WebHostingHub FTP Guide

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File Transfer Protocol, or FTP, is the preferred method by many web designers when uploading, downloading files from your hosting account and managing your website.

What are the Basics of FTP?

•  FTP host – it is the storage for your files
•  Reminder: If your Web Hosting Hub domain was pointed towards their name servers, then it should be your FTP host.
•  FTP username – it is made up of your cPanel username or any other username from a different account
• FTP password – it can be a specific password made exclusively for your FTP account, or your cPanel password, if your FTP password is not yet processed.

There are also alternative settings, and these are:

• Passive Mode: If you are having problems or issues connecting via FTP, enable Passive Mode. This is a security related setting, and if you are behind a firewall, you may need to use it.
• Port: There is a default port for FTP traffic. In most FTP programs, port 21 is the default setting, and you do not need to specify it. In any case you are asked for a port number, enter 21.
• How can one connect his or her site to FTP?
• FTP software – examples are FileZilla, iWeb, SmartFTP, and Dreamweaver
• FTP Clients – examples are FTPclient and CuteFTP

Where does an uploaded file go?

Once you have your File Transfer Protocol, you are ready to upload your website and all your files. But where do your uploaded files go?

• To the Main Domain – if you only have a single domain, the files will go or upload directly in to the document root on that main domain. A document root is necessary that’s why all domains will have one. But if you have several domains, your files will upload to your default main domain. The first uploaded image will be your websites index page which will replace WebHostingHub’s “Hello there” default image.
• To the Add-on and Sub domains – when there will be newly added domains, there will be folders automatically created for that domain. The names of the folders of these new domains will be exactly the same as those of the last domain. However, you are allowed to change the name of the folder in order to facilitate an easier, a more convenient and more organized file uploading.

Steps in Making an FTP Account

There are just 3 easy steps in making your own File Transfer Protocol Account:

• First: Log in to cPanel, then go to “Files” and click on “FTP Accounts”.
• Next: You will be then linked to your FTP account. Go to the “Directory” option and then type in one forward slash to enable someone a full access into your FTP account. But if you just want to grant access only to specific files or domains, then use the “public_html” as the Directory.
• Last: Click “Create FTP Account”.

When you already have created your FTP account, and have it finalized, your uploaded files will first go through the document index as the document root that receives uploaded files. The directory index must be change or modified to a default setting for you to enable file loading to into various websites.

Giving FTP access to other users

There may be a need for you to share your FTP account or grant other users to access it. For example, you have a website designer who needs FTP access to upload files or your account, or a client who might require FTP access to upload large documents or data. However, it is not recommended and never wise to give your cPanel username and password because doing so, it will grant them full access to your FTP account allowing them to verify it with Web Hosting Hub and pretend as if he or she is the account owner. Instead, you can create another FTP account that has access only to the folder specified by the client or the web designer.
Creating additional FTP accounts is a great idea because it is helpful in keeping your account safe. With that newly added FTP account, only certain or requested folders can be accessed by your clients or other users, not risking your other important files and documents or even your entire main FTP account. For example, you may want to grant your web designer access to your public_html (where all your website files are located or stored), however you do not want to him or her full access to your entire account or website. Your clients might mistakenly delete important documents, or they might find private configuration files that they should not. Instead, you can give those other users CompanyX access to your public_html /CompanyX, wherein they can upload their files and documents without accessing your account and preventing damage to your existing website.
You can also view, do modifications, or even delete any FTP accounts already created. This is useful if you no longer remember the username, need to change the password or delete an FTP account if it is not needed anymore.