FileZilla FTP Tutorial

In this tutorial you’re about to learn how to upload your website content via FTP client software called FileZilla.

 

FileZilla is a freeware, so it means you can download it and use for free. A place to get it is i.e. FileZilla’s homepage at SourceForgeNet, url: http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/

Once you downloaded and installed the program you’ll be able to launch the program and proceed with uploading.
NOTE: You will need an FTP address of your site plus login name and password for it. All of it should be in the Login Information email you got from us after registering the hosting account, please refer to it.
NOTE: Please make sure that your local internet settings (firewall, anti-virus, IE Internet Options Security Settings) won’t block you from connecting to the server on Port: 21 (you can skip this now, but if you have problems with connecting to your website please check it).

* You can find additional information about FTP and other web issues at UK Webmaster Forum and you can get free additional support at Temi web hosting blog


Step 1. After you launch FileZilla you should get such screen:

As you can see, the interface is not too complicated. On the left you can see your local folder tree (teal frame) and selected folder content (green frame). The view and program windows are customisable so once you feel more comfortable with it you can adjust it to your preferences.
To configure FileZilla to connect to your website please click on the small computer icon on top left (red arrow).


Step 2. A Site Manager window will show up.
Click on New Site button and enter a name for the new connection settings. (It can be really anything, it’s just so that you know where it takes you to ;)).


Step 3. Now you need to fill in the connection details (marked with red arrows).
Please enter host name (this is your FTP address, please NOTE: NO "www", "http" but "ftp" goes in front of the domain name).
Your Server Type is FTP. Logontype is Normal.
Username and password should be provided to you in Login Information e-mail from VELNET.
If you’re not using your computer or you share your pc with other people and you don’t want them to be able to connect to your site you can select the option not to remember your password (underlined with blue).
Once you’re sure the settings are correct click Save and Exit button.


Step 4. Now After you returned to main program window click small arrow next to the computer icon top left to see drop-down menu. Pick your website from the list to connect.


Step 5. Connection established. You will see the folders of your site on the left side of the screen. They vary depending on the type of server you’re on (information provided in Login Details email from VELNET).
One of the folders you see is your website main directory, the rest of them are system folders, any modifications you make to the system folders may damage your website structure.
For cPanel server type your upload directory is public_html folder. (for PLESK look further down)

If you are on PLESK server your folder structure will look different and your upload folder is httpdocs.


Step 6. Enter (double-click) your upload directory (public_html or httpdocs).


Step 7. Now find (your website)files you want to upload on your local machine (left-side folder tree and content).
Simply select the files and drag-and-drop them to the right of the screen (your web folder).

You will notice the transfer progress on the bottom of the screen.

If all is OK, your FileZilla window will show the files you uploaded on the right.


Congratulations! You have just uploaded the website. It should be visible in your internet browser window.
NOTE: In order for the website to show only after you enter the domain name in internet browser your main webpage MUST be named index.html (or index.htm, index.php… you get the idea).


Step 8. If you change/update any of the files on your PC and wish to apply the changes on your website, all you need to do is again to drag-and-drop the desired file to it’s web destination and confirm the prompt window to OVERWRITE the file on the server.
NOTE: Please make sure you really want to do the changes as you will not be able to change it back, unless off course you have a back up on your local machine.


Step 9. When you upload everything you need you can close the connection. To that click the icon pointed by red arrow.

You can safely close the program now by clicking the "x" in red button top left of the screen.

Leave a comment