File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the means by which data can be transferred between any two computers and/or servers on the Internet.  For Web hosting purposes, you use FTP to upload and download files between your computer and your Web hosting server.

FTP client is the desktop application in your computer that actually does the transferring of data (or files).  Some of the more popular FTP clients are WS_FTP (for Windows) CuteFTP (for Mac).  Generally, you can find FTP clients are free.  If you don't already have one, try download.com.

Yes, you have unlimited FTP access (upload and download) - so long as you do not exceed your hosting plan's traffic quota.

Typically, you need to know your server's host name, host directory, user name and password.  

If the files to be uploaded are part of your Web site, then you should upload to the root Web directory (www directory); if the files are not directly part of your Web site, then you can upload to any part of your server space.

Although the FTP client is generally not used to name files (since they should have already been named using whichever Web development tool you used to create the Web site), you can use the FTP client to verify that files are properly named.

For example, avoid naming files with a space in between or with symbols (with the exception of hyphens).  If you used any capital letters, then be sure to reference them exactly as named.  We suggest using your Web development tool to rename files, but if needed, you can also use your FTP client to rename or even delete files.

Your Web development tool should have already determined the organization of your files.  However, if needed, you can also use your FTP client to create folders and move files in between folders.

Using your Web development tool, name the Web page you wish to use as your home page as "index.html" or "default.htm" (in lower-case letters).  When anyone visits your site at yourdomain.com, then the browser will automatically display the home page.

Each Web file (regardless of type) must have the proper permissions in order to be correctly displayed and executed on the server.  In general, Web development tools that include FTP capabilities and separate FTP clients recognize the proper permissions and upload them accordingly.  If, however, the proper permissions are not inherited, then you can use your FTP client to modify permissions for any file.

There could be several reasons.

• You did not upload the Web files to the root Web (www) directory.

• You did not name the home page either index.html or default.htm (in lower-case letters).

• You're not referencing a particular file name as exactly named in your Web development tool.

• If the file is located in a subdirectory, then you did not provide the proper path to the file.

• Your server is temporarily unreachable.

• Your Web hosting account is suspended for usage or billing reasons.

Verify that you are using the proper host name, user name and password.  If your domain name has not yet propagated, you won't be able to upload your files .  Also, see the reasons above.

Although your Web development tool should have properly aligned the links, the most likely reason for a link to fail is an improper file name reference.  When linking, the exact file name and path must be provided.