What is FTP?

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a method for transferring files between your computer and your web hosting server. FTP is faster and more reliable than the DirectAdmin File Manager for uploading entire websites, large files, or managing many files at once.

You can use FTP to:

  • Upload your website files to the server
  • Download backups of your website
  • Edit files locally on your computer and re-upload them
  • Set file and folder permissions
  • Transfer files between servers

Main FTP account vs additional FTP accounts

Every hosting account has a main FTP account that gives you full access to all files in your hosting account. The main FTP username is the same as your DirectAdmin username, and the password is your DirectAdmin password.

You can also create additional FTP accounts with restricted access to specific folders. This is useful when:

  • You want to give a developer access to one website folder but not your entire account
  • You manage multiple websites and want separate FTP credentials for each
  • You need to give temporary access to a contractor or third party

Using your main FTP account

You can connect via FTP immediately using your DirectAdmin credentials:

  • FTP Host: Your server hostname (e.g., server.0724.co.za) or your domain name
  • FTP Username: Your DirectAdmin username (usually your primary domain)
  • FTP Password: Your DirectAdmin password
  • FTP Port: 21 (standard FTP) or 22 (SFTP/secure)

Your main FTP account provides full access to your hosting account root directory, including public_html, backups, email, and all other folders.

Creating additional FTP accounts in DirectAdmin

Step 1: Access FTP Management

  1. Log in to DirectAdmin
  2. On the dashboard, find the File Management or Advanced Features section
  3. Click FTP Management or FTP Accounts
  4. You will see a list of existing FTP accounts (if any)

Step 2: Create a new FTP account

  1. Click Create FTP Account
  2. Enter an FTP Username (e.g., developer, website1)
  3. Enter a strong Password (use the password generator for security)
  4. Confirm the password
  5. Set the FTP Home Directory to limit access to a specific folder:
    • For full access: leave as / (account root)
    • For website-only access: /public_html
    • For a specific website: /domains/example.com/public_html
    • For a subfolder: /public_html/clients/projectname
  6. Click Create

The new FTP account will be created immediately. The full FTP username will include a prefix: yourusername_ftpuser.

Connecting to FTP with FileZilla (Windows, Mac, Linux)

FileZilla is a free, popular FTP client available for all operating systems. Download it from filezilla-project.org.

Quick Connect method

  1. Open FileZilla
  2. At the top of the window, enter your connection details:
    • Host: ftp://server.0724.co.za or your domain name
    • Username: Your FTP username (e.g., yourusername_ftpuser)
    • Password: Your FTP password
    • Port: 21
  3. Click Quickconnect
  4. If prompted about an unknown certificate or to save the password, choose your preference
  5. FileZilla will connect and display your server files on the right side

Save FTP connection as a Site

To avoid re-entering credentials each time:

  1. In FileZilla, go to File → Site Manager
  2. Click New Site
  3. Enter a site name (e.g., "0724 Hosting - My Website")
  4. In the General tab, enter:
    • Protocol: FTP
    • Host: Your server hostname or domain
    • Port: 21
    • Encryption: Use explicit FTP over TLS if available (recommended)
    • Logon Type: Normal
    • User: Your FTP username
    • Password: Your FTP password
  5. Click Connect

The connection will be saved, and you can reconnect later from File → Site Manager.

Using FileZilla: The basics

Once connected, FileZilla is divided into sections:

  • Left side: Your local computer files
  • Right side: Your server files
  • Bottom: Transfer queue showing uploads/downloads in progress

Upload files to the server

  1. On the left (local), navigate to the folder containing the files you want to upload
  2. On the right (server), navigate to where you want to upload (usually /public_html)
  3. Select the files or folders on the left
  4. Right-click and choose Upload, or drag and drop to the right side
  5. The files will begin uploading

Download files from the server

  1. On the right (server), navigate to the files you want to download
  2. Select the files or folders
  3. Right-click and choose Download, or drag and drop to the left side
  4. Choose a destination on your computer
  5. The files will download

Edit a file on the server

  1. Navigate to the file on the server (right side)
  2. Right-click the file
  3. Choose View/Edit
  4. The file will download and open in your default text editor
  5. Make your changes and save
  6. FileZilla will prompt to re-upload the file. Click Yes

Delete files on the server

  1. Select the file(s) or folder(s) on the server side
  2. Right-click and choose Delete
  3. Confirm the deletion

Warning: Deleted files cannot be recovered unless you have a backup.

