Q: So I get a new account with this new free host. I wait and I wait for them to send me the address where I can access my file manager. Finally I get this email that tells me the address is some bizarre location, ftp dot something! What the hell is ftp? What is an ftp program? Why do I need special software to upload my website? Are they trying to trick me into buying some ridiculously expensive service?

A: Relax, ftp is just another way to access your free hosting account. “ftp” stands for File Transfer Protocol. Protocols determine how information is processed on the net. As an example, web pages are written so they may be processed through Hypertext Transfer Protocol or “http”.

When you use ftp, you access your host account at its root, at its main directory. When you use an online file manager, you interface with your hosting account through a web page. When you use an ftp program, you interface directly with the server. You need ftp software because it works best with an ftp server. Don’t worry. Most ftp software is shareware and really easy to use. With ftp, you can drag and drop files into your account instead of having to let an online file manager “browse” your hard drive. A lot of adult webmasters prefer ftp. When you buy your own web space you’ll have to use ftp because that’s the way it’s done with paid hosting.