SSL Encrypted FTP Client Instructions (Accessing Resources from home)

Gordon State College has setup FTP Over SSL (also known as 'FTPS') to allow students, faculty, and staff to access resources from our Servers from off-campus using an encrypted connection. This service is a special type of 'FTP' and therefore requires using software that supports FTPS. Any computer with this software and an internet connection will be able to use this service.

The folders accessible via FTPS from off-campus are...

  • Class Home Folders (N:\)
  • Class Web (Q:\)
  • Faculty Home Folders (H:\)
  • Faculty Web (S:\)
  • Staff Home Folders (H:\)
  • Student Home Folders (H:\)
  • Temp Shared Folder (N:\)

Any FTP client that supports FTP Over SSL can be used. The instructions below will demonstrate how to install and use FileZilla. FileZilla is available for free on the web.

FileZilla

Installing FileZilla

  1. Go to the FileZilla download page at https://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client
  2. Click the Download FileZilla Client icon on the page.
  3. Click on Download under the FileZilla column.
  4. An installer window will pop-up, Choose Run or Save File depending on the option provided by your Internet Browser. (Here we are using the Firefox browser but you can use any browser to download the software)
  5. After the file has been downloaded, find the folder the installation file was placed. Execute the FileZilla installation application by selecting “Run”.
  6. Next, you will be prompted to a license agreement page, click “I Agree”.
  7. Click on Next on the ‘Installation Options’ and ‘Choose Components’ screens (accept the defaults)
  8. Select destination folder for the files. Click Next.
  9. Click Next again on the ‘Start Menu Shortcut’ screen to begin the installation.
  10. Click Finish to complete the install and to launch FileZilla
  11. Once the installation is complete, you can always open FileZilla under the Windows start menu.
  12. FileZilla is now installed. Continue to 'Setting up FileZilla' below.

Setting up FileZilla

  1. Open FileZilla if you haven't already done so.
  2. In the “File” menu, click “Site Manager” (Ctrl +S), and the prompt below should appear. Here you will create a profile to the Gordon FTP Server.
  3. Click on the ‘New Site’ button located under the Select Entry: box.
  4. Enter in a name for the new site profile. Note: this can be any name you choose to identify the profile (ex. Gordon FTP)
  5. Now under the General tab for the new site profile, enter the details as shown below:
    1. Host: ftp.gordonstate.edu
    2. Username: your Gordon Network Username (ex. ts123456)
    3. Password: your Gordon Network Password (case sensitive)
    4. Leave the other settings to the default
  6. Now choose Connect at the bottom of the dialog box.
  7. If a window appears asking if you would like FileZilla to remember passwords, we recommend choosing ‘Do not save passwords’
  8. When connected for the first time, a Certificate Information box will appear asking you to accept the SSL Certificate. Choose OK.
  9. FileZilla is now logged on and is setup to access the Gordon FTP Server. Continue to 'Using FileZilla' below.

Using FileZilla

  1. Open the FileZilla program from the Windows Start menu if you haven't already done so.
  2. In the “File” menu, click “Site Manager” (Ctrl +S), and then click your Gordon FTP Profile (see Setting up FileZilla above) in the Site Manager Dialog Box, and click on Connect.
  3. Enter your Gordon network password and click OK.
  4. The screenshot below shows the interface when you are connected to the Gordon FTP Server. The list of folders and files on the right-hand side is the Remote System (the server). The left side of the interface shows the folders and files on the Local System (your hard drive, C:).

Downloading Files

  1. Find the files you are looking for on the Gordon FTP Server (right side) by navigating the folder structure. Double-click on a folder to access its content beneath. Searching through the FTP Server will often require you to Double click the “Folder ..” icon to move back up the folder tree to the parent directory.
  2. Once you have located the file(s) you are searching for, you can now download the file(s) to your local hard drive. NOTE: You can choose any location on your local hard drive where you would like the file(s) downloaded to by using the same technique you used in step 1 only now you will navigate the local folders on the left side (by default, c:\Users\<<profile name>> is selected).
  3. Download your files! Select your files and directories by clicking on them from the right side (Remote FTP Server). You may select groups of files by clicking on one and holding down "SHIFT" to highlight from that file up or down. You can also hold down "CTRL" as you select specific files. Once you've selected your files, simply drag them over to the local (left) side to copy them to your computer.
  4. The file(s) you selected will now be transferred to your local hard drive where they can be accessed on your computer.

Uploading Files

  1. To upload a file to the Server, choose the location on the Gordon FTP Server (right side) where you would like the file(s) uploaded.
  2. Upload your files to the Server! Now from the local (left) side, select your files and directories by clicking on them. You may select groups of files by clicking on one and holding down "SHIFT" to highlight from that file up or down. You can also hold down "CTRL" as you select specific files. Once you've selected your files, simply drag the selected files over to the remote (right) side to copy them to the Server location.
  3. The file(s) you selected will now be transferred to the Gordon FTP Server location where they can be accessed from on-campus.