How to copy files to a server via SSH. Guide to Free FTP Clients Filters in WinSCP
The WinSCP application is positioned as a graphical SCP/SFTP client for securely transferring content between remote servers and personal devices.
In addition to all its capabilities, WinSCP also offers a fairly nice visualized interface with flexible settings, which makes this product even more suitable for installation/use in cases where a secure connection is indispensable. You can download the Russian version of WinSCP for free on your computer for Windows using the direct official link below.
Users who actively interact with the Internet in terms of downloading/uploading any content need a professional manager that supports all the necessary functionality for high-quality file transfer.
Typically, such clients support FTP protocols and, often, this is enough, however, especially suspicious individuals may also need the SFTP standard, which encrypts the connection. Today, any reputable browser and download manager supports FTP, however, only a few applications in the Windows family interact correctly with SFTP, and those with additional plugins. But for inquisitive users there is also a special, free product, WinSCP, which is distinguished by exceptionally comfortable interaction with all the mentioned protocols.
The installation procedure is standard, as always, you are offered the choice of a suitable language pack, confirmation of the license agreement, as well as an indication of the installation method: custom, with the ability to control installation parameters and express, i.e. fully automatic. The WinSCP launch window, meanwhile, will prompt you for certain settings each time.
These include: selecting the required protocol, specifying the encryption method, the path to the folders/files used, entering identification addresses/logins/passwords, etc. It should be noted that it is recommended to cancel the storage and automatic entry of all the listed individual data by the utility for basic security reasons, so that a third party will not be able to use your individually configured profile.
When launched, the appearance and functionality of the free downloaded client are similar to any average file manager However, the user interface can be presented in two variations: stylized like Norton Commander (more focused on keyboard control) or Windows Explorer. Such management implies the appearance of a lot of pleasant administrative details, which reveal the potential of the free downloaded WinSCP.
The program is very convenient in part functionality. The list of standard functions, in addition to those that involve file transfer, includes: text editor, folder synchronizer, support for URL schemes, multilingual, a variety of filters, variable authorization (public key, password or Kerberos (GSS)), drag&drop, as well as common file operations and much more.
"Free SFTP, SCP, S3 and FTP client for Windows"
WinSCP is a popular free SFTP and FTP client for Windows. Moreover, WinSCP is a powerful multifunctional tool which will increase your productivity. WinSCP can copy files between local and remote computers using a variety of protocols: FTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP, WebDAV or S3. On the other hand, WinSCP offers easy to use GUI user; You can choose a look like Windows Explorer or a tabbed, two-pane interface like Norton Commander. At the same time, advanced users can automate WinSCP functionality using .NET assemblies or simple batch files. You will be able to use WinSCP for all day-to-day file operations. You can start editing the file directly from WinSCP, using either the built-in WinSCP text editor or your preferred external text editor. Operations in WinSCP are not limited to individual files: the program offers several different ways to synchronize your local and deleted folders. After connecting to a remote server, you can choose to save information about it for subsequent connections; WinSCP can also share this data with another popular open source utility - PuTTY. WinSCP also integrates with Pageant (the authentication agent from the PuTTY package) to provide full and complete support for public key authentication over SSH. System administrators prefer WinSCP for its support for portable application mode and operation through a configuration file instead of entries system registry on the user’s computer, which is great for cases of working from a removable drive. Complete documentation for WinSCP is freely available at https://winscp.net/. This site also contains an active user forum for technical assistance and feature requests. WinSCP is available in English and many other languages. WinSCP is free program is open source and licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).Requirements: SSH server with SFTP/SCP support or FTP server or WebDAV server or Amazon S3 account
What's new in this version: Improvements to sessions and workspace management, so that WinSCP can now easily restore tabs that were open when it was last closed. Hardware-accelerated AES. Extension Archive and Download to archive remote files and download the archive. Improvements to Synchronization checklist window. Allowed sorting of find results. SSH core upgraded to PuTTY 0.73. The binaries are signed with new EV certificate valid until February 2023.
There are several ways to download and unzip a zipped file to FTP server. This may be required when installing CMS, restoring backup copy. Let's take a closer look at them.
Cross-platform SFTP clients
FileZilla
The program runs on Mac OS X, Windows, Linux and other operating systems. Uses FTP, FTPS and SFTP protocols. Translated into 47 languages, including Russian. Convenient and easy to use client.
- Performs standard operations, resumes interrupted downloads, and handles large files well.
- Supports IPv6, SOCKS5, FTP-Proxy and HTTP.
- Site manager allows remote search and editing of files.
- Allows you to configure the queue and download speed.
- Ability to simultaneously view multiple directories, etc.
Download from the official website: https://addons.mozilla.org/ru/firefox/addon/fireftp.
Cross-platform client localized into more than 20 languages. Designed as an add-on for Firefox. The functionality is similar to the previous program.
- Performs standard operations.
- Supports major data transfer protocols.
- Hashes and checks documents for integrity.
- Compares directories, compresses files, and much more.
