How do I upload files to my web space?
Most webhosts in the past would allow you to upload with FTP to your webspace. That was
seen as the accepted method at the time, and probably still is the way most people upload.
However, I do not have FTP enabled on my server due to the inherent security risks of doing
so, and the wide availability of better alternatives.
SCP/SFTP
The server has a daemon called OpenSSH. It is an encrypted telnet clone, but with a lot
more capabilities. One of the capabilities is SFTP/SCP. It works a lot like FTP, however, all
of the contents (including passwords, file contents, etc) are encrypted using normal
encryption standards.
Win SCP
So how do you access this new wonderful way of uploading files? The answer is simple. There
is an awesome free program called WinSCP for Windows. If
you're using a mac, I think there are other ways of uploading, but since I don't prefer people
of my same gender, nor is my hair long, I don't use a mac, and don't know what program is
used. On Linux you can use a simple scp command from the command line, rsync or gftp. Using
those, however, are beyond the scope of this document.
Back to WinSCP. You'll go to http://www.winscp.com and
download the latest version of WinSCP. Once you download and install it (Should be
self-explanatory) you will want to run the program.
Configuring WinSCP
Once you run WinSCP, you should be provided with a screen which looks like the one below:
If this is not what you see, it's because you have stored sessions. Either way, you'll want to
click "Session" in the left pane so that you are looking at the screen above.
Under hostname put in: webserver.bholcomb.com, the port should be the default 22.
username and password can be filled in as well. After filling in this information, click
"Stored Sessions".
You should be presented with a screen that looks like the one above. Click the Save.. button
and name the session something like "Web Site" or the name of your domain or something. Then
click "Login" once it's saved and you should connect up.
The rest of this should be pretty self explanatory. Everything is drag & drop.
As always, let me know if you run into any troubles.
©2007 Ben Holcomb