
Moving large numbers of server files in house: Some IT professionals may choose to use FTP when moving server files within a closed system for an organization.Some people also build FTP file systems out of a sense of nostalgia or just for fun. Hobbies and teaching: FTP is a casual way to introduce newcomers to internet protocols before moving on to more complex versions, making it a good starter tool.Platforms that still offer FTP downloads or support transfers largely do so out of habit, and even this is no longer common (more on this below).


However, this mode can be disrupted by firewalls and similar issues, so there’s also a passive mode where the server pays attention but doesn’t actively maintain the connections, allowing the other device to do all the work. Active modes are the most common, and allow open communication between the server and the device over both channels, with the server taking an active role in establishing the connection by approving requests for data. These FTP connections can also have active and passive modes. The data channel then transfers the actual file data between devices. The command channel carries information about the task itself - what files are to be accessed, if commands are registering, etc. In the 1980s, the FTP format was updated to the TCP/IP version associated with servers.įTP uses two basic channels to operate. It has its origins all the way in 1971, when the first version was created and published by Abhay Bhushan. This sort of usage has become less common in the age of easy-to-use cloud services ( these are our favorites) but some people prefer to have their files hosted on a home server, and use FTP to enable that.įTP is one of the simplest, and earliest formats created to quickly move files from one device to another.

One person may upload a file to an FTP server then share a link to it with another person. It’s also occasionally used as a way to share files.

If you want to install WordPress on a web server, for example, you’re going to need FTP to copy the files over. Fitbit Versa 3įTP is a useful tool for moving information from the computer you’re working on to the server where a website is hosted.
