Downloading Using BulletProof FTP
by: BAMAToNE

Hello, and welcome to the "How to use an FTP" walkthrough. As you may have figured out by now, all servers on the RPGamers Network are either Hotline or FTP. If you need to know how to use Hotline, hit the "Back" button and then click on the Hotline walkthrough.

Still with me? Read on...

The first thing you need to access an FTP is... and FTP program! *gasp* You can get one BulletProof FTP (BPFTP) from:
http://www.bpftp.com/index.html - Main site
http://www.download.com - Search for "Bulletproof"

Download and install the program. Now, when you open it up, you might get a "site manager" or some such popped up at you. For now, you can close it. We'll come back to it. Close whatever else might come up until you're left with just the main program window. BPFTP has a bar at the top where you can plug in all server information. We'll do it that way first. So now, you need to have the information ready to plug in.

For your first login, we'll use Netscape Communications as a test. For "host" plug in "ftp.netscape.com" (don't ever use the quotation marks) ; for "port" leave it at 21 (21 is the default - if a server does not specify a port, assume 21) ; for "login" and "password" leave them both blank (Netscape allows anyone to login). When you're done, click on "connect" or hit Enter. A welcome message will popup. For Netscape, it says:

220 ftp25c.newaol.com FTP server (SunOS 5.7) ready.
331 Guest login ok, send your complete e-mail address as password.
230 Guest login ok, access restrictions apply.

Click OK to get by. Now you see a directory listing. It should have:
.prt
bin -> ./usr/bin
dev
etc
opt
pub
user

Double-click on "pub" and it will enter that directory. It will then list a new group of subdirectories. Double-click on "screensavers," then "english," then "grinch," then "windows." Now you will see listed:

grinch_pc_ss.exe

Look on your left side to see what "local" directory you are in (something like "C:\temp"). Change that to whatever you want, and then double-click on the grinch file. That put the filename into the "queue" (the white box at the bottom). To start downloading it, click on the "Go" button at the top. You can also put it in the queue by highlighting it and clicking the "down" arrow. Now hit "go" to start the download.

The file should start downloading now, and it will go until it's finished. If you don't want to download the whole thing, just hit the "stop" button and delete what you have downloaded so far. You should be able to find that and the "disconnect" button on the toolbar.

Congratulations, now you've accessed an ftp! On to Lesson 2...

Now go to: http://www.rpgamers.net/Games/Music.php

Pick a mirror you want to try to download from. I'll use Locke's server, since his is the least likely to disappear after this is written. :P Click on "main server: Locke Cole." Now look at the "Login Information" box. This has all the info you need, and every server has a box like this. the address is "rpgamers.homeftp.net" - plug that into the "host" or "server" box in your program (where ftp.netscape.com was). The port is the default 21. This server does not allow anonymous logins, so you must enter a username and password. The username is "game" and the password is "music" (remember no quotes). Now hit enter, and if you're lucky you will now be connected to the main RPGN server. You are also very likely to get one of a number of other messages. For example:

Connecting to rpgamers.homeftp.net port 21
Connection timed out
Delaying for 60 seconds before reconnect...

When you see a message like this, it means the server is probably not up at all. In this case, you should try another server. ALWAYS make sure you keep the retry set to at least 60 seconds. If you don't, you may get in trouble for "hammering" or "pounding" and you will be banned. Hammering is when you try to connect too many times in an allotted time span. For instance, on my server, you get temporarily banned if you try to connect more than 10 times in 1 minute. So keep the retries at least 60 seconds. Here is a diagram of where in the options to change it:

Connecting to rpgamers.homeftp.net port 21
Connected, waiting for response...
220-RPGamers Network FTP Service
220-
220-Welcome to RPGamers Network Main FTP Server!
220-(http://www.rpgamers.net)
220-
220-Notice: This is a PRIVATE FTP.
220-
220-The files located on this ftp are property of the owner, and are to be
220-downloaded only if using for backup purposes. If you shouldn't be connected
220-here, please disconnect now.
220-
220-Do not pound the FTP! Set retries to 45+ seconds for connecting.
220-Max 1 transfer at a time per user, no time limit or ratios.
220 Disobey this and be banned. Happy Downloading