What are the differences between the server types on the Site Options tab?

How to get to the Site Options Dialog

Advanced options for a site:

  • Server Type - Select the type of server/connection you need. The administrator of the server to which you are connecting will need to tell you which server type is being run, particularly if they are using a secure transfer protocol. The types are described below:
    • FTP - File Transfer Protocol. This is the default setting and is the correct choice for most users. The default port for FTP Is port 21.
    • FTPS/SSL (AUTH SSL) - FTPS in explicit SSL mode encrypts the command channel.
    • FTPS/Implicit SSL - FTPS in implicit SSL mode encrypts the login as well as the command channel.
    • HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Allows you to upload or download files over the standard World Wide Web ports and protocols. You cannot transfer folders via HTTP connection.
    • HTTPS - Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Allows you to upload or download files over the standard World Wide Web ports and protocols with SSL encryption.
      Note: If you select the HTTP or HTTPS type, the administrator for the server needs to have directory listings enabled, otherwise you will connect to the home folder, but will not see folders and files.
  • SFTP/SSH - Secure File Transfer Protocol. If the server you are connecting to is an SSH server, select this from the pull-down menu. When you connect to the server, SSH will automatically be initiated. The default port for SFTP/SSH is 22. (WS_FTP Professional)
  • Host Type - If you know the host type, select it from the list. If you do not know, try Automatic detect. Each type of server stores its directory and file information in a unique way. The host type helps WS_FTP read and display the directory information from the various types of servers. If you want to find the host type, use the procedure in the topic Determining the host type.
  • Firewall - If you have configured a firewall , select the firewall configuration from the list. For more information on how to configure firewalls, see Program Options: Firewall.
  • Use Passive mode for data connections - Turn this on if you want your PC to establish the data connection to the FTP site instead of the site establishing the data connection to your PC. This is recommended for most FTP sites, and it is absolutely necessary for some firewall and gateway configurations and when you get failed data channel errors. Note, however, that not all FTP sites support passive mode.
  • Force passive connections to use host address - Turn this on if you want WS_FTP to always use the IP address used on the control channel, even if the server returns another IP address..
  • Disable Directory Caching - Select this option to have WS_FTP refresh the directory listing every time the directory is accessed, including after transfers.
  • Verify Deletions - When you attempt to delete a file, you can have WS_FTP display a dialog box that confirms the deletion; this gives you a chance to change your mind, or to cancel a deletion you initiated by mistake.
  • Connection retries - Number of times to retry establishing a connection if the first connection attempt fails. This can be from 0 to 40 times.
  • Connection retry delay - Amount of time between WS_FTP retries establishing a connection if the first connection attempt fails. This can be from 5 to 300 seconds.
  • Network timeout - This is the number of seconds (from 5 to 3600) before WS_FTP times out waiting for an FTP site to respond to a command.
    Note: The initial connection timeout is determined by your Winsock DLL . Setting this value higher does not have any effect on the initial connection to the FTP site. Setting it to less than the amount of time than your Winsock DLL uses will cause the connection to fail in that amount of seconds.
  • Remote port -This is the port to connect to on the FTP site. This is normally 21; however, it may be something different if you are passing through a firewall, or if the site administrator has assigned the FTP service to a non-standard port.

Keep alive - The number of seconds (from 10 to 3600) that WS_FTP will wait before issuing a command to the FTP server to keep the connection alive. To disable this option, enter 0.