Bryant University. The Character of Success

Using BryantFTP

What is BryantFTP

BryantFTP is a Linux server that provides for web publishing and/or for file storage. All faculty, staff and organizations at Bryant University have an account on BryantFTP. Your login information is the same user identification and password that you use to log in to the network and to retrieve email. Your web site on BryantFTP can be accessed from any browser as http://web.bryant/edu/~<username>, where <username> is your account name. For example, the web site for John Doe would be http://web.bryant.edu/~jdoe

Accessing BryantFTP

BryantFTP can be accessed in two different ways. The first method is using Samba, and the second method is Secure File Transfer (SSH Secure Shell). Samba is restricted to certain areas on campus. SSH is available to use off campus with the VPN client software.

Using Samba

Samba is based upon the Microsoft Networking protocol, so you will access your BryantFTP account via "My Network Places" on your computer. Here's the steps.

  • Under My Network Places, choose Entire Network.
     
  • Choose Microsoft Windows Network.
     
  • Look under the Campus2000 domain for Bryant1(also know as BryantFTP)

If it does not appear there, then you can do a search for a computer. Use the name of the server which is Bryant1 (also known as BryantFTP).

Once you have found Bryant1, double click on it. Once it opens you will see your account. Your account can be used as any other folder on the desktop.

The folder web_docs is the folder that is used to display web pages, so use this folder to publish your web pages.

You can also map your BryantFTP folder or any folder under it as a network drive. This will speed up subsequent accesses.

Using Secure File Transfer (SSH)

Secure File Transfer, or SHH, is very similar to FTP except that the transfer of usernames, passwords and data is fully encrypted. This program is installed on all Bryant Systems. If you would like to install it on your personal computer, or if for some reason it is not on your Bryant system SSH Secure Shell Client can be downloaded here.

Here's the steps:

  • Open the SSH Secure File Transfer program.
     
  • Click on Quick Connect. Fill in the host name (ftp.bryant.edu) your username,Port Number 22, and Authentication Method equal to Password, and then click Connect.
     
  • You will be prompted for your password. Once logged in you can now view file names on your local drives and on BryantFTP.
     
  • To transfer files, highlight the desired file(s) (web_docs contains everything that is displayed on the web pages) and then click the Operation tab. Use the Upload or Download functionality to move files. Download will move from the server to the desktop and Upload will move from the desktop to the server. You can also drag and drop files from your computer (left window) to the web_docs folder (right window).
     
  • You can also open and edit files on the server directly through SFTP. Double click on the desired file on the server side and it will open on the desktop. Save the file as you normally would from the desktop. When you exit the application it will ask if you want to upload it to the server.

Notes

  • Disk quotas are enabled on BryantFTP. For students 250 MB are allowed, for faculty/staff it is 325 MB.
     
  • If you connect via Samba it is highly suggested that you turn off the computer when you are done using it to break the connection
    to BryantFTP. Otherwise the next user will have access to your directory on BryantFTP.
     
  • Your login information for BryantFTP is the same user identification and password that you use to log in to the network and to retrieve email.