WHAT IS THIS FTP
STUFF ANYWAY?
by John
Griswell
Modified from the original by Chris Black
06/01/2000
What is an FTP site?
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol and is a way to exchange
files over the Internet. FTP uses a different protocol than the World
Wide Web, which uses HTTP. For this reason it is very important not to
use a tool designed for the World Wide Web to access an FTP site,
like a Web Browser. Instead you should use an FTP client.
What is an FTP client?
An FTP client is a program that has been specially written
to access FTP sites. Most allow the user to automatically try to
connect to sites. This can be good and bad. If you set your retry delay
low (like once a second) you can overwhelm a site with connection attempts.
This makes operators angry and many operators have algorithms to detect
and ban users who try and connect to often. On Blackbox the minimum
retry delay is 30 seconds. If you try to connect more than 1 time
in 30 seconds you will be automatically banned for 120 minutes. Some FTP
clients will allow you to queue files up for later download. This way
you can queue a week's worth of downloads and then let the FTP client
battle for access to a site. Once connected it will begin downloading
automatically.
Where can I find an FTP Client?
Try: The \Misc directory on this server OR Get Right www.getright.com
(shareware) BulletProof FTP www.bpftp.com
(shareware) Cute FTP www.globalscape.com
There are others but you will have to look for yourself. Try www.windows95.com.
www.zdnet.com,
www.download.com,
or www.tucows.com.
Why do you have different logins?
I have set up different logins for people with different
connection speeds. People with a DSL or better connections
may log in using what I call a "fat pipe" connection.
Those using modems should use the "modem" logins. The effect
of having different logins is that people with larger bandwidth will get
their files and clear out, thereby freeing up a slot on the server.
Since there are, at this writing, still many more people with modems than
cable or DSL, I have created three times as many modem slots Consequently,
I ask that modem users not use the "fat pipe" connection.
It is sort of like riding a bicycle in the middle of the street
while a car is trying to get by. You can do it, but it's rude as hell
and possibly dangerous. If I catch a modem user using the "fat
pipe" slot, I will boot them from the server immediately. If it happens
again, I will ban them for a day. If it happens a third time, that
user will be banned permanently.
What does it mean to Time Out?
This happens after 10 minutes on Blackbox no mater how many
times you change directories or give a NOOP command. The only thing that
will reset the clock is to download a file. I suggest downloading
the text file for the shows that you are checking out, this way
you can see the show details and reset the time out
clock.
What kind of machine is Blackbox served from?
It was served for two years from one of my home machines.
A pieced together Pentium 200 MHz with 96 MB of RAM and a 46 GB
hard drive. Now I have built a new box (Duron 1.0 Ghz, 256 MB RAM, 120
GB HD) and have co-located the box in a data center of a friend's company.
It is connected via a 45 Mbps connection.
What kind of download rate can I expect?
With the new box and connection, I now allow up to 75 users
at a time. Modem users can expect 1.5-5.8 KB/sec. "Fat Pipe"
users can expect 10-60 KB/sec throughput.
How long can I stay connected?
Your connection will time out after 10 hours.
Where did all this music come from?
I have been collecting music since November of 1999. I got
almost all of my MP3 music from Sugarmegs.org and it's mirrors. Most of
the new stuff that I am putting up now comes from etree. Etree is
a great network of people who trade music in a lossless format. Check
etree.org for more details.
If you have any more questions that you want answered just email me.
Chris Black
Blackbox FTP
ftp://ftp.blackboxradio.org
cblack@houston.rr.com
