I just discovered that Redhat 9 Linux and Windows XP both come with a FTP Server service and all you have to do is make sure they are installed, enabled, and configured (if needed).

The cool part is the client side. You can access the FTP Servers using your Web browsers in either OS...

A popular method for accessing FTP servers is to use an Internet browser. The browsers offer a limited service which typically only allows a user to connect to an FTP server as a guest (anonymous) user and to download files. The user must supply the browser with the URL of the FTP server; e.g. ftp://ftp.hp.com/

Browser software simplifies the FTP process, by automatically logging a user onto the FTP server with the username of ‘anonymous’ and a standard password using an Internet mail address.

You can navigate the directory structure by automatically listing the directories and files as hypertext links. You can open the content of the directory by clicking on a directory hyperlink, and you can download or open the file by clicking on a file hyperlink.

You cannot typically upload files from a client to a server using browser software.

The URL used to connect to the FTP site can also include a user name and password if authentication is required. The syntax is as follows:

ftp://usernameassword@site_address

The smile is an : and an P

i don't follow... a browser IS third party software...? just third party software that is a web browser and ftp client.

as for the servers... welcome to linux...

I do that all the time as I never run into any problems uploading and downloading thru a browser to an FTP server.

Is this a classroom discussion 101 type thread..

Yes browser can do that, but I still prefer using a "3rd party" ftp client like gftp

errumm ..........dont mean to be rude here but i thought that was common knowledge

Well if it was common knowledge I should have known it. I thought there might be some obscure newbie out there that didn't know either. I was under the impression (at least with Windows) that you needed a third party server program like Bulletproof in order to accept Ftp clients.

Actually I am not 100% sure but I don't think Windows I.E. always supported FTP browsing either.

In any case I agree that the third party stuff is far better, and probably more powerful.

If I'm wrong please enlighten me. Thanks All

I think IE has done since V4. Also - XP Home does not come with an FTP server built in - I think it is PRO/server only.

Also - not all browsers do or ever will have ftp support (most will have anonymous download) but there are many that won't upload.

Thank You for for clearing that up for me david_ross.

Much appreciated.

Actually you can just run Apache and leave out the index page of that directory. This will give a browser all of the visable folders and files available for download.

Regards

Yep - but that has nothing to do with ftp (hence no upload feature). It is just a folder listing that is displayed when there is no page in that directory that fits the "DirectoryIndex" directive.

Just another newbie helper hint for those that might be wanting to setup a download space but don't want to setup an ftp site.

I gotcha - I was just pointing out the limitations as well.