Files, FTP and Web Deploy
Your subscription's files live in its webspace, a folder owned by the subscription's Windows system user. You can work with them in the browser with File Manager, with an FTP client, or by publishing from Visual Studio with Web Deploy.
File Manager#
Open File Manager from Home or from the subscription page.
The folder tree on the left starts at Webspace; the path bar at the top shows where you are. Click a folder to open it and the column headers Name, Size and Modified to sort.
Toolbar#
| Button | Action |
|---|---|
| Upload | Upload files; you can also drag and drop files onto the list |
| New file, New folder | Create an empty file or folder |
| Copy, Move | Copy or move the ticked items To folder, optionally replacing existing ones |
| Add to archive | Pack the ticked items into a ZIP file |
| Download | Download the ticked items |
| Remove | Delete the ticked items |
Use Find files by name to search the current folder and its subfolders.
Actions of one file or folder#
Click the menu button at the end of a row:
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Edit | Text files open in an editor with highlighting; HTML files can be shown with Preview. Use Save or Save and close. |
| Download, Download as zip | Files, or folders as ZIP |
| Extract files | ZIP archives, Into folder of your choice |
| Rename | New name |
| Calculate size | Size and number of files of a folder |
| Change permissions | Shows the NTFS permissions and lets you give an account other rights |
| Remove | Delete one item |
Items marked system are needed by the hosting setup and cannot be removed or renamed. Links and junctions are shown but never followed.
FTP access#
Open FTP Access from Home or the subscription page. The Connection details card shows:
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Server | The FTP host name (copy button next to it) |
| Port | 21 |
| Encryption | FTP over TLS (explicit FTPS), required or offered depending on the server |
| Main login | The subscription's system user |
| Opens in | The webspace folder |
In FileZilla or WinSCP choose FTP with explicit TLS, enter the server, port 21 and the login. The main login uses the system user's password. To change it, open the subscription and click Change password next to System user on the Hosting card. The website's application pool is updated too.
Additional FTP accounts#
Give a developer or designer their own login limited to one folder.
- On FTP Access, click Add FTP account.
- Enter the Login (3 to 20 lower-case letters, digits, dots, dashes or underscores; it must be unique on the server).
- Enter a Password of at least 8 characters. The panel does not keep it; save it somewhere safe.
- Enter the Home folder: the folder the account opens in and cannot leave. It is created if missing.
- Tick Read only if the account may download but not upload or delete.
- Click Create.
Use Change to set a new password or folder, and the bin icon to remove an account. The plan sets how many accounts you may have; Add FTP account is greyed out when the limit is reached.
Anonymous FTP#
If the plan includes anonymous FTP and the subscription has a dedicated IP address, the Anonymous FTP card lets you Allow anonymous logins. Visitors see the anon_ftp/pub folder; with Allow uploads to incoming, uploads go to anon_ftp/incoming. You can also set a Welcome message, the number of connections and a speed limit.
Web Deploy publishing#
Web Deploy publishes a website straight from Visual Studio as the subscription's system user.
- Open the website (Manage) and click Web Deploy.
- Check the Publishing details: Server (port 8172), Site name, User name and Service URL.
- Click Download publish settings.
- In Visual Studio, import the file under Publish > Import profile. It holds a Web Deploy and an FTP profile.
- Enter the system user's password when Visual Studio asks for it, then publish.
If the page says "Web Deploy publishing is off for this subscription", the plan's Web Deploy publishing setting must be switched on. Ask your provider.
Web users#
Web users get personal pages at http://example.com/~name/ and upload to their own folder over FTP.
- Open the website and click Web Users.
- Click Add web user.
- Enter the Name, used in the address and as the FTP login, and a Password of at least 8 characters.
- Tick Run scripts (PHP, ASP.NET) in this web user's folder if the plan allows scripts for web users.
- Click Create.
Troubleshooting#
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| FTP login fails | Check that the subscription is active, and use explicit TLS when the server requires it |
| "The plan limit is reached" | Remove an unused FTP account or ask your provider for more |
| "The plan does not include additional FTP accounts management." | Your plan does not allow extra accounts |
| A file cannot be removed | It is a system item or in use by the website |
Related#
- Websites and domains
- Backups and scheduled tasks
Something missing? Ask in the community or open a ticket.