Typically, this means images, like photos and animated gifs and such, but it also includes any type of files, like sound clips, music files, and even video files -- anything, subject to file size limits (you have an overall storage space limit of 100 megabytes per screen name).
Before, there were three ways for you to upload and manage the files in your storage space -- two required you also use the AOL software, and the third was our Web-based File Manager, which has a file size upload limit of 500K per file (which isn't big enough for most movie or music files).
The Hometown folks have done some work that now makes a fourth way possible:
Use a separate, standalone FTP program that supports SFTP (the SSH Secure File Transfer Protocol)An FTP program (or client) is specifically designed for you to upload, download and manipulate files in your Web storage space. (They're especially useful if you need to work with multiple files.)
You can already use a regular FTP client with your Web space, but you have to run it together with your AOL client software (here is how you do that). This is because the standalone FTP client "piggybacks" on your AOL connection for security.
With SFTP (remember, the "S" is for "Secure"), the client doesn't have to piggyback and can run by itself.
Now, you will just need to use an FTP client that supports SFTP, and sign-in using your screen name and password.
You can check the shareware and freeware download sites for FTP programs that support SFTP; here is Wikipedia's list of SFTP programs; some of the free, open-source programs include:After you download, install and launch the SFTP client, you will need to fill in the correct info so you can connect to your Web storage space:
- For host or server name, put members.aol.com
- For User, type your Screen Name
- For Password, type your Password
- Finally, make sure you have SFTP selected
- AOL Software: If you're using the AOL client software, you can just go to Keyword: FTP.
Pros: No file size uploading limits.
Cons: The interface is older than dirt and very clunky and awkward to use. - Standalone FTP Program running over your AOL connection. (Here's my full instructions on how to do this)
Pros: No file size upload limits. More powerful.
Cons: You still need to have an AOL software connection running. - Web-Based File Manager (which is located at http://hometown.aol.com/_fm -- see my tutorial on how to use the Web-based File Manager.
Pros: Very portable (you just need a Web browser). Easy to use, especially for adding photos
Cons: File size upload limits (500K per file, or 1MB total per upload). Can be awkward if you're moving a lot of files. - Standalone SFTP Program:
Pros: Full control over your files.
Cons: None that I can think of. Well, you have to configure the program and get used to it.
One other thing to note: You'll be able to link to a music or movie file from your blog, but you won't be able to have it play directly in your browser yet (well, you can sort of do it with music files in the background -- for example, see Brandi's entry on this) -- it should open a separate player when you click on it.
However, as noted, the Journals folks are working on allowing embedded flash video players (so you'd be able to include UnCut Video and other players).
Anyway, hope this helps. Now, I have to go update all my other old entries so that they mention the new SFTP thingy.
Thanks -- Joe
Tags: AOL Journals, AOL Journals Tips, SFTP
50 comments:
I'm totally lost.
If I am only uploading pictures/graphics is SFTP any better?
Will using SFTP give me any more storage space? Say I use my FTP until it fills up can I then switch to SFTP and get more space?
I am so technology challenged.
Kathy
Kathy -- SFTP is just another way of accessing your existing online storage space (your FTP/Hometown space); everything about the storage space is the same, it's just a different way to get to it.
As noted, using a regular FTP program requires that you also be running the AOL software on top of it.
If you use an FTP program that supports SFTP, you don't need to be running the AOL software on top of it.
Thanks -- Joe (posted & mailed)
I was excited by this SFTP news at first, until I tried it and learned that using SFTP will add the insidious AOL Hometown banner to the top of all of my web pages. I haven't been able to get rid of the AOL Hometown banner from the few pages I tested this with. Deleting them and re-uploading them with old methods didn't work, so now I must come up with new file names and adjust all the links on my site. Can SFTP be fixed so that it DOESN'T add the Hometown banner?
Hi MadBaron -- SFTP is just a file transfer protocol, so it shouldn't add any banners or touch your content -- just transfer it.
I'm not sure how you've built your Web page, but if you're uploading finished HTML pages and images to your Web space, you should see just what you upload.
For example, here's a quick and dirty test Web page that I uploaded using SFTP: http://members.aol.com/journalseditor/testpage/
Thanks -- Joe (posted & mailed)
madbaron wrote: I was excited by this SFTP news at first, until I tried it and learned that using SFTP will add the insidious AOL Hometown banner to the top of all of my web pages.
This happens with some screen names. To avoid the AOL Hometown banner, use the Online File Manager (at http://hometown.aol.com) to upload any of your files which end with ".htm" or ".html". You can use any method, including SFTP, to upload your other files.
Lost thought this might be what I was looking for!
