VPS v2 Support Documentation

Configuring and Using an FTP Client

Using an FTP client to upload content to your Virtual Private Server is a very simple process. The following guidelines provide a general overview of transferring files to and from your Virtual Private Server via FTP.

1. In order to transfer files via FTP, you must have an FTP client installed on your PC. Here are a few of our favorite FTP clients, along with specific instructions detailing their configuration and use:

   Windows

   • WS_FTP

   • SecureFX

   Mac O/S

   • Fetch

   Other

   • Various Console FTP Clients

   NOTE: Don't like any of these FTP clients? You will find many free and useful clients on the Internet. Try searching for FTP client in your favorite search engine. you will likely be overwhelmed by the amount of FTP clients available. It is highly recommended you choose an FTP client that supports a secure FTP login, like SFTP, SCP, or FTP over SSH

2. Start your FTP client and connect to your Virtual Private Server using the secure login ID and password you created when you setup your Virtual Private Server. See Connecting to your new Virtual Private Server for the First Time for more details regarding this. Do not use anonymous as the login ID, as you will not have access to the directories and files you need. For your security, Do Not use your root login for FTP.

3. After you log in, you will be placed in your Virtual Private Server home directory (/home/SECURE_LOGIN_ID). This is the same directory you find yourself in when you connect to your Virtual Private Server via SSH.

4. Your FTP client should allow you to select the file transfer mode, either ASCII or BINARY. Use ASCII mode to transfer text files and BINARY mode to transfer binary files. Most FTP clients have an Automatic transfer mode option that can be set. When this option is selected the FTP client will automatically determine which file transfer mode to use when you upload or download files.

   NOTE: Be sure you transfer all your HTML files, as well as any text files, such as CGI script source code, in ASCII format! All image files (.gif, .jpg, etc.) must be transferred in BINARY format.