File transfer protocol or FTP has been there ever since the time of internet. It is a protocol to transfer files from a development platform like a desktop to the web server.

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is a software program which enables transfer of files from one computer to another. The most popular use of FTP is for transferring files from a PC to the internet server which hosts websites otherwise called a web server.

Why make such a big issue out of FTP when it is only used to transfer files? Transferring files from one computer to another becomes complicated when the two are on different platforms. For example, your PC may be operating on Windows platform which your web server may in all probability be working on UNIX or Linux. This is where file transfer protocol comes in; it is able to communicate between two different operating systems.

Many users are not aware that their Windows operating system has FTP bundled in it. But the command line interface is a challenge for most users except nerds. There are many free FTP clients available for download on the internet.

A FTP client (which is the FTP software) first establishes connection with the remote server (which is the computer hosting your web site). This is accomplished by identifying the remote server by its IP address. It is like posting a letter with the address on the postcard. Once connection is established, the remote server would usually require a user name and password. This becomes essential because otherwise anyone and everyone can access your site on the web server and play havoc with the content. This procedure ensures that only you, who is the rightful owner of the site can upload files to it. Present day FTP clients have a good user interface and file transfer is intuitive and painless.

FTP usually supports files which are either text or binary. Binary means files which have audio, video or animation content. A web page consists of   HTTP code with other files like audio, video and flash animations. Each of these files has to be individually uploaded on the web server using FTP client software. Large files take a while to upload and may cause FTP connection to be lost in between transfer. It is also advisable to keep a web page as small as possible in size to facilitate viewing.

FTP client is nowadays included in Web development suites like Adobe Dreamweaver. One can upload files to a web server without the need to use a standalone FTP client. In fact, FTP is no longer an issue while transferring files to online servers. It has become as easy as copying and pasting files in a hard disk.

By Jose L. Anton, CEO

GreenCode Technologies, Inc.

(954) 840-8068

With the advent of wireless routers , opting for it in place of a wired internet connection has assumed importance.

The wired internet is obviously much faster than a wireless router. There are several reasons for this.

The first is the nature of the medium. Transmission through air introduces many more errors than a solid or wired medium. Because these errors have to be rectified, some additional algorithms are required to ensure data integrity. This causes a delay in transmission. Because of this limitation, wireless transmission can only be possible one way at a time which is called half duplex.  Wired router on the other hand is full duplex which means that data can be transmitted and received simultaneously which means speedier communication between devices.  Wired internet connections are reaching very high speeds which cannot be matched by wireless routers. The cost of implementation is also significantly high in case of wireless networks.

Wired internet is faster than a wireless router due to the way error detection and correction is implemented in the two. The data detection and correction, the algorithm used in wireless router has to be more robust and this introduces time delay into the system and slows down the connection. Data errors occur in both wired and wireless transmissions but in case of wireless the errors introduced are probabilistically more.

Wired internet is faster than a wireless router due to security reasons also. Wired connections are inherently more secure. Wireless transmission is a larger security risk because we cannot contain this within the enclosures of a building. The security features in a wireless setup must therefore be more rigorous. This again means a loss of time in encryption and decryption.

In some circumstances where there are hundreds of computers connected to a single hub, it may not be feasible to have a wireless router. There are both advantages and disadvantages to a wireless connection. Implementing a wireless network is much faster and simpler than laying cables. In case of hand held devices used by field staff, a wireless connection is the only option. The speed of the connection is not an issue in this case.

If wired internet is faster than a wireless router then why use a wireless router at all? Extensive wiring may not be possible in some situations and this may mean adopting a wireless system. In some cases, like in airports, it would be cumbersome to provide wired access to the internet. Here, WIFI has proved to be highly successful. Security is however a major concern while using wireless connections.

By Jose L. Anton, CEO

GreenCode Technologies, Inc.

(954) 840-8068