Configuring Your FTP Account

If you don't know what FTP is or does, it's best to leave this to your web designer!

There are so many FTP (File Transfer Protocal) programs available for use in the various platforms that we can't possibly provide instruction for individual use of each program. We provide only the necessary elements for accessing your account via FTP here. In general, the information provided will work with any FTP program with the end result being that you can access your FTP in order to work on your site. How to configure each program to work is up to you to figure out.

For further information on use of your selected FTP program, please review the help files of the FTP program itself. We do not provide support for third party programs.

How & When Do I Upload My Files?

In most instances you may begin uploading your files immediately after your hosting account is activated by using the IP address provided in your information eMail. If you should run into problems on the initial upload, it's suggested that you give things an hour or so. Sometimes a new site configuration must propogate on the server before it can be used. If after an hour or so passes and you still cannot upload your files, please contact us for assistance.

If the site will not initially resolve to our server via the DNS Nameserver configuration at your registrar, you may input just the site IP Address provided to you specifically for your account in the hostname field of your ftp program. This may be the case for a site re-do that will be moved to our server on completion or for a new site whereby the DNS Nameservers have not propogated to our server.

Additionally, you will need to input your login name and password as provided in your informational eMail in the proper fields.

After the web site has resolved to our server, you may then re-configure your hostname to the site name in this manner: sitename.com (.org, .info, .biz etc.) In any event, the IP address should continue to work in allowing you access, but it's less confusing in the long run to use the individual site names and may keep you from overwriting important files!

Where Do I Upload My Files?

Files for public access (your website) should be uploaded to the "httpdocs" folder not to be confused with the "httpsdocs" folder. Note the "s" in the second example? Files and directories outside the httpdocs folder are not accessible to the public eye so they won't be able to view pages on your web site that are not uploaded to the correct folder.

The httpsdocs folder is generally for secure page use and may require SSL configuration and use of the httpsdocs folder should really be left to the experience designer.

The exception to this are files that must be placed in the cgi-bin. More information regarding the cgi-bin and its use is found below.

Some website editors such as Dreamweaver, require that you specify the folder in which to upload your website. This would not be the same on every server. On this server, it is the "httpdocs" folder.

CGI Files

All CGI files must be uploaded and configured to work through the cgi-bin provided in the FTP. Use of other folders for cgi scripts is not allowed!

The reason for this is that the cgi-bin is configured to work using a security measure. Any other configuration puts your web site at risk!

CGI file configuration that does not follow this protocal will be removed.