FTP software - What is it?

[Daminc]

FTP - File Transfer Protocol

Believe it or not I thought there was one software that deals with FTP. Now I just found out there are lots of different type of FTP software for different prices etc

I need to completly revamp my understanding here. What does the software do? What differences would the various software have? Why would you use the different types? Is there someplace that reviews them objectively?

Any help here would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Bernard]

FTP software simply allows you to upload and download files from a server. There are a couple of freeware/shareware options out there. I'm using:

SmartFTP (http://www.smartftp.com/)

[french dread]

FTP is only a protocol, there are many free and paid clients. Even dreamweaver has a built-in ftp client.
I like leechftp (freeware) :
http://stud.fh-heilbronn.de/~jdebis/leechftp/downloads.html

[Daminc]

What about:
What differences would the various software have?
Why would you use the different types?
Is there someplace that reviews them objectively?

[Bernard]

The basic act of transferring data must follow the protocol/standard. There is no difference in this regard.

Differences will only exist in the features they offer to the user - automatic detection selection of binary Vs. text file transfer mode, user interface, etc.

The SmartFTP site I listed above has a feature page. You might try looking at a few feature pages and see what they are extolling as virtues of their system...

[Daminc]

Will do :D

Thanks Bernard

[Daminc]

french dread:

http://stud.fh-heilbronn.de/~jdebis/leechftp/downloads.html

doesn't showwhat features it has :(