The FTP area deals with all the tools relating
to setting up and managing FTP accounts, as well as managing FTP sessions.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a method by which you can transfer files
between computers, usually using the Internet. There is a huge amount of
information stored on FTP servers around the world which can only be accessed
by using FTP. When using FTP you use an application called a client to connect
to a machine called a server.
There are a large number of FTP software packages
available. Some of them are built in to your browser (such as Internet Explorer),
others are dedicated applications (such as such as CuteFTP
or WS_FTP),
while still others are built into web applications (File
Manager in CPanel is one example). Generally speaking, if you are going
to spend a lot of time using FTP or have a large amount of files to upload/download,
a dedicated FTP client is the way to go.
CPanel allows you to set up FTP accounts so that
certain external users can access a restricted part of your system. You
can also set up an anonymous FTP account so that anyone can access a restricted
part of your system. You can also manage these FTP sessions, cutting them
off if they go on for too long.
Warning: FTP, by its very nature, allows external
users to modify your web site (albeit a restricted area of your web site).
External users can upload, download, and delete files. Keep this in mind
when you set up an FTP account.
