Today, one of my friend(Pramod) suggested me to use “WinSCP” FTP software to upload files in my server because i am having problem with my ADSL connection taken a month ago from one of the ISP in my town so called Nepal Telecom (NTC) here in Nepal.So I installed it and connected it.Guess what?It worked with no problem and surprisingly with no connection errors.Well that was not the case with my previous tries  with four known FTP softwares namely WS_FTP Pro,Filezilla,GoFTP and FlashFXP.So I began to wonder,how on this earth, this previously unknown software(WinSCP)  connected to my server. I looked at its setting and found two useful settings.

This(WinSCP) software was using Port number ‘22′ instead of ‘21′ and a protocol/server type as ‘SFTP’ instead of ‘FTP’ that other softwares were using during connection.So I quickly changed the settings for other FTP softwares and i found that it worked for WS_FTP Pro,Filezilla and GoFTP but not for FlashFXP.For FlashFXP,I think their is some setting issue that may not have matched.So I leave it for you to solve it, if you are using this and don’t wanna use another one.Good Luck.

I only saw one minor problem during the process of connection.The problem is that the FTP connection only works if you provide the main username and password i.e. your Cpanel’s or say FTP’s main username and password.I tried to connect through sub FTP accounts but it didn’t worked.I don’t know what was the problem with sub FTP account.Anyway that’s not the major problem as you can connect through your main FTP account.Below are the steps for different FTP softwares to connect to your server.

WS_FTP Pro

1) For New connection :

• i. Go to Sites > Add to Sites
• ll. In a wizard select “Create a new site profile” then cilck next and enter the name of your site and then click next.
• Enter your host name like “www.something.com” and click next.
• Here enter your main FTP username and password,check the Save Password if you want ot save the UN and PASS.Then clik next to go to next step.
• Now Select the “SFTP/SSH” from the list menu(FTP by default) and  the value “22″ automatically appears in the Post box instead of 21.
• Click “Finish” button instead of “Next” as remaining steps are useless.Now you will be able to connect FTP without any problem.

2) For Existing conncetion :

• Go to Sites > Organise Sites.Select your existing connection and click ‘Edit‘ button.
• Now select “Advanced” tab and set Server type as “SFTP/SSH” and “Remote port” as “22“.Click ‘OK’ button.
• Now your connection will work fine.

Filezilla

1. Go to File > Site Manager.
2. Select you exisitng connection or create a new one.
3. Now in Host field write your host name.
4. In Port field type “22“.
5. In Server Type select SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol
6. Select ‘Normal‘ for Logintype.
7. Enter you username and password.
8. Then click OK or Connect.

GoFTP

Fot this FTP go to File > Connect and use the previuosly described settings in the connection fields.If your fields are right then a green status will appear at the buttom of the windows as “Data Transfer Test Passed“.

If you are using other FTP softwares then try to chage your setting as mentiones above.Change your Port to “22” and Server Type/Protocol to “SFTP“.It must work as it has worked for me.If it didn’t then just use WinSCP without scratching your head.Just click here to download this software.

At last, I would like to thank Mr.Pramod for providing me the software that really helped me to figure out what was the problem with this ADSL connection.

Note: I recently noticed that the web hosting company needs to have SFTP in order to work in those server.Some hosting companies like “webhostingpad” supports SFTP by default and other hosting companies like “bluehost” does have SFTP support but you need to activate it.So if your hosting comapny doesn’t support SFTP by default then go to their official site for more help.