Downloading and Storing Data

Understanding File Transfer Protocol

XP

• FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Internet protocol that transfers files between computers on the Internet • FTP site (FTP server, remote computer, remote site): the site you are sending files to and receiving files from • Local site (local computer): your computer when you use it to connect to an FTP site 2

Understanding File Transfer Protocol

XP

• When you send a file using FTP, you upload the file from your computer to the remote site • When you receive a file, you download the file from the remote site to your computer

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File Transfer Modes

XP

• You can select one of two file transfer modes: – ASCII text: contains symbols typed from the keyboard but does not include any nonprintable, binary codes – Binary: files such as pictures, movies, sound files and graphics

• Choose ASCII mode to transfer plain-text files • Choose binary mode for transferring everything else 4

File Types and Extensions

XP

• File extension: the characters following the period (.) in the filename

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FTP Site

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• FTP sites are organized hierarchically, much like the folders and files on a computer’s hard drive • When you access an FTP site, you usually enter at the site’s root directory • Most sites prevent users with anonymous logins from accessing some files and directories in the root directory 6

Using a Web Browser to Navigate an FTP Site

XP

• An FTP site usually stores directories and files • Clicking a link to a directory opens the folder and displays its contents • Clicking the link to a filename opens the file and displays its contents • To download a file to your computer, right-click the filename to open the shortcut menu, click Save Target As, navigate to the drive and folder in which to save the file, and then click the Save button 7

Using a Web Browser to Navigate an FTP Site

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Logging on to an FTP Site Using a Client Program

XP

• An FTP Client is a software designed to transfer files back-and-forth between two computers over the Internet. It needs to be installed on your computer and can only be used with a live connection to the Internet. • With an FTP Client, uploading/downloading a file is really easy. Furthermore, FTP clients have some extra features. For example, you're can resume a download that did not finish successfully. This is a very nice feature for people with slower Internet connections. 9

Logging on to an FTP Site Using a Client Program

XP

• FTP clients' interface is usually divided in two - the pane on the left shows the files and folders on your computer (your Desktop, My Documents, etc,) and the pane on the right displays the files on the remote server. • File transfers are made by simply dragging and dropping files from one pane to the other. Additional features of the FTP Client include: multiple file transfers at a time, auto resuming of the transfer, file queuing and more. 10

Examples of FTP Client Program • • • •

XP

FileZilla CuteFTP SmartFTP WSFTPle

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Logging on to an FTP Site Using a WebXP Browser • Most Web browsers including Internet Explorer and Firefox support FTP, but have limited functionality when compared to FTP client programs • To upload a file, you must drag it from your desktop or Windows Explorer and drop it in the correct location in the browser window • To download a file, you select the file to download and tell the browser where to save it on your computer 12

Logging on to an FTP Site Using a WebXP Browser

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Level of access for FTP Server

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• There are 2 levels: – Anonymous FTP – Full Privilege FTP

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Anonymous FTP

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• Anonymous login: logging on to the remote computers connected to the Internet using anonymous as your user name • Anonymous FTP session: when you download or upload files using an anonymous login

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Anonymous FTP

XP

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Disadvantages of using Anonymous XP FTP • Public FTP sites usually impose limits on uploading files or provide only one directory to which you can upload files (public directory) • Public directory (pub): the directory that public FTP sites allow users with anonymous FTP access to view • Access to selected files and directories is also limited • You should obey all rules and regulations regarding anonymous access 17

Full-Privilege FTP

XP

• Full-privilege FTP: FTP site access that requires a user name and password • The system might automatically direct you to a particular directory on the FTP site in which you have been given rights to upload and download files • You can usually store files for longer periods than you can on a public FTP site 18

Mirror site

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• A mirror site is an exact copy of another Internet site. Mirror sites are most commonly used to provide multiple sources of the same information, and providing reliable access to large downloads.

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Tracing an Internet Route

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• Tracert command • Ping • Ipconfig

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Tracert command

XP

• Traceroute is a command which can show you the path a packet of information takes from your computer to one you specify. It will list all the routers it passes through until it reaches its destination, or fails to and is discarded. In addition to this, it will tell you how long each 'hop' from router to router takes. 21

Tracert command

XP

• In Windows, select Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. • Enter the word tracert, followed by a space, then the domain name.

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Tracert command

XP

• Firstly it tells you the IP address of that domain, and what the maximum number of hops will be before it times out. • Next it gives information about each router it passes through on the way to its destination. 1 is the internet gateway on the network this traceroute was done 2 is the ISP the origin computer is connected to 3 is also the ISP the origin computer is connected to 4 timed out 5 - 9 are all routers on the global-gateway 10 - 14 additional info 15 - 17 additional info 18 is a router on the network of your website is hosted on and finally, line 19 is your computer is hosted on 23

Ping

XP

• Pinging is a command which tells you if the connection between your computer and a particular domain is working correctly or not. • In Windows, select Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. Enter the word ping, followed by a space, then the domain name. • If the results show a series of replies, the connection is working. The time shows you how fast the connection is. If you see a "timed out" error instead of a reply, there is a breakdown somewhere between your computer and the domain.

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IPConfig

XP

• Ipconfig is a command line utility available on all versions of Microsoft Windows starting with Windows NT. Ipconfig is designed to be run from the Windows command prompt. This utility allows you to get the IP address information of a Windows computer. • To run the Ipconfig.exe utility, at a command prompt, type ipconfig. 25