Mac OS X already provides an sftp client, so it's not necessary to download CyberDuck or anyother 3rd party product. Just open the Terminal application and type:
sftp screenname@members.aol.com
(replacing "screenname" with your normalized AOL screen name, i.e., removing all spaces; case doesn't seem to matter)
enter your password at the prompt and your in.
AOL sftp access is great news. Thanx for sharing!
Hi -- thanks for the tip. I'm guessing that for FTP, most people would probably prefer to use something with a GUI, instead of the straight command line (myself included), but that's useful to know. Thanks -- Joe
Help.....The Terminal command is a little obscure for me.
I am trying to upload a website to our AOL free web space.
I am using GoLive on a MAC. On the steep side of the learning curve.
Procedure: I have the members.aol.com as host name, his screen name and password entered into GoLive for my site. It asks for directory?????
Then I log into AOL via the Terminal command. Is that what is happening? And select SFTP. How do I know when I am logged in? I put in my password and then it asked for SFTP again.
Please email to rbgnomon@bellsouth.net
Dobree
Help....I seem to get into AOL via terminal and then it gives me a command line SFTP< and then I don't know what to do. Trying to connect via GoLive gives me an accessed denied error 530 message.
Clues?
Dobree
Hi Dobree -- I'm afraid I haven't worked with GoLive, and my command line FTP/SFTP skills are a little rusty (I've never used the command line to FTP into the AOL Web space.
I would suggest using an SFTP client with a graphical interface (like the ones listed in the entry).
Thanks -- Joe (posted & mailed)
Thanks, Joe, for answering.
I downloaded Cyberduck and got my site to upload. But when I try to go out there from Safari, I see nothing but jibberish. Something does seem to be there.
This is what Cyberduck gave me:
sftp://jgnomon@members.aol.com:22/jgnomon/Gnomon Press.site
Next step?
Dobree
Joe,
It is not the fault of Safari. Works same way with Explorer.
If you just go the directory level, it shows the site is there/
I think I am missing the step AFTER downloading via Cyberduck.
Tomorrow is another day......hopefully I can get this problem solved!
Dobree
it even works with sshfs using /screenname/ as target remote directory :D...
With this you should also be able to use to place an encrypted volume file there :) and mount it from within the sshfs mounted dir. Nice!
P.S. No sftp gives you no extra space (nice one ;)), but gives you a secure way to transmit your data to you account!
I have installed WinSCP, the newest version.
However, I can't find how to set the default directory on my computer so that WinSCP automatically selects the correct directory when I log in under a particular screen name.
As I have several web pages in different directories, so I need to be able to do this.
My Ipswitch (WS_FTP) programs have a button to allow you to set a default directory for each screen name.
How would one do this?
Thanks
padcoweb@aol.com
I had been connecting to my ftp space using chami's html-kit for quite awhile. I can connect and see my files but have been unable to upload, rename or delete anything, via ftp, for about two weeks now. I installed and configured filezilla according to your post above, but get this:
Error: Authentication failed.
Error: Critical error
Error: Could not connect to server
maybe I'm missing something? What the heck is going on. The forum I frequent has several posts of the same problem so I know it's not just me.
This is really frustrating. I have had very random lock outs before but never for this long. Calling aol tech support is useless. The techs I spoke to didn't even know what ftp is. Emailing webmaster@aol.com returns no such address. So there is NO-ONE for support. I-YI-YI. Guess it's about time to go elsewhere. I thought I'd always be using aol but they clearly aren't able to meet my needs any longer.
It has been two weeks to for me using WinSCP. It is wanting Authentication of password that it didn't require before. When I put in my password manually it says access denied. It just not recognizing the password from the AOL server side.
I have talked several times with AOL tech support. They say it is a server problem and they don't know how long it is going to be before it is fixed. 72 hours is what I was told. Like you already know it has been two weeks. One of them try to tell me it was the software but I tried to piggyback and I tried FillaZilla also which won't connect to server. I also got the latest version of WinSCP and still have the same problem. AOL knows there is a problem with FTP space. First I was told they were doing maintenance. I know that when I logged into AOL and go to FTP space, it has been deleting my files. I had to run a test file first to make sure it wasn't deleting anymore.
If anyone has any new ideas how to get around this problem please let me know. I am having to upload over 200 files with changes in them.
Folks -- it looks like we're having sporadic problems with FTP (including AOL client FTP and other methods, including SFTP) -- I've asked the FTP and Hometown folks to look into it, but no luck so far. We'll keep asking. Thanks -- Joe
I tried using SFTP via Dreamweaver but no luck. Fortunately I found your page and went to the Web-Based File Manager. I had to delete the old file before I could load the updated file but at least it worked.