Set file permissions

  1. Right-click a file or folder on the server side
  2. Choose File Permissions
  3. Set the permissions using the checkboxes or enter a numeric value (e.g., 644 for files, 755 for folders)
  4. Click OK

Secure FTP: SFTP and FTPS

Standard FTP transmits passwords and files unencrypted. For security, use one of these secure alternatives:

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)

SFTP uses the SSH protocol to encrypt all data. To use SFTP:

  1. In FileZilla Site Manager, set Protocol to SFTP
  2. Use Port 22
  3. Use your DirectAdmin username and password
  4. Connect as normal

SFTP is the recommended secure method for FTP connections.

FTPS (FTP over TLS/SSL)

FTPS is standard FTP encrypted with TLS/SSL. To use FTPS:

  1. In FileZilla, set Encryption to Require explicit FTP over TLS
  2. Use Port 21
  3. Connect as normal
  4. Accept the SSL certificate when prompted

Other FTP clients

WinSCP (Windows only)

WinSCP is a popular FTP/SFTP client for Windows with an integrated text editor. Download from winscp.net.

Cyberduck (Windows, Mac)

Cyberduck is a lightweight FTP client with cloud storage support. Download from cyberduck.io.

Transmit (Mac only)

Transmit is a premium Mac FTP client with a polished interface. Available from panic.com/transmit.

Built-in FTP support in code editors

Many code editors support FTP directly:

  • Visual Studio Code: Use extensions like "SFTP" or "FTP-Simple"
  • Sublime Text: Use the "SFTP" package
  • PhpStorm / WebStorm: Built-in FTP/SFTP support under Tools → Deployment

Managing existing FTP accounts

Change FTP password

  1. Go to FTP Management in DirectAdmin
  2. Find the FTP account in the list
  3. Click Change Password or Modify
  4. Enter the new password
  5. Click Save

Change FTP home directory

  1. Go to FTP Management
  2. Click Modify next to the FTP account
  3. Change the Home Directory
  4. Click Save

Delete an FTP account

  1. Go to FTP Management
  2. Click Delete next to the FTP account
  3. Confirm the deletion

Deleting an FTP account does not delete files. It only removes the FTP login credentials.

FTP troubleshooting

Cannot connect to FTP server

If you cannot connect via FTP:

  • Verify the FTP hostname is correct (use your server hostname, not your domain)
  • Check that your username and password are correct
  • Ensure you are using Port 21 for FTP or Port 22 for SFTP
  • Disable your firewall or antivirus temporarily to test if it is blocking FTP
  • Try using passive mode (in FileZilla: Edit → Settings → Connection → FTP → Transfer Mode → Passive)
  • Contact support if the issue persists

Connection times out or drops frequently

If your FTP connection drops:

  • Your internet connection may be unstable
  • The server may have a connection timeout set. In FileZilla, enable Keep-alive under Settings → Connection
  • Try switching to SFTP, which is more stable over unreliable connections

Files not appearing after upload

If you uploaded files but they are not visible on your website:

  • Ensure you uploaded to /public_html, not the account root directory
  • Check file permissions (should be 644 for files, 755 for folders)
  • Verify the filenames are correct (Linux is case-sensitive: Index.html is not the same as index.html)
  • Clear your browser cache and refresh

Permission denied errors

If you get permission denied errors:

  • You may be trying to access a folder outside your FTP home directory
  • The file or folder may have restrictive permissions
  • Your FTP account may not have write access to that location
  • Use your main DirectAdmin FTP account for full access

FTP best practices

  • Use SFTP or FTPS: Always encrypt your FTP connections for security
  • Use strong passwords: FTP accounts with weak passwords are a common attack vector
  • Limit FTP access: Only give FTP access to trusted users and restrict their access to necessary folders
  • Delete unused FTP accounts: Remove old FTP accounts to reduce security risks
  • Back up before mass changes: Download a backup of your website before uploading large updates
  • Use passive mode: Passive FTP mode works better with firewalls and NAT routers
  • Monitor FTP activity: Check DirectAdmin logs if you suspect unauthorized FTP access

When to use FTP vs File Manager

Use FTP when:

  • Uploading or downloading entire websites
  • Transferring many files or large files
  • Working on a slow or unstable internet connection (FTP can resume interrupted transfers)
  • You need reliable bulk file operations
  • Automating file transfers via scripts

Use the File Manager when:

  • Making quick edits to a single file
  • You don't have an FTP client installed
  • Extracting or compressing archives on the server

Getting help with FTP

If you need assistance setting up FTP, troubleshooting connection issues, or configuring FTP clients, contact 0724 Hosting support. We can help diagnose FTP connection problems, verify your credentials, and provide guidance on secure FTP configuration.