Ok, here's the deal. I'm completely new at the website thing, and need some advice. I've registered my domain name through zdnet and it turns out that they don't host. I want to create my web pages using Adobe PageMill or GoLive, and obviously need an FTP server to do this. And I am of course (and don't laugh at me!) a Mac. Should I try going with a free webhost (I also can't spend any money really), or is there an FTP server that will work with my glorious computer? Please help!

Hi... if you're new to webmastering, it's probably not a good idea to try and set up your own web server and run it out of your home. This is especially true on a Mac, where your choices for software are more limited than in the PC world.

There's a ton of free hosting services out there that will let you get a feel for creating your own website. If you want to use your own domain name, there's a couple of sites that list free hosts that can help you. Check out:
http://www.freewebspace.net
http://www.freewebspacereview.net

It's very possible to set up and run the server out of your home, but I would suggest that because you're new to webmastering you take things one step at a time. It will probably be quicker and much less of a headache if you just take advantage of one of the free hostings services.

Its fine to be on a Mac :D
I believe the ftp program used for Mac users is Fetch?

Originally posted by pmd21
I want to create my web pages using Adobe PageMill or GoLive, and obviously need an FTP server to do this.
...
Should I try going with a free webhost (I also can't spend any money really), or is there an FTP server that will work with my glorious computer?
Just out of curiosity... why would you need an FTP server to maintain files that are located on your computer? If they are on your computer and you're hosting them there, you shouldn't have to FTP them anywhere.

Now, I don't know Adobe's software well at all. That just seems odd to me. Perhaps you could clarify as to what you meant by this? Are you going to run an FTP server from your home computer and upload files there from elsewhere?

Best Regards,
Matt Lightner
mlightner@site5.com

Originally posted by Site5-Matt
Originally posted by pmd21
I want to create my web pages using Adobe PageMill or GoLive, and obviously need an FTP server to do this.
...
Should I try going with a free webhost (I also can't spend any money really), or is there an FTP server that will work with my glorious computer?
Just out of curiosity... why would you need an FTP server to maintain files that are located on your computer? If they are on your computer and you're hosting them there, you shouldn't have to FTP them anywhere.

Now, I don't know Adobe's software well at all. That just seems odd to me. Perhaps you could clarify as to what you meant by this? Are you going to run an FTP server from your home computer and upload files there from elsewhere?

Best Regards,
Matt Lightner
mlightner@site5.com

Hummm...I took her post to mean...especially since she mentioned "free host"....that she is working on a Mac....and wants to make sure that there is an ftp program that would work with her computer, to get her site uploaded?
I may be way off but Im sure she will clarify. :D

Yeah, Martie got it right. I was just all very confused as to what FTP server to use, and what web hosting company would work best for me. So far, this is what I've done:

I registered with http://www.virtualave.net who gives me 50 MB for free and has FTP capabilities. I've enable my Domain Forwarding at zdnet to my subdomain at Virtual Ave. And I plan to use Internet Explorer to FTP everything. Does this sound ok?

Sara...Check their policies or support area. Im not familiar with their policies but got to this page easily
http://www.virtualave.net/t/join/joinsignup/joinsupport
Good Luck!

It sounds good, assuming you can get the FTP feature of MSIE to work... I've had some trouble with it (that's on the PC side though). Otherwise, nice work!

Originally posted by pmd21
Yeah, Martie got it right. I was just all very confused as to what FTP server to use, and what web hosting company would work best for me. So far, this is what I've done:

I registered with http://www.virtualave.net who gives me 50 MB for free and has FTP capabilities. I've enable my Domain Forwarding at zdnet to my subdomain at Virtual Ave. And I plan to use Internet Explorer to FTP everything. Does this sound ok?
Ahh, I see. I think you meant FTP client, not server. Us techno-nerd type people are easily confused by things like that :D

No worries, I get your meaning now. What you've done should work out great.