While AOL tries to fix the ftp problem again, I have been using this alternative with ws_ftp program. Basically instead of connecting to members.aol.com, you connect to ftp.hometown.aol.com.
Host name: ftp.hometown.aol.com
UserID: your aol screen name
Password: your aol password
Server type: FTP
This works for me reliably even now, and you do not have to be connected to AOL.
The only difference for me is that the option to right click a local file and append it to a file on your ftp space does not work. Instead of appending, it overwrites the file so be careful of that.
Allen
Hi Allen -- I've tried it and it seems to work -- I will check with the FTP admins to make sure that this is indeed a valid method that will stay open and blog an update when I get it. Thanks for sending this in.
Thanks -- Joe (posted & mailed)
Has this been sorted out?? I still can't get filezilla to work with setting that worked previously. I tried the hometown changes to the WS_FTP program and they don't work for me either. I have a ton of files to upload! Can someone help me?
I too have been unable to upload using my FTP Client (Fetch for Mac) for about 3 weeks. I find it is possible to upload item by item by going directly to my FTP space and using the AOL interface. I conclude that the problem is not one of AOL client security.
However, I am also concerned that it is no longer possible to send an email to FTPmaster@aol.com. I contacted AOL technical support by phone about 2 weeks ago and was told there was a known server problem. That wouldn't seem to explain the elimination of the FTPmaster, however.
I wish they would get around to fixing the FTP issue.
I just got a new system & won't be installing AOL on this one cause I don't need it, but even on the system that has AOL installed..FTP still is down most of the time.
Can connect maybe 50/50 with AOL FTP & maybe 30% with WS_FTP Pro.
Only once on the new system with WS_FTP have I connected to my account..I can connect to Members FTP with no problems.
Hi,
Any word on this being fixed? New accounts aren't able to accept the TOS after logging into hometown.aol.com One of my old accounts works. Testing a new account leaves you stranded and unable to use hometown.aol.com at all.
Chris
Good news. My FTP client is working again. Everything appears to be fixed. The only thing I noticed is that JPEGs seem to be compressed more than I recall in the past. I don't have a precise way to check that however.
Thanks for the update. I just tried mine and it works! Finally!!!
Hi
Im having problems connecting with my FTP program, I use Filezilla for Windows...
I keep getting the Critical Error Authentication Failed when I try to connect to either members.aol.com or hometown.aol.com .... I could really use some help, thanks...
Hi,
I am still having problems with SFTP using WinSFTP. I read a comment in here that
someone got their's working. Could you post back and let me know if which software program you got working.
I finally did get in using FTP Commander and following the instructions. This is what he calls piggybacking on AOL Client. I finally realized I had to be in the FTP space for it to work or they just got it working. I was having to use AOL Client to upload my files which was deleting them instead. It was usually just the first file I uploaded. Very frustrating.
I hope that WinSCFTP will be working again soon. I really enjoy the standalone program but until that is working, I will using FTP piggyback system. Thank you.
Hello again, spoke to soon. It work only that one time. It now says it successful but I can't see any files. I can't make upload any changes without the files.
I guess AOL FTP is still having problems.
Anyone using FTP Commander to connect piggyback on the AOL Client,
you need to click in the box on the left side that says passive mode.
This will allow you to see the files, therefore upload your files. Trial and error but it works. It is working now every time.
Yeah!
Here are FileZilla v3.0.3 settings that worked on 2007/11/17 at 17:55 on Windows XP Pro SP2 with AOL Dialer started for Broadband (I didn't test if AOL is needed):
Where I write "[empty]", I mean that the field should be empty.
General tab:
Host = ftp.hometown.aol.com
Port = [empty]
ServerType = FTP
LogonType = Normal
User = yourscreenname
Password = screennamepw
Advanced tab:
ServerType = Default
Default Remote Directory = [empty] <<== "/yourscreenname" will fail
Transfer Settings tab:
TransferMode = Default [my default is Passive]
You can get FileZilla from www.SnapFiles.com, Freeware tab.
Hope this helps
GregLauver@msn.com
I still can't access my space using filezilla. Used your settings below no luck. I just get;
Response: 530 Authentication process not accessible. Try again later.
Error: Could not connect to server
Anyone got any ideas?
Sorry but I have to add more of the same, I can't connect to sftp://members.aol.com with filezilla. I get an authentication error, critical error, cannot connect to server. What's going on?
It appears AOL has turned this off recently, at least for free accounts. I get an access denied message in Filezilla in debug enabled with trace messages.
You can still use their awful and clunky web interface file tools.
