first page of your website) must be named index.html (or index.htm, index.php, index.shtml). This is case sensitive, so be sure the filename is all lower case. Be sure that your files are uploaded into your public_html directory. Otherwise, you won't be able to see the website.

What is FTP, and what does an FTP client do?

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is the most widely-used protocol designed for transferring files from one machine to another. It allows you to design your site locally (i.e. on your personal computer) and upload it to our servers when it is ready. Most FTP clients also allow you to create directories, rename and delete files, and set file permissions. Users with Unix variants can use FTP by typing ftp at the shell prompt.

Server Configurations

While the options are the same, most clients have slightly different set up steps. Your best option is to read through the help files presented by the FTP client to get a feel for its style of operating.

Server Type: SFTP/SSH
Server name / hostname address: as provided when you signed up
Username / login: as provided when you signed up
Password: as provided when you signed up
Directory path on server: as provided when you signed up
HTML directory on server: /public_html
CGI directory on server: /cgi-bin

If you are having trouble connecting, try switching your FTP client to "Passive" or "PASV" mode.

Where can I get an FTP client?

• Core FTP: for Windows - FREE
• Cyberduck: for Mac OS X - FREE
• WS FTP Professional: $54.95; Windows only
• CuteFTP: $29.99 to $59.99; Windows and Macintosh
• Fetch Softworks: $25.00 for single user license; Macintosh only

Note: We do not recommend using SmartFTP because it does not support SFTP/SSH.

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