[OT, Internet] FTP?

[Villano]

Okay, I know really nothing much of computers. I bought a WebTV because you don't have to deal with all the additional equipment and huge phone bills.

Heres my problem: I was on a website which had a "files" section. I was having trouble downloading some of them. I wrote to someone whom I thought ran the board and asked about the problem.

He asked if I can "FTP" and gave me a number and user name and password.

The problem is that I have no idea what an ftp is. I did a search and found that it was some sort of file sharing. I have the number he gave me, but I have no idea how to use it.

Do I use it like an URL, and enter it into an http:? What am I supposed to do?

Any help for the computer illiterate?

 

[Agamon]

Yep, it's a url. Go there and it'll show a bunch of files that you can open up as though they were on your PC.

 

[PenguinKing]

The problem is that I have no idea what an ftp is. I did a search and found that it was some sort of file sharing.

Not file-sharing, really - just a different protocol.

Y'see, the Internet operates on a number of different "protocols", or sets of rules that govern how information is transfered between computers, and interpretted by the computer that receives it. The most common is hypertext transfer protocol, or http. That's what you use to view hypertext documents - more commonly known as web pages. ftp, or file transfer protocol, is a different protocol that's used for transfering files directly between two computers.

How you access a server that uses file transfer protocol depends on your system, I suppose - some browsers (like Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator) can handle one-way ftp on their own; just type an ftp URL into the address bar and go. That won't let you do much besides enact a one-way transfer of files from the ftp server to your computer, but since you're just looking for downloads, it'll do.

If your browser doesn't support the ftp protocol, however, I'm not sure what you could do. The easiest answer would be to install an FTP client program, but I'm not sure if WebTV can install software like that.

(You said he gave you a number, tho'? Was it four sets of numbers separated by periods? For example: 204.124.62.93. That's called an "Internet Protocol address", or more commonly, "IP addy". You use it just like a URL - in fact, when you type a URL into a browser, all your computer does is to go to a directory and look up what the IP addy associated with that URL is. Think of it like a website's phone number. If you have an IP addy but not a URL, you can still get into the website - it's just like having someone's phone number, but not their name.)

- Sir Bob.

P.S. Nih!

 

[Villano]

Re: Re: [OT, Internet] FTP?

Thanks for the help.

(You said he gave you a number, tho'? Was it four sets of numbers separated by periods? For example: 204.124.62.93. That's called an "Internet Protocol address", or more commonly, "IP addy". You use it just like a URL - in fact, when you type a URL into a browser, all your computer does is to go to a directory and look up what the IP addy associated with that URL is. Think of it like a website's phone number. If you have an IP addy but not a URL, you can still get into the website - it's just like having someone's phone number, but not their name.)

Yes, that's what he gave me. I tried it out, but got the message that it was "too busy to use". I'll try it again later. If it still doesn't work, it may not work with my system (although, occasionally, when I connect to a website, a number like that will pop up instead of url's name).

 

[Tolen Mar]

Well, keep in mind that FTP sites dont work quite the same way as HTTP sites. They may only be able to handle a certain number of transfers at a time. It doesnt mean it wont work on your computer, just that there are too many people there at the moment. One FTP site I visit once took an hour and a half to get into because of traffic.

 

[Tsyr]

Yes, FTP sites can get really busy... Fumei Anime can take over a day to get a download slot, it's all but impossible if you dont have something like GetRight to set up an automatic retry system with.

I'm unfamiliar with the current state of WebTV systems, I've never much followed them... have they advanced to the point you can install software, download and save files, etc? Back "in the day" if you will, a couple years back anyhow, about all they could do was surf HTTP and do some e-mail type things.

 

[Tsyr]

Also, I would like to point out that for -most- people in America, internet no longer requires a massive phone bill... even really small towns here in michigan, for example, normaly have at least one local ISP that you can use, normaly fairly cheaply, and no long-distance fees assosiated with it. CableModem/DSL are nice, but an expensive luxury... for 9.99 a month around here you can get unlimited access from at least three different local ISPs... and I live in a small town.

The initial investment on a computer can be a bit steep, although even that is getting less and less (The nearby walmart has several computers for sub-$1000)