Members who pay and can connect over dialup or AOL Broadband may still be able to use an FTP client without SFTP as was always the case.
well i have a have a paid aol account and i can't access the ftp site using filezilla either, i hope this issue is fixed soon
I was just trying to access my aol File Space through SFTP with Filezilla using the settings recomended" Host: members.aol.com, Username: myusername, Password: myaccountpassword, and SFTP," above and have no luck. I can Access myaccount using FTP and the "Guest settings." the error message I get is "Authentication Failed" "Critical Error" and "could not connect to server." I can access my information with "GUEST permissions" using FTP. To my understanding according to the posts below, Have they turned off the SFTP access through a 3rd party source, or is there something I'm missing......
Thanks
I had always understood that those with paid accounts could login via dialup with the AOL client or over AOL broadband with the client and then use an FTP client with a login name of anonymous and a password of your AOL email address. Some FTP clients may call that guest login.
I thought this whole problem was fixed a little over a month ago (I posted a comment to that effect), but today I tried to use my ftp client and it pulls up some strange file where I am, of course, a guest so I can do nothing. So I uploaded my files using the tedious AOL tools. Even then, as I navigate through my webpage, I get diverted to AOL Hometown and the whole process stalls. I would like to know what is going on that causes these frequent problems. I'm a paying AOL customer for what it's worth (not much anymore) and I'm getting very annoyed at the spotty AOL service these days.
Spotty? More like extremely poor. SFTP port 22 is completely turned off now - it won't even connect.
When I access my pages via a web browser - just to view them, not to maintain them, more than half the time the AOL server can't find them and goes to AOL Hometown saying the pages aren't there. Closing the browser and trying again works eventually, sometimes after repeated tries. This has been a problem periodically for years; more so in the last few weeks.
Those with free accounts are probably powerless to get them to do a thing about it. You get what you pay for I guess. There are other free hosting sites I suppose, with their own advantages and disadvantages.
It would appear that AOL's non-standard way of connecting to the 'net is once again throwing up problems!
I have recently installed a wireless router: this requires you to 'sign on' using a master screen name.
Guess what? - I now cannot access FTP for ANY other screen name except the one used by the router to sign on. Even if I start the AOL browser, log in, and connect via their own FTP nightmare - sorry, software, I still cannot connect.
I have tried SFTP, but no joy. (Having said that, I have never been able to connect using SFTP!)
After 7 years, enough is enough. Monday morning I'll be asking for a MAC code and will be off to pastures new.
Sorry to say these instructions do not work for me either. The connection just times out. I have set the parameters in Filezilla equivalent to the example - although the example screen is out of date - with no luck. AOL tech support says NO FTP is supported. They say it's via AOL client, or file manager, and nothing else.
As of yesterday they added a banner ad to all pages. That's the last straw, I went to 000webhost.com. So far, their free hosting is superb.
Sorry to say, but it seems we have no choice but to use another ftp service that will not put their banner on our web site when we pay for our ftp space. From what we are told, AOL now has their AOL Hometown banner on every page, including those made by customers who pay for the service. Visitors to our website no loger see a professional site, but one with a cheezy banner which looks like we got this service for free. We do not use free web hosting. It will take awhile to move all of our files, so we will have to stay with our two AOL accounts until we are up and running elsewhere.
Hi guys,
I empathize with you. It must be frustrating. I will see if I can get a HT person to address this
Vish
This hasn't apparently worked in a LONG, LONG, LONG time. Why not take the INCORRECT BLOG down or FIX the frickin' problem??? Hmmm AOL, are you LISTENING?
I'm using Coffee Cup and can't get it's ftp program to connect but I have web pages uploaded to aol using there GUI that don't have any of their banners on it. just dont put an html extention on the directories when you name them.
As of 9/5/08 sftp access to members.aol.com does not seem to work. I have tried using both Mac OS X built-in sftp and Cyberduck with the settings (ssh2, port 22) given in the article. With both methods there was no reply from members.aol.com and things just sat until the process timed out. Questions: Has this connection method been checked by AOL personel any time recently? Has the port number perhaps been changed?
Some comment from AOL would be greatly appriciated.
Today, September 16th, 2008, I am experiencing problems with piggybacking on the FTP Commander to get into the AOL server. It is stated that I need to used my full email address as my password. I am already doing that. I have checked both browsers and it seems like all my files in FTP space are not showing up at all. I don't know if they are deleted or just not appearing on the screen. I had in the past have AOL delete a screen name of all the files in FTP space.
Anyone else experiencing any problems with this? Have you heard back from AOL what is going on? Yesterday, I had no problems with uploading my files. Now they are not even showing up. Thank you.
RE:Comment from allbunni [9/16/08]. All my files in the FTP directory are gone & inaccessible as of today.
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