Configuring and Using an FTP Client Print

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

Security

While the standard FTP protocol lacks security, newer versions offer a security protocol known as FTPS or FTP over TLS (Explicit).

Explicit security requires that the FTP client issues a specific command to the FTP server after establishing a connection to establish the SSL link. In explicit TLS the FTP client needs to send an explicit command (i.e. "AUTH TLS") to the FTP server to initiate a secure control connection. The default FTP server port is used. This formal method is documented in RFC 4217.

Configuration

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
   • Filezilla
     
     
   • Mac O/S
   • Fetch
     
     
   NOTE: Don't like 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. Configuration Settings:
   
   Host: ftp.your-domain-name.com
   Port: 21
   Protocol: FTPS 
   Encryption: Explicit FTP over TLS
   Logon Type: Normal
   Username: Your cPanel username. Additional FTP accounts can be created in cPanel
   Password: As specified in your Alpine Hosting Welcome Message
   
   
3. Start your FTP client and connect to your Hosting Account.
   
   When connecting to your FTP account you may be presented with a screen that asks you to confirm the security certificate being used for the connection. The Common Name of the certificate should match the Alpine Hosting Server that your account resides on. The common name should ONLY be one of the following:
   
   alpine81.alpineweb.net
   alpine82.alpineweb.net
   alpine83.alpineweb.net
   alpine84.alpineweb.net
   alpine85.alpineweb.net
   alpine91.alpineweb.net
   alpiine92.alpineweb.net
   alpine93.alpineweb.net
   alpine94.alpineweb.net
   
   
4. After you log in, you will be placed in your home directory (/home/username).
   
   
5. 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.