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littlevish · Mar 25, 2007, 11:35 PM

Anyway to do this without downloading and FTP client. I have tried going to Go and then connect to server in the finder but it doesn't work with my server.

BTW, I've only been using OS X for about two weeks. I love it but still learnin'

Tenacious Dyl · Mar 26, 2007, 01:28 AM

you can use Safari (or *shudder* even internet explorer) just go to the ftp part of the site (ie: ftp.yoursite.com) , hit enter, and input the account / pass!

PurpleGiant · Mar 26, 2007, 01:30 AM

The Finder only supports FTP downloading, not uploading. Safari will use the Finder for FTP, so that isn't a solution either.

Try Cyberduck (free) or Transmit (not free) to upload via FTP.

besson3c · 02:00 AM

There are many FTP clients available within OS X, and one built in (the Unix command line FTP client).

However, I would suggest avoiding them if you can. If your provider offers SFTP as an option, this would be far better, as when you connect via FTP you are sending your password in the clear (i.e. unencrypted).

FTP needs to die, it is 2007 now, unencrypted protocols of this nature are unacceptable.

peeb · Mar 26, 2007, 02:23 AM

I don't know, is it any worse than a lot of email in terms of security?

wadesworld · Mar 26, 2007, 04:29 PM

You can ftp from the command-line as well.

Big Mac · Mar 26, 2007, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by peeb

I don't know, is it any worse than a lot of email in terms of security?

Not really, unless your server allows for a secure connection, but that doesn't make it better.

littlevish · Mar 27, 2007, 09:26 PM

So what are your suggestions?

The command line isn't useful to me, since I am uploading large folders from iWeb (I don't have a .mac account) and it would take hours using command line.

jmiddel · Mar 27, 2007, 09:40 PM

As PurpleGiant suggests, use Cyberduck. I do, it works great and is free as mentioned. Yes, it would be better to have SFTP available, but it's not.

besson3c · Mar 27, 2007, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by peeb

I don't know, is it any worse than a lot of email in terms of security?

If your email is SSL encrypted, yes, it is worse. Any encrypted protocol where sensitive information is transferred is better than an unencrypted one.

besson3c · Mar 27, 2007, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by jmiddel

As PurpleGiant suggests, use Cyberduck. I do, it works great and is free as mentioned. Yes, it would be better to have SFTP available, but it's not.

Cyberduck supports SFTP.

peeb · Mar 28, 2007, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

If your email is SSL encrypted, yes, it is worse. Any encrypted protocol where sensitive information is transferred is better than an unencrypted one.

Right, but a lot of email isn't ssl - I know mine is not.

mitchell_pgh · Mar 28, 2007, 04:33 PM

Cyberduck or Transmit

FTP is fine for anything you don't mind everyone seeing.

besson3c · Mar 28, 2007, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by peeb

Right, but a lot of email isn't ssl - I know mine is not.

Really? That is pretty lame... I manage email servers for over 120,000 users on a pretty limited budget and we manage to provide SSL IMAP and SSL/TLS SMTP (and actually require this). Who is your email provider? What gives you the impression that this is commonplace?

besson3c · Mar 28, 2007, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

Cyberduck or Transmit

FTP is fine for anything you don't mind everyone seeing.

I disagree, because if your account is compromised by somebody who wishes to use it for malicious purposes to cover their tracks, this creates a lot of stress in having your identity stolen.

Do not exchange any password in non-encrypted protocols, period. The exception is forum passwords and stuff where even if your account is compromised, the damage that can be done is extremely limited.

OreoCookie · Mar 28, 2007, 05:47 PM

How about using sshfs via FUSE? You need a small app to log into the other computer, but then it mounts on the desktop just like any other network share.

It also offers an ftp plugin, but ssh is much more secure and many web hosts offer ssh access.

besson3c · Mar 28, 2007, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

How about using sshfs via FUSE? You need a small app to log into the other computer, but then it mounts on the desktop just like any other network share.

It also offers an ftp plugin, but ssh is much more secure and many web hosts offer ssh access.

Good suggestion!

voiceofra · Mar 28, 2007, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by PurpleGiant

The Finder only supports FTP downloading, not uploading. Safari will use the Finder for FTP, so that isn't a solution either.

Not true at all.

I use this method all the time for a quick connect to my ftp servers or for online editing of php and html files.

besson3c · Mar 28, 2007, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by voiceofra

Not true at all.

I use this method all the time for a quick connect to my ftp servers or for online editing of php and html files.

When you connect to them, is your IP/server name prefaced with "ftp://"?

digitalcraftsman · Mar 30, 2007, 01:20 PM

Sorry voiceofra, uploads are disabled in the Finder as of 10.4.9.

As others have stated, you must use a client like Cyberduck or Fetch to modify files via FTP.

To clarify another misconception being posted here, FTP was never meant to protect login and passwords. It is merely File Transfer Protocol, and accomplishes its goal succinctly. Secure FTP was designed to address the security issues inherent in plain FTP, however the encryption will indeed slow down your transfer, and usually does so significantly. The reality is that you are probably not the server admin, and you can't force them to use SFTP if it is not offered (no shell access).

If high speed file transfers over the internet are your goal, then setting up anonymous FTP is a great solution. Anon FTP lets any user connect, and does not require sacrificing user login info on the server. Good FTP servers like PureFTPd have options that will ensure that any uploaded file will not be available for download by a third party. This prevents warez kids from using your FTP server as a drop zone. No passwords to compromise, no worries about exploits, and good documentation.

Why FTP server admins use actual machine logins or any passwords at all is a mystery to me. With some Watched Folders and AppleScripts, you can have a elegant solution with anonymous FTP.

besson3c · Mar 30, 2007, 01:42 PM

There is also regular FTP with an SSL cert/layer, but it is less common than SFTP

OreoCookie · Mar 30, 2007, 04:25 PM

Yes, but it's not really used by anyone. sftp is painless to set up for admins since most of them have enabled ssh access anyway (in my environment which is based on Solaris, MacOS X or Linux).

sftp may be slower at times (especially when transferring lots of small files), it gets the job done -- in particular if all you want to do is change some html files on your home page.