You’ve probably heard the word somewhere and know it has something to do with files. But other than that you have no idea what FTP is. After all, what would you do with it?
Here’s the good news. You CAN actually use it quite easily and it might prove to be very useful when you need to share huge amounts of data with someone outside the university network. Interested yet?
Ok, let’s start by explaining what FTP means first before we get ahead of ourselves.
File Transfer Protocol or FTP is a standard network protocol used to transfer computer files from one host to another host over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. FTP users may authenticate themselves using a username and password, but can connect anonymously if the server is configured to allow it. (If you want to get more technical, read more on Wikipedia)
To use Stellenbosch University’s FTP server you will need the address of the server and the password:
ftp server: ftp://tydelik@ftp.sun.ac.za
password: tydelik
Keep in mind that this space is not for storing or backing up data. It’s merely a temporary spot to put files in order for someone else to easily access them. The person on the other side who needs to access the files will use the same information.
To set up FTP on your PC, just follow these step-by-step instructions on the Microsoft website.
If you need more information on FTP, here are a few sources:
https://kb.iu.edu/d/aerg
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/ftp.html
As a user of the SU network there are a few other perks when it comes to free access. You can also use a few selected sites without opening your internet account. Read more about these sites on our blog – https://blogs.sun.ac.za/it/2012/04/20/free-access-to-selected-websites/ and https://blogs.sun.ac.za/it/2012/06/08/mirror-mirror/
Jy’t dalk al die woord erens gehoor en weet vaagweg dat dit iets te doen het met leêrs. Maar buiten dit het jy geen idee wat FTP is nie. Buitendien, wat sou jy tog daarmee doen?
Maar hier is die goeie nuus. Dis eintlik maklik om te gebruik en mag handig te pas kom as jy groot hoeveelhede data met iemand buite die universiteit-netwerk moet deel. Is jy nou al meer geinteresseerd?
Goed, maar voor ons in die diep kant inspring, kom ons begin eers deur te verduidelik wat FTP presies is.
File Transfer Protocol of FTP is `n standaard netwerk-protokol wat gebruik word om rekenaarleêrs van een gasheerrekenaar na `n ander oor `n TCP-gebaseerde netwerk, soos die Internet. FTP-gebruikers kan hulself staaf deur die gebruik van `n gebruikersnaam en wagwoord, maar sommige FTP-bedieners is wel so opgestel dat gebruikers anoniem kan aanteken daarsonder. (Indien jy meer tegniese inligting oor FTP soek, lees gerus op Wikipedia)
Om Universiteit Stellenbosch se FTP-bediener te gebruik, het jy die adres van die bediener en wagwoord nodig:
ftp-bediener: ftp://tydelik@ftp.sun.ac.za
wagwoord: tydelik
Hou net in gedagte dat hierdie spasie nie gebruik mag word vir die stoor of rugsteun van data nie. Dis slegs `n tydelike spasie om leêrs te sit sodat iemand anders maklik toegang daartoe kan kry. Die persoon wat die data aflaai, gebruik dieselfde aanteken-inligting.
Om FTP op jou rekenaar op te stel, volg hierdie stap-vir-stap instruksies op Microsoft se webwerf.
As jy meer inligting oor FTP soek, hier is `n paar bronne:
https://kb.iu.edu/d/aerg
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/ftp.html
As `n gebruiker van die US-netwerk is daar ook `n paar ander voordele as dit by gratis toegang kom. Jy kan `n paar webwerwe besoek sonder om jou internetrekening daarvoor te gebruik. Lees meer oor hierdie webwerwe op ons blog – https://blogs.sun.ac.za/it/2012/04/20/free-access-to-selected-websites/ en https://blogs.sun.ac.za/it/2012/06/08/mirror-mirror/

Hi Emiliano,
did you retype the address (ftp://tydelik@ftp.sun.ac.za) when you set it up? It won’t work if you click on the link directly.
Hello,
The ftp link does not seem to work.
Error says: “The folder you entered does not appear to be valid”
Thanks,
Emiliano