Using the FTP site
Contents:
What is FTP?
What is the difference between the Public and Private folders?
Where can I get an FTP program?
How do I use the WS_FTP Program?
Can I access our FTP site without an FTP program?
I tried uploading files using my web browser. Why doesn't this work?
A non-museum person needs to FTP me some files. How do I arrange this?
What is FTP?
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is mainly used to transfer files that are too large or inconvenient to send by email (files over 3 MB in size). Do not use the site for permanent file storage - every two weeks, all files more than a month old will be automatically deleted. Be aware that you should not put sensitive files on the Public site - anyone with a web browser will be able to view and download files located inside the Public folder. Anyone at the museum will be able to access the Private folder contents as well.
You can see the public area of the museum's FTP site here: ftp://flmnh.ufl.edu/. You can download any of the items on the site by right-clicking and choosing "Save Link Target As" (Mozilla) or "Copy to Folder" (Internet Explorer 6.0). You will not be able to save (upload) items this way - for that you will need an FTP program and the proper username and password.
What is the difference between the Public and Private folders?
Anything put inside the Public folder will be able to be viewed and downloaded by anyone with a web browser. Don't put anything in here you wouldn't want everyone in the whole world to have access to! The Private folder cannot be viewed using a web browser, so people will have to use an FTP program - along with knowing the museum username and password - to view or gain access.
Where can I get an FTP program?
There are a variety of free FTP programs you can download, but most PCs at the museum have one already installed called WS_FTP. It already has the museum passwords built right in. If your computer doesn't have WS_FTP installed, please send in a Helpdesk Request (on the Museum's Intranet) and OMT can install it for you. Mac users can use the Fetch program. Please send a Helpdesk Request if you need the museum's FTP passwords.
How do I use the WS_FTP Program?
When you start the program, a "Sesson Profile" window will open. Click on the first drop-down box labeled "Profile Name" and choose FLMNH. This will automatically insert all of the necessary usernames and passwords into the appropriate blanks. All you have to do now is click on OK and you will be logged into the site.
After you are logged in to the site, you will see the full program screen (below). It is divided into two sections. The "Local System" window on the left is your computer. The "Remote System" window on the right is the FTP site. The blue squares under the local system represent the letters of your hard drive - click on them to navigate to your files. Click on the folders to move around in the FTP site. (Note: This is the only way to gain access to the Private FTP site!) Click on the green arrows to move "up" in the file structure. You move files back and forth by using the two arrow buttons in the middle. Whatever folder is displayed is where your file will copy to. Be sure that you have the proper source/destination folders displayed to avoid losing where you put your files! If you have any questions on how to use WS_FTP, send in a Helpdesk Request and OMT will be happy to assist you.
Can I access our FTP site without an FTP program?
Yes. Most browsers have a graphical interface for FTP. Use this URL: ftp://flmnh.ufl.edu/. Please note that you can only download items within the public folder. You will not be able to upload files through the browser. This is by design - we do not want everyone with Internet access to be able to take advantage of the storage space on our server!
I tried uploading files using my web browser. Why doesn't this work?
This is for security reasons. Unscrupulous people would take advantage of our server resources if we allowed anyone with a browser to have upload permission. You may download files off of the public area, but you will need an FTP program with the appropriate passwords to upload files.
A non-museum person needs to FTP me some files. How do I arrange this?
We have a special account for just this purpose. Please see the "FTP" section of the FLMNH Intranet or contact OMT for further details.