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Yarin
Asked: 2011-03-25 06:48:42 +0800 CST

Understanding FTP/FTPS for local users

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I'm trying to wrap my head around FTP for local users.

For example, I have a local WordPress install that requires FTP to update certain plugins. My understanding is that I would create an FTP server, and WordPress would get access as a local user. But...

  • Why is this necessary? When WordPress downloads the plugin files from the remote plugin site, it isn't using FTP, and when it needs to install it in its folder, why can't it just have writable access to that folder?
  • Does FTP vs FTPS matter in this case. I understand FTP transmits passwords in clear text, but if it's not being transmitted remotely, why would that matter?

Thanks-

ftp sftp

1 Answers

  1. What do you mean by local? If you have access to the file system of the server hosting the wordpress install through some other method(console, smb, ssh, RDP, etc) then you may not need FTP. FTP is just one common method gaining access to put files on the server. In my opinion SFTP is better than FTP or FTPS because it uses the SSH protocol, but it serves the same purpose.

    EDIT:

    Ok, if I follow what is going on, wordpress.org is going to use the FTP to do the update. So it's not you locally accessing the site, it's a remote 3rd party. This might answer some of your questions: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-automatic-upgrade/faq/

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