Internet Beat
Tom Crump
Ftp: a cheap, fast way to get on and off the Internet
when you are in a hurry.
Do you know a computer nerd? I do! He is always telling me about
some great program he downloaded off the Internet last night.
Then, he tells me how big it is and I just gasp: "That will
take hours to download." "Not necessarily," is
usually his response.
If you are like most of us wouldbe computer experts, you
have a PC or MAC, have windows and some form of DOS, a modem,
use (or trying to use) the latest version of Netscape Communicator
or Internet Explorer. You log onto the Internet to communicate
with others, find or disseminate information, or just be entertained.
A web browser, a program that connects your computer to the Internet
uses the now famous WWWtype locations to fulfill your desires
and needs.
Every once in a while, your web browser hooks up with something called "ftp.something.edu," or something similar. FTP means "File Transfer Protocol". This system of communication is THE
Internet system for moving data from one computer to another via
a telephone connection (or even a hardwired connection).
If you use a browser, you can access most FTP sites. However, it is slow and when you know what you want and where it is, speed and saving time are all you are interested in at the particular
time. What you need is such instances is an FTP software program.
Easy to use and setup, most FTP programs will save you 4565%
of the time it takes to download the same file through your browser-unless
you do your downloading at night and on weekends.
If you get mad about graphics taking so darn long to load, an
FTP software program is another choice that cuts out all the frills
and lets you get your business on the Internet done in a hurry.
A good place to get information-the straight, unbiased information about FTP - is at http://www.pbs.org/util/guide . Thanks to PBS, this Website will tell you about FTP, the various types of software available, and much more information than there is room in this article. Check it out! In fact, there are links to some good FTP shareware programs located at this site, online lessons
are also available through this webpage, and some good starting
places for making your online time faster, cheaper, and
more enjoyable.
Once you get an FTP software program, you have access to the public areas "/pub/" directory, on almost every major university in the world. You can go to NASA, Texas A & M, UT, and Texas Lutheran. You can download large files much faster, easier, and cheaper than before. You will find programs, college research studies, and all sorts of new challenges for your inquiring mind.
You can even retrieve copies of more than 1,000 of the literary
classics!
Access to these "pub" areas is usually by logging onto
the remote computer (that is the one you want to get the information
from) as "anonymous". You will find a whole new world
of file compression tools, such as "*.z", "*.gz",
*.arj", "*.tar", "*.shar", "*.uu",
and "*.zoo". Most compression software tools are available
at ftp.netcom.com/pub/profile.
Another interesting fact about using FTP software, is that when you log onto a site, it will convert your "ftp.netcom.com" to "192.100.81.10," or some numerical equivalent to your alphaform.
I highly recommend the FTP software to you from the PBS site mentioned
above. Then tryout some of the sites listed below (with both your
web browser and your new FTP program) and compare times. You
will be hooked.
Remember, FTP software is not a replacement for your browser, just a cheap, fast way to get on and off the Internet when you are in a hurry. Once you make a choice and have taken the plunge, try:
1. NASA, to get the latest in space photos in a hurry. (ftp.nasa.org);
2. Cornell Law Library, to get the latest court case and lots, lots more (ftp.cornell.edu);
3. Rootsweb, to find the census for your grandparents in Arkansas in 1880 ftp.rootsweb.com);
4. Want some of the Smithsonian's photos for your computer? (ftp.photo1.si.edu);
5. Want some neat stuff for your computer that you can't find anywhere else? (ftp.infomagic.com);
6. LucasArts, to find the latest Star Wars games and cheats (ftp.lucasarts.com); and
7. The Gutenberg Project, to find more than 1600 classics online
for your reading pleasure (ftp.gutenberg.org).
That ought to keep you busy for a weekend! While at these and
other sites, watch for info files, usually in a sub directory
named "/pub/". UT, A & M, and Texas Lutheran are
at ftp.utexas.edu, ftp.tamu.edu, and ftp txluthrn,edu.
One nice things about all of these sites. Almost all of them do
not have Xrated content. No need to worry about what's coming
up on the screen and everyone is virus scanned all the time (because
the owner of the server is the only one loading files onto the
system.)
Back for more? Well, try the heavy stuff at "The Software
Repositories in The Web" (http://dns.uncor.edu/links/siterepo.htm
). Yes, its a Website that has all the choices you will need for
a while (for your FTP surfing)!
One last word of caution, note that everything is a small letter
in this type of software. Type a few capitals and you will not
go where you want to go! Your browser will let you get away with
typos, caps and the like. NOT FTP!
Enjoy FTP, I do and it saves me so much time that I now think I may need a new computer....
Next time, we might talk about UNIX, LINUX, GENIX, and such stuff.
Licenced Attorney Thomas Richard Crump, is a native Seguinite
-son of Tom Crump, after whom the Seguin High School Men's Gym
is named-. His private law practice include numerous areas such
as Corporate Counsel, Corporate Banking and Business Law, Real
Estate, Probate and Trust Law, and Oil, Gas and Mineral Law; and
syndications and buyouts. His work experience also include responsibilities
as computer programmer, and geophysical and geological interpreter.
His many interest include genealogy. He can be contacted at tomcrump@swbell.net,
832 East Court Street.
All previous Internet Beat articles since June 1996 are posted
at http://lonestar.texas.net/~weersjt/club/intbeat.html
The column has been published uninterruptedly since June 1996,
with this article marking the second anniversary.
To contribute to the Internet Beat, contact column coordinator Gloria R. Rivera at riverag@connecti.com , or: fax 372-1418; voice 303-4764; http://www.seguin.net