WinSock File Transfer Protocol, or WS_FTP, is a secure
file transfer File transfer is the transmission of a computer file through a communication channel from one computer system to another. Typically, file transfer is mediated by a communications protocol. In the history of computing, numerous file transfer protocol ...
software package produced by
Ipswitch, Inc.
Ipswitch is an IT management software developer for small and medium sized businesses. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts and has operations in Atlanta (Alpharetta) and Augusta, Georgia, American Fo ...
[ Ipswitch is a -based software producer established in 1991 that focuses on networking and file sharing.][ WS_FTP consists of an FTP server and an ]FTP client
The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard communication protocol used for the transfer of computer files from a server to a client on a computer network. FTP is built on a client–server model architecture using separate control and data ...
and has over 40 million users worldwide.[
In 2019 Ipswitch Inc was acquired by Progress Software Corporation, who is the current owner of the product.
]
History
John A. Junod, a decorated Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
master sergeant, developed WS_FTP in 1993.[ WS_FTP was originally released as ]Shareware
Shareware is a type of proprietary software that is initially shared by the owner for trial use at little or no cost. Often the software has limited functionality or incomplete documentation until the user sends payment to the software developer ...
.[ The rights were sold to Ipswitch in 1996 when Junod retired from the Army and joined Ipswitch.][
]
Overview
File Transfer Protocol
The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard communication protocol used for the transfer of computer files from a server to a client on a computer network. FTP is built on a client–server model architecture using separate control and data ...
s are used to transfer large files. FTP clients add stability and encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of encoding information. This process converts the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. Ideally, only authorized parties can decip ...
options over traditional FTP transfers.[ The WS_FTP client has a "classic" ]GUI
The GUI ( "UI" by itself is still usually pronounced . or ), graphical user interface, is a form of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and audio indicator such as primary notation, inste ...
with two panes, one showing the local computer and the other accessing the remote host, though newer versions of the software have updated interfaces, including a web browser interface.[ The WS_FTP secure server encrypts files using SSL/]FTPS
FTPS (also known as FTP-SSL and FTP Secure) is an extension to the commonly used File Transfer Protocol (FTP) that adds support for the Transport Layer Security (TLS) and, formerly, the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL, which is now prohibited by RFC75 ...
, SSH, or SCP2 and HTTPS
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is an extension of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). It is used for secure communication over a computer network, and is widely used on the Internet. In HTTPS, the communication protocol is enc ...
transfers.[ It is self-contained, eliminating the need for an external database.][ WS_FTP's additional built-in capabilities include email client integration, alerts and notification, server failover, and transfer scheduling.][
]
See also
*Comparison of FTP client software
The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of File Transfer Protocol (FTP) clients. Unless otherwise specified in footnotes, comparisons are based on the stable versions without any add-ons, extensions, or extern ...
References
{{reflist, refs=
[{{cite web, url=http://www.serverwatch.com/server-reviews/article.php/3891961/Getting-Started-With-Ipswitchs-FTP-Server--WSFTP-Server-75.htm, title=Getting Started With IPswitch's FTP Server -- WS_FTP Server 7.5, author=Joseph Moran, date=July 8, 2010, publisher=ServerWatch, access-date=July 24, 2016]
[{{cite web, url=http://www.itjungle.com/fhs/fhs092413-story03.html, title=Ipswitch Adds iOS and Android Clients to MFT Suite, date=September 24, 2013, author=Alex Woodie, publisher=IT Jungle, access-date=July 24, 2016]
[{{Cite web, url=http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/webmaster/article.php/3902936/Software-for-Web-Developers-Top-Five.htm, title=Software for Web Developers: Top Five, author=Scott Clark, publisher=HTML Goodies, access-date=July 24, 2016]
[{{cite web, url=http://www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/webmaster/article.php/3902936/Software-for-Web-Developers-Top-Five.htm, title=Ipswitch Offers Products for Diverse Businesses, author=Mark A. Miller, date=September 11, 2009, publisher=Enterprise Networking, access-date=July 24, 2016]
[{{cite web, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3FAEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22WS_FTP%22+AND+John+Junod&pg=PA58-IA3, title=WS_FTP makes downloads painless, author=Mike Avery, publisher=InfoWorld, date=March 30, 1998, access-date=July 24, 2016]
[{{cite web, url=http://old.chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/08/04/tec_235107.shtml, title=Area man's software wins honor, author=Brandon Haddock, date=August 4, 1998, publisher=Augusta Chronicle, access-date=July 24, 2016]
[{{cite web, url=http://www.va.gov/trm/ToolPage.asp?tid=5785, title=WinSock File Transfer Protocol (WS_FTP), publisher=United States Department of Veterans Affairs, access-date=July 24, 2016]
External links
Progress websiteIpswitch blog
WS_FTP Professional
WS_FTP Server
FTP clients
Windows-only shareware
Articles with underscores in the title