Filezilla for Panther for an idiot Mac User?

September 15, 2009 11:59 AM

I need to download Filezilla this afternoon for a freelance job, but I'm using a creaky old Mac with OS 10.3.9. All the download versions I'm finding require system 10.5. I'm starting to panic. Help! Please!
posted by biddeford to computers & internet (10 comments total)

Do you need the client or the server?
posted by setanor at 12:01 PM on September 15

You'll have to compile it yourself for 10.3.9. cf.
http://forum.filezilla-project.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10680
http://forum.filezilla-project.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7591
http://forum.filezilla-project.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6729&p=24265

Is there a particular reason you need this client on this PC? Or do you just need a sftp (or whatever protocol) client?
posted by reptile at 12:06 PM on September 15

Assuming you're not looking for Filezilla server, can you just use any old free FTP client for OSX? Looks like version 2.8.5 was the last version of Cyberduck that supported 10.3.9...
posted by drumcorpse at 12:07 PM on September 15

I guess I need the server? My employer sent me an account for sharing encrypted files, and they're using Filezilla for 10.5. I'm hoping to upgrade to Tiger by the end of the week, but in the meantime I'm stuck. I'm a complete novice at file sharing. Imagine your (youngish) grandma in this spot. Heavens to bestsy, I'm having conniptions over here.
posted by biddeford at 12:22 PM on September 15

Your employer sent you login information for their server. You only need a client. You don't necessarily need any particular client. Filezilla will work, but so will other FTP clients.
posted by odinsdream at 12:32 PM on September 15

They probably have an FTP server, where their files are hosted. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a type of connection that you make to connect to a server, browse some files, and upload them from your computer or download them to your computer. You know the HTTP that comes at the beginning of a web address? That's the type of connection that the web uses. This is just a different type of connection. SFTP (Secure Shell FTP) is a similar type of connection, but with more security.

So if I'm correct, you need to connect to an FTP server that your employer stores their files on. Filezilla is a popular means of connecting to an FTP server, but it's by no means the only way. Cyberduck, which drumcorpse mentioned, is another very good (and very free!) piece of FTP software for the Mac. As he noted, version 2.8.5 is the last one that will run on 10.3.9. If you go to that page and follow the version numbers on the left hand side until they get to 2.8.5, you'll see a download link. Click on that, and it'll download Cyberduck to your computer.

Once you've downloaded it, open the DMG and drag the application into your Applications folder. Then double click on it, and it should open up with a settings window present. Just pop in the information that your employer gave you, and hit connect, and you should hopefully be away.

If you're still stuck, please feel free to Mefimail me, especially if you want to ask about settings that you're not comfortable with sharing in public.

Also, I apologise if I've been too patronising in this explanation. I took your advice and wrote it as if my grandma was knowledgeable enough to use AskMe.

I hope that helps!
posted by Magnakai at 12:36 PM on September 15

If you're running OSX then you already have an ftp client, accessible through terminal. It may be enough for now.

Enter "ftp 192.168.0.1" (or whatever IP address or domain name, e.g ftp ftp.myserver.com) to connect, then use the ftp program's command line. "man ftp" at a terminal prompt should give you enough info to get started, or use Google. A GUI does make things simpler to navigate, but the command line version is fine for many things.
posted by anadem at 12:43 PM on September 15

Hugs to you, Magnakal!
posted by biddeford at 12:45 PM on September 15

:)
posted by Magnakai at 12:52 PM on September 15

Cyberduck rocks, you should send them a donation for helping save your bacon.
posted by tommasz at 1:36 PM on September 15