Chrome sFTP Client
Multi-platform client, installed as an add-on to Google Chrome. There is a Russian language. The capabilities are not inferior to other programs. Built-in powerful text editor with syntax highlighting and password manager. Suitable for those who are used to turning a browser into a universal harvester.
The program works under Windows, Linux and Mac OS. Free app It has extremely poor functionality and is absolutely not competitive: it does not support SFTP, proxies, synchronization, etc. Pro has all this, but you will have to pay 25-40 y.e. for it. The paid version is no different from its free counterparts.
Clients for Windows OS
Download the program from the official website: https://winscp.net/eng/download.php.
Graphical multilingual client, distributed free of charge. Offers a choice of two interfaces: as in Windows Explorer and classics in the style of Norton Commander. WinSCP can:
- Upload and download files from the server.
- Create, rename and delete files and folders.
- Supports synchronization, several types of authorization: Kerberos, public key or password.
- Allows you to automate actions using scripts and command line.
- The utility has a built-in text editor and a bunch of other useful things.
Available in two versions. The LE version is noticeably inferior in functionality to its competitors, but is free. Can download files from/to the server simultaneously, restore the connection when the connection is interrupted. CoreFTP Pro is equipped with a wagonload of additional goodies and costs 25 y.e.
- Compresses, encrypts and decrypts files.
- Increases download speed due to multi-layer downloads.
- You can set up templates for repeatable tasks.
- The Ping and TraceRoute utilities are installed in the client.
- Unlimited tech. product support and much more.
Standard client. Able to work via HTTP/HTTPS protocols. Maybe everything is the same as other SFTP managers. There is no Russian localization, but the interface is simplified and intuitive. The computer does not load much, turns on and works quickly.
Gftp - client for Linux OS
A cross-platform utility, but more often used in Unix-like operating systems. There is a graphical interface, but it also works via the command line. Supports data transfer protocols: SFTP, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, etc. Performs all standard operations with files and folders. Translated into many languages, including Russian.
You can register domains with us.
A free program with a user-friendly interface and a minimum of functions and capabilities. Supports SFTP, uploads and downloads files. Synchronizes data and everything. Suitable for those who prefer to do without frills in their work.
AndFTP - SFTP client for android
Works with protocols: FTP, SFTP and FTPS. Russified, has a built-in file manager, can open files different types: video, text, html, mp3, etc. Integrates with other applications. Supports work with multiple servers and allows you to configure permissions. Convenient and functional addition.
Free SSH client for secure access to FTP servers via the secure SFTP protocol.
This application allows two-way transfer and synchronization of files on a local PC and a remote server.
At the same time, WinSCP supports not only the simple FTP protocol, but also the secure (SFTP) and also somewhat outdated today (used mostly for accessing UNIX servers) SCP.
According to their own WinSCP capabilities almost as good as the paid FTP client CuteFTP Professional:
Comparison of SSH client WinSCP with paid analogue CuteFTP
The main disadvantage of WinSCP is that it does not support scheduling. Otherwise, the program is quite convenient and provides good tools for everyday work with FTP.
Installing WinSCP
WinSCP comes in two flavors:
- portable;
- and with the installer.
For the portable version to work, just unpack the entire contents of the archive and run the executable exe file. True, then it will be in English.
To Russify the program, we take out the file from our archive WinSCP.ru and place it in the folder where WinSCP was unpacked.
1. After launching the installer, the first window to appear will be to select the program language. By default, Russian will already be indicated there, so just click “OK”.
2. In the next window we will be greeted by the Installation Wizard. There’s nothing complicated here either, just click “Next”.
Click "OK" and now we have a complete, ready-made connection!
All that remains is to “Login” to the server. We press the appropriate button and receive a warning.
Authentication- confirmation of rights to access the system.
If you connect to reliable server(for example, to your website), then simply click “Yes” so that the program remembers this key and saves it in its cache.
Otherwise, click "No".
Authentication on the server will begin and the program will ask for a password (if we did not save it in the program for security reasons).
Enter the password and click "OK".
If we haven’t made a mistake anywhere, the main WinSCP window will open in front of us.
WinSCP interface
As we chose during installation, the program will have a two-panel interface, reminiscent of a classic file manager.
In the left panel our local computer, and on the right is a folder on the server with the site stored in it.
Transferring files can be done either by simply dragging them from one panel to the second, or through the context menu and using “hot keys”, generally accepted for such programs:
- F5 - copy;
- F6 - move;
- Delete - delete, etc.
For example, let's copy the file readme.html from server to computer. We grab it with the mouse in the right panel and drag it to the left.
Before the first copying, the program will clarify whether we really want to do this?
This is to prevent accidental damage. important files. If you are confident enough in your actions, you can disable this request by checking the “Do not show this window again” checkbox before clicking “OK”.
If such a file already exists in the destination folder, another window with a question will appear.
By the way, if you need to copy or replace several files, then in order not to answer “Yes” for each, you can use the down arrow to the right of this button and select the “Yes for all” option, or hold down the Shift key before pressing “Yes”.