Best Regards,
Matt Lightner
mlightner@site5.com

Fetch is the most common FTP client software for the Mac. If Internet Explorer doesn't do the job, you can get Fetch 3.03 from:

http://getfetch4.com/Fetch_3.0.3_Installer.hqx


Dreamweaver is another program (available for Mac's and PC's) for creating Web Sites and it has FTP built in. In fact, you can just tell it to "sychronize" your web site and it automatically uploads any files you have changed, to your web site. I imagine the lastest version of Golive has something similar, in which case you wouldn't need to use Internet Explorer.

Nice to see some other Mac users around here.

Thannks for the info Doug! My co-workers laugh at me anytime I mention the word "Mac." Anyhoo, I wanted to ask, is there a time limit on that version of Fetch? Is it just a trial, or is it the educational version?

Fetch is unrestricted freeware.

q

I think I saw on Fetch's website, http://www.fetchsoftworks.com that there was a 15 day trial period or you could buy it. Hell if I know.

You don't have to forward your domain name if you are going to host at Virtual Ave. Virtual Ave does have free domain hosting. Just switch your name servers over to those at Virtual Ave's. Check out their site map and look under "Domain" - that should give you all the details.

Good Luck.

Sara,

I'm just looking at a dustcovered Windows version of Adobe Pagemill 3.0 I have. I was pretty sure of this but I checked anyway. Pagemill has an 'uploader' built into the program. I can't say for sure about your numbered version, or the Mac version at all for that matter, but a check to see if it has this might save some juggling on your part.

Greg Moore

When you start up Fetch 3.0.3, under Fetch Help in "About Fetch", it states:

"Fetch is Copyright © 1997, Trustees of Dartmouth College, © 2001, Fetch Softworks. This copy of Fetch is sold under license by Fetch Softworks.

"Fetch is licensed free of charge to users closely affiliated with educational or non-profit charitable organizations (government research laboratories excepted). All others may obtain an individual license by choosing “Purchase...” from the Apple menu. Multi-user licenses are also available; for more information, visit <http://fetchsoftworks.com>."

This has changed since I got my version.

Fetch was included with Apple's Internet Connection Kit which came as part of System 7.6.

To get Fetch:

Go to http://www.macdownload.com and search for "Fetch"

Download it, and unstuff it using StuffitExpander. It will work beautifully with no time restrictions. I recently had to re-download Fetch to get it on my iBook. I take courses at my local tech college so did not feel I HAD to buy a personal license; however, it's on the honor system and nobody's going to come knocking at your door.

If you don't pay for it, and you should, this would simply be an issue for the confessional. :)

Fetch is a very reliable program although it might take a little tinkering to get used to how it works, exactly. (It's not hard, don't be scared!) My first couple of attempts, I accidentally uploaded things to the wrong directory because I wasn't paying attention, but I think this is also inherent to FTPing in general. I use Dreamweaver for website design and management as well as uploading for 90% of uses, but Dreamweaver can be flaky at times. I find the only RELIABLE and stable FTP client for Mac is Fetch. It's really super.

Using a Mac is really not a negative so far as website creation and management. There are mac programs which enable you to do all the nifty things that Windows people can do. The platform of choice for many print/electronic/video/web design companies is Mac. It is really only in the hard-core business world that Wintel machines are the norm. You are not in as much of a minority as you think, and you certainly are not at THAT much disadvantage in the web business.

$.02 ~~ this is not intended as an invite to a platform war ~~ just trying to put her worries at ease that her Mac is a-ok for what she's trying to do. :)


:D Bailey

Grand success! I installed the trial version of Fetch and successfully uploaded my constuction page. I am using version 3.0 on PageMill and will look further into it's uploading capabilities, but for now, I think I'll stick with Fetch. I don't really know what I doing but eh, whatta ya gonna do? Thanks a lot everyone for you suggestions and help, I feel like I'm up and running.... for now at least. baileysemt123: Thanks for the kind words in regards to my beautiful Macintosh computer. I'm studying to be a Graphic Designer and know that I need a Mac to get anywhere, but it's been hard to convince my co-workers that (I work at a dot com).

Thanks guys!

Sara

Look thumbs up! We're doing fine!