Unsupported Technologies - The following guides are being provided for informational purposes only
The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a set of rules for file structure and transfer methods, and is the primary method for moving files through the Internet. It is generally faster and more versatile than email. With FTP, you can quickly transfer files between accounts on local and remote sites. For example, a program compiled at a remote computer could be received into your local directory using FTP, or a large text file too big to be mailed could be put at a remote site for storage by using FTP.(Note: FTP access for file transfer is NOT allowed from off-campus except when using the JMU configured VPN client)
The FTP protocol is also the basis of another service offered by many Internet sites, Anonymous FTP. Many university and commercial computing facilities have created large directories of public domain software, source code, and documentation. These files are freely available to anyone with the ability to FTP by means of an anonymous login. Programmers and administrators can save time by checking a favorite FTP site to see if someone else has already written a certain program or document. In fact, portions of this manual were prepared in this manner.