Today we will know FTP Client and FTP Server. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is a network/communication protocol for transferring files between computers over a TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) network.
Examples of TCP/IP networks are:
- HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).
- HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure).
- FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
How does the file transfer protocol work?
To transfer files between computers using FTP, you need to go to an FTP server (I’ll explain what an FTP server is below).
Depending on the server you visit, you may need to enter a username and password to access files on the server. Server connections that do not require any form of authentication before accessing files are referred to as anonymous FTP.
When the user successfully visits/logs in to an FTP server, they can either download or upload files to the server.
There are two general ways to gain access to an FTP server:
- Through a web browser. You can do this by typing the server address into your browser. This address might look like: ftp.myftpfiles.com or https://www.myftpfiles.com. Once you are on the server, you can interact with files uploaded to the server by the owner.
- Via an FTP client. We’ll cover FTP clients in the next section.
What is an FTP client?
An FTP client is software that creates a connection between the computer requesting access and where the files are stored.
There is numerous FTP client software available for use. They provide a graphical user interface (GUI) with which we can interact.
Below, we will see what an FTP client looks like and how we can use it. We will use FileZilla.
In the image above, there are various text fields. The host text field is where the server address is typed. The username and password text fields are for servers that require authentication before granting access.
The port text field is usually 21. This is a dedicated port for FTP.
Once you have filled in the required text fields, you can click Quickconnect to connect to the server.
On the left side of the software is the local site which is My Computer with a list of existing directories.
On the right is the remote site where all the server information and files will be shown.
What is an FTP server?
An FTP server is basically a computer where all files are initially uploaded. Each server has an FTP address that the user can view via a TCP/IP connection through a browser or an FTP client.
The server allows the visitor to download and upload files.
Is the FTP server secure?
Although many FTP servers require authentication, they are not secure because the protocol lacks encryption. This makes files stored on an FTP server more likely to be accessed by third and unwanted parties.
The most preferred and more secure protocol for FTP is SFTP which stands for Secure File Transfer Protocol. Just like HTTP and HTTPS.
SFTP is more secure as data stored on the server is encrypted.
Other options include:
- FTPS (File Transfer Protocol Secure).
- HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure).
- AS2 (applicability statement 2).
Advantages of using FTP
Here are some advantages of using FTP:
- Transfer files quickly.
- Supported by numerous hosts.
- Supports large file transfer.
- Ability to schedule transfers.
- Transfers can be resumed if interrupted.
Disadvantages of using FTP
Here are some disadvantages of using FTP:
- FTP servers lack security.
- Major browsers like Chrome and Firefox don’t support FTP anymore.
- User credentials and files are not encrypted.
- Some servers may contain malicious files.
Conclusion
In this article, we have talked about file transfer protocols that enable us to transfer files between computers over a network. We have seen what is an FTP client and FTP server. We also talked about why FTP servers are insecure and other secure alternatives we can use. Finally, we looked at the pros and cons of using FTP.
