FTP Server set-up

[Matthew Tanner]

Beginner looking for guides on FTP connection, and server set-up best practices. I'm currently hosting my sites via virtual servers and cloud services. But well be move to an on-premise windows server soon. Thanks in advance. 

[B i r n o u]

wow, this is a completely different job than web developer. here on this forum, it is most web developper...

network and server administration is a task, which although it is simple when mastered, remains a job in its own right.
although today very ergonomic application interfaces allow to control the entire server, it is often preferable to use directly an SSH console, do you use and know SSH ?... it will be a plus

For my part I rely on the skills of an external team that manages, maintains and offers outsourcing of my servers.

perhaps that I missed your bottom line, what do you mean by 'set-up best parctices'... the entire server, or just the FTP part ?

[Matthew Tanner]

I was just asking in general so no bottom line. Yes, I do use SSH, and have found my preferred settings for connecting. Thanks for relying, and we can leave the "setting up the entire server" for another conversation. 

[B i r n o u]

Hello @Matthew Tanner , I'm glad that it helped you, and if you use SSH, if you're under Windows, have you heard about WSL...

• What is WSL - https://fossbytes.com/what-is-windows-subsystem-for-linux-wsl/
• Installation (2 minutes) - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10
• Documentation - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/

well it's not only, SSH... it's a full command line terminal under windows... I don't remember how I did before... ;)... i'ts in one word.... genius

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

Beginner looking for guides on FTP connection, and server set-up best practices.

==========

Hi @Matthew Tanner,

Welcome to Dreamweaver.

I use commercial web hosting for three reasons: security, security and security.  Even for fully trained teams of IT experts, there are many challenges associated with setting-up and maintaining secure public-facing web servers.  And don't forget that you will need reliable backup servers in other regions (co-located) in case a disaster knocks out your primary server location.  This is not something you want to take on solo if you don't have to. 

Whatever your needs may be, there are plenty of safe, affordable & reliable commercial web hosting services available. 

https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-web-hosting-services

Beginners & small businesses usually start with a basic shared hosting plan.  If needed, you can upgrade to costlier VPN or dedicated hosting later. 

Once your commercial hosting is obtained,  it takes less than 5 minutes to connect DW to your hosting server via FTP, SFTP or FTP over SSL/TLS connection.  Ask your hosting provider for log-in details.  Enter those details in DW from Site > Manage Sites... Servers.  See screenshot.

Site > Manage Sites > Server

Post back if you need more help.

[B i r n o u]

I think all of us here use commercial, managed hosting servers that offer off-site backup services.

I don't know if in the United States the average user has self-hosted servers, but here in France virtual servers are legion, most users have abandoned shared servers that are interdependent on the roommates.

well this said, and although outsourcing take care of all the management and maintenance of the server ... to adjust and refine each domain in a flexible manner, SSH and the Linux console under Windows become a delight ... a child's play ... follow the log of a mailbox that fails, swap blacklists from one account to another, check the url of a cname or the ip of a type A ... etc ... wow ... thank you WSL

I may be wrong but dragging down the discussions will only impoverish the general culture of the forum in general... then it's up to the OPs to say... "sorry this doesn't meet my expectations, or could you please direct me to this or that... " but let's try to elevate the discussions... don't you think?

[Nancy OShea]

I think all of us here use commercial, managed hosting servers that offer off-site backup services.

I may be wrong but dragging down the discussions will only impoverish the general culture of the forum in general...

=====

1. Right.  We all use commercial hosting for safety, convenience and efficiency.

2.  I have NO IDEA what that means or why you felt you needed to inject it here.  Perhaps we have another language barrier  -- déjà vu?

[Liam Dilley]

I think both hosted and taking a server in house are both out dated in my personal view.

AWS or Azure to name too virtual services with your own server setup with your own scaling and backup configurations and redunacy as well as automated processes they support to hanlde a variety of events is simply a must.

But everyone is open to their own setup but your not wrong in asking the question "Why bring in house" in today's world. As I question anyone going to what I would call traditional hosting as well.

In terms of the OP and FTP//SSH it really depends on the server and network setup of the company and down to how you configure it.

If you are managing internal there is no need for ANY FTP. Why and what FTP access would need to be external would be next question but it is down to the setup.
In terms of how that matters to Adobe Dreamweaver I do not know but if that is the software intended to use Nancy has pointed out those elements.

[BenPleysier]

Although I presently use a Commercial Hosting Service, I am convinced that the future in web debelopment rests with the likes of AWS, Azure, GoogleCloud. DigitalOcean and others and well in containerised (Docker) format.

[Nancy OShea]

I use AWS instances along with dedicated commercial cloud hosting.  But I didn't start there.

That said, beginners rarely come here asking how to set up their own servers.  For someone who is new to web development, I recommend learning to crawl before you try to run in the marathon.  😉

Shared hosting with a reliable company (NOT GoDaddy) is usually fine for most beginners and small start ups. 

[B i r n o u]

agree with both of you... but I will add that VPS are a real nice way to play with server , having a full setting of the server underhand.... and not just only the Apache part, but also, the apps one, the node one, the mail and SMTP ones, the nextcloud one, the jitsi one, and so on... so much confortable..  plus if one are under window, the WSL access... woaw....

[Nancy OShea]

I don't use Windows hosting. 

Happily my web host offers BOTH C-Panel and WHM panel on the same plan.

[B i r n o u]

I should point out that I don't use Windows hosting either, but Linux.

On the other hand, I work (Photoshop, Illustrator, SublimteText, Node... youps... Dreamweavaer) under windows, and although the server interface (accessible by browser) is very very complete with a very good command console in complement... (personally I work under Plesk, not Cpanel), it is very flexible to interfere with the server directly in SSH from a console placed this time on my daily work environment (Windows) by using WSL... as reading the SMTP's log for example for filtering postmaster rejection (just to say one)