WS_FTP is a software package that you may or may not have on your computers at home. If you do not own WS_FTP, you can download a free version from AU-Install. If you need help downloading the software, call the OIT help desk, and they can provide assistance.
There are several factors that can influence the success of your FTP endeavors. The first is your connection reliability. If you have a slow connection (dial-up, for example), or one that is "hit or miss" during bad weather, the FTP process can be impeded during those "iffy" periods of time. The size of the file can also affect your FTP success. If you are trying to transfer very large files, sometimes the connection with the remote computer can time out if the connection isn't fast enough. Please keep these things in mind as you transfer your files from your local computer to the remote one.
Those users who use a Macintosh will likely not use WS_FTP in order to transfer files. There are similar software packages available, and I encourage you to explore each of the possible ones for your use. Keep in mind, though, that the general concepts of the FTP process are the same regardless of the platform you work on or the software you use for transfer.
WS_FTP is fairly simple to use. Before you begin, you will need to know 3 things;
the name of the server you will use (I will provide this to you),
your userid, and
your password.
Once you have this information, you are ready to launch WS_FTP.
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Launching WS_FTP can be accomplished in two ways. First, you can double-click on the icon for it on the desktop. You can also launch it from the "All Programs" list of software from the start menu. The computers in the LRC have a shortcut on the desktop, which is how I will normally launch the program in class. In order to simulate the launching of WS_FTP, click the ftp icon pictured here to go on to the next step (Session Properties). |