FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol and it is an Internet standard way of accessing files remotely. FTP is used to transfer files from a client computer to a web server located at another location.
FTP servers can be accessed either via Windows > My Computer (and entering the URL for the server in “Address” OR via Macintosh Go > Connect to Server. Functionality is limited.
To avoid frustration,
use a true FTP program. FTP client software like FileZilla (Mac & Win),
WSFTP32 (Win), Transmit (Mac), Dreamweaver (Mac & Win), or other applications
provide more features and better performance. The use of a web browser
such as Internet Explorer for FTP is discouraged. Several good shareware/freeware
applications are available for download from sites such as www.tucows.com, www.jumbo.com or downloads-zdnet.com.
More detailed documentation on how to access your home directory and samples
via FTP is provided at: http://www.oakton.edu/resource/it/ftp/index.htm
You will upload homework—tutorials and Case assignments—to a department server, wwwclasses. To FTP to the wwwclasses server, use the following url: (varies depending on the FTP software):
ftp://wwwclasses.oakton.edu/students/cis132/lastname
ftp://wwwclasses.oakton.edu/students/cis171/lastname.
The instructor will provide the username and password. The course will
use the cis132 OR cis171 folder. In this folder you will find your own folder (labeled
with your last name) to place your homework
homepage and folders for assignments. After uploading folders and files
to this server, test your work in one or more web browsers. The URL for your browser to
your CIS132 or CIS171 homepage will be similar to this: http://wwwclasses.oakton.edu/students/cis132/lastname/homework.htm
http://wwwclasses.oakton.edu/students/cis171/lastname/homework.htm
Change the URL to: wwwclasses.oakton.edu
Set the inital path to students/cis132/lastname OR students/cis171/lastname
The wwwclasses server is used by several CIS/WWW classes. So that CIS students can complete required tasks, security is at a minimum. Be wide awake, careful of where you are and what folder you are dragging and dropping or pasting into when accessing this server. This server has been reliable but the loss of data is possible. Keep a backup of your cis132 or cis171 folder at a different location such as on a Flash drive, home computer or office computer.
On the Oakton network, look for the L: drive. Outside of Oakton, you must use a web based service called Fileway. Access this directly with https://myfiles.oakton.edu or through MyOakton with https://my.oakton.edu (use the MyCourses tab to access the L:, P: and H: drives). Look for Course Resources, the CIS folder, the appropriate course number Use the Fileway tools to download files to your local computer.
PUBLIC.WWW no longer exists on your H: drive. Any content you had in that folder has been migrated to the P: drive. If you are logged in on an Oakton computer, the P: drive should be visible. Outside of Oakton, you must use a web based service called Fileway. Access this directly with https://myfiles.oakton.edu or through MyOakton with https://my.oakton.edu (use the MyCourses tab to access the P: and H: drives).
See previous paragraph to use Fileway.
Updated 1/12/12.