Web Site Hosting: From Domain Registration to Going Online
After your account has been opened with your web host and you've set the DNS for your website (see Parts 1 and 2 for more information) you can start to upload your content. The most common way this is done is through FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software, but there are a few other options as well.
The FTP protocol lets you transfer data files from one computer to another. Your web hosting company will give you the information you need to connect to your site with FTP.
You normally would use software like WS_FTP or FileZilla to connect. Your FTP address will usually be ftp.yourdomain.com.
Your web host will also tell you where your files should be uploaded to on the server. There is usually a folder in the root directory of your website called public_html, www or something similar. This is where you need to store all your website files to make them accessible to the public on the internet.
You might have to adjust some settings in your FTP software to make the files upload properly. eg. If you're running a firewall on your computer (or a hardware firewall) you may need to set the transfer method to "passive". And if you're using a proxy server, you'll have to adjust those settings as well.
Files can be transferred with FTP in either ASCII or binary mode. If you use the wrong mode to transfer, you could end up with errors. Your FTP software might automatically determine which method to use by looking at the contents of the files you're transferring. It's possible that you might have to specify the mode manually, however.
Files that should be sent as ASCII include HTML (and variations like HTM, SHTML, etc.), TXT, ASP, JS, PHP, etc. Essentially, any file that you would open with a text editor should be transferred as ASCII.
Binary mode is used to transfer files such as graphics, compiled programs and media files.
After your account has been opened with your web host and you've set the DNS for your website (see Parts 1 and 2 for more information) you can start to upload your content. The most common way this is done is through FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software, but there are a few other options as well.
The FTP protocol lets you transfer data files from one computer to another. Your web hosting company will give you the information you need to connect to your site with FTP.
You normally would use software like WS_FTP or FileZilla to connect. Your FTP address will usually be ftp.yourdomain.com.
Your web host will also tell you where your files should be uploaded to on the server. There is usually a folder in the root directory of your website called public_html, www or something similar. This is where you need to store all your website files to make them accessible to the public on the internet.
You might have to adjust some settings in your FTP software to make the files upload properly. eg. If you're running a firewall on your computer (or a hardware firewall) you may need to set the transfer method to "passive". And if you're using a proxy server, you'll have to adjust those settings as well.
Files can be transferred with FTP in either ASCII or binary mode. If you use the wrong mode to transfer, you could end up with errors. Your FTP software might automatically determine which method to use by looking at the contents of the files you're transferring. It's possible that you might have to specify the mode manually, however.
Files that should be sent as ASCII include HTML (and variations like HTM, SHTML, etc.), TXT, ASP, JS, PHP, etc. Essentially, any file that you would open with a text editor should be transferred as ASCII.
Binary mode is used to transfer files such as graphics, compiled programs and media files.
