FileZilla is a free and open-source FTP and SFTP client for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux. While there are several other good (and not so good) FTP clients available, we like FileZilla because it is free, widely used and actively maintained.
Getting FileZilla
Download the FileZilla client from the FileZilla Project Website: https://filezilla-project.org. Installation is straight forward, but here are the instructions if needed: https://wiki.filezilla-project.org/Client_Installation.
Using FileZilla
FileZilla uses a two-pane interface that displays your computers files and folders in one pane, and the web server in the other. Uploading one or more web pages is as simple as 1..2..3:
- Connect to the remote web server using either the FTPS or SFTP protocol. If using FTPS, select "explicit" FTP encryption.
- Navigate to the folder you wish to upload to. Your website is located in the public_html folder on the server.
- Select the files on your computer that you want to upload to the server, and then drag-and-drop them onto the server pane.
Tip: We recommend you use the Site Manager to store the connection settings for future reuse.
More information:
- Configuration: Log in to cPanel, go to the FTP Connections page, follow the "Configure FTP Client" link, and download the configuration file for FileZilla (SFTP option recommended, see below for details). Follow the "Instructions" link on that page for further information.
- A quick tutorial for using FileZilla: https://wiki.filezilla-project.org/FileZilla_Client_Tutorial_(en).
- More advanced usage information, including using the Site Manager: https://wiki.filezilla-project.org/Using.
Notes on FTP and SFTP
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the usual way for uploading file to a remote server. It is not 100% secure because your password is send in plain text, and can (theoretically at least) be intercepted by an attacker. The ANNO web servers use the default FTP port and 21 (you can leave the port setting in FileZilla blank to use the default).
SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is a secure method of connecting to a remote server. All communication, including sending your password, is secure, and therefore we recommend this option. A few notes on using SFTP when connecting to an ANNO web server:
- SFTP connections work on port 10648 (not the default port 22).
- You need to specify the full path to your public_html folder in the form /home/username/public_html (substitute "username" with username for your hosting account).