But here you need to be even more careful so as not to accidentally overwrite new file old. And then the “Don’t ask again” checkbox is ticked – it’s better never to check it again.
WinSCP Settings
If you accidentally checked the above-mentioned checkbox, you can always disable it in the menu "Settings" - "Settings" - " Appearance" - "Confirm the following actions" - "Overwriting files".
As you can see, here you can customize anything, from notifications to design style.
If the “native” settings do not suit you for some reason, here you can always adjust the program to suit you.
Filters in WinSCP
Let's return to the main window and see how else you can simplify your work with SFTP in WinSCP.
For example, when updating a website via FTP, you often have to download and upload to the server many files with a certain extension. These could be images in PNG format or some js files with scripts.
When their number exceeds a hundred, working without filtering functions becomes quite dull.
In this case, the easiest way is to use the "Filter" function, the button of which looks like a funnel above each panel.
Click on it and in the window that opens, enter a mask to select the required files.
As a result, we get in the desired panel only those files that are interesting to us.
You can learn about file filtering rules by clicking the “examples of masks” link under the filter line:
- The "*" symbol replaces any number of printed characters.
- "?" replaces a single character (one letter or number).
- Masks are separated by a comma or semicolon, etc.
Using a filter, you can significantly speed up your work with files, regardless of their number.
Directory comparison
Using the comparison tool, you can highlight different files in both panels.
The comparison is based on name, size and update date.
Directory synchronization
The next tool - “Server folder synchronization” - allows you to configure automatic FTP server monitoring of the selected local folder and copying all new files from it:
If you do not trust automation, WinSCP allows you to synchronize manually.
To do this, simply click the following button - “Synchronize the local directory and the directory on the server.”
Script commands
Like many advanced FTP clients, WinSCP claims to support script commands.
They are implemented:
PuTTY- free client for various remote access protocols.- via the built-in command line, also called Console or Terminal;
- or an added PuTTY module.
Let's see how this works using a command line example. Click the "Open Terminal" button and read the warning.
Click "OK" and get to the Console window, where you can enter your commands in the upper field and get the result in the lower one.
Advantages and disadvantages of WinSCP
- convenient and simple interface;
- support for secure file transfer protocols;
- the ability to filter files by masks;
- automated file synchronization;
- Extensive customization options.
- slight slowdowns with very large lists of files (more than 1000 in one folder);
- no task scheduler.
Conclusions
It’s not for nothing that WinSCP has won the favor of thousands of users around the world. This small SSH client allows you to perform tasks that are often only possible with much more powerful and cumbersome (and most importantly paid) counterparts.
At the same time, it works quite quickly even on old PCs. And if we add here the ability to work from a USB drive, then we get the ideal tool for supporting your own website at any time and anywhere!
Afterword
If you have your own website, then you have probably thought more than once about how to optimize the work of loading various content onto it.
Today, many hosting providers provide us with special web interfaces called admin panels. Their advantage is that working with files on a remote server does not require any additional applications- all operations can be performed directly in the browser window.
However, almost all admin panels provide only basic functionality. For example, they do not support simultaneous downloading of multiple files and require you to manually select each subsequent file. I'm not even talking about synchronization functions, etc.
Therefore, to fully work with files on remote servers, a special protocol was created - FTP. Despite the fact that it is more than 40 years old, the file transfer protocol is still quite popular today.
In addition to the already mentioned use of this protocol in working with websites, FTP is often used to distribute various kinds of applications and even operating systems(for example, some operating systems of the Linux family).
Modern browsers allow you to open file storages based on the FTP protocol and download files from there, however, to be able to upload content to remote servers yourself, you need special applications - FTP clients.
There are quite a lot of both paid and free FTP clients, however, based on the specifics of our site, today we reviewed one of the best free SSH clients - WinSCP.
P.S. Permission is granted to freely copy and quote this article, provided that an open active link to the source is indicated and the authorship of Ruslan Tertyshny is preserved.
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WinSCP - free file manager, runs on the SFTP and SCP protocols, a free graphical client for the SFTP and SCP protocols, runs only on Windows. Available online under the GNU GPL license. With it you will be sure that all your files are protected when copied. Of course, if the computer and server operate using these protocols. Distributed under the GNU GPL license. Provides secure copying of files between your computer and servers that support these protocols.
Main features of the program:
- Has a graphical interface similar to Norton Commander.
- All operations with files are available - saving, deleting, etc.
- Everything works automatically, using scripts
- Integration with Pageant (PuTTY Agent) with support for public key authorization.
- Integration with Windows (Drag&Drop support, shortcuts, URL scheme support).
- Has a built-in text editor. Can work with keys and SSH protocol versions.
- You can log in using a password, authentication with public key or using Kerberos.
- You can save connection settings.
- Synchronize folders using several automatic and semi-automatic algorithms.
- WinSCP supports SFTP and SCP protocols over SSH-1 and SSH-2, in addition to FTP.
- Has a plugin that supports the SFTP protocol in the FAR Manager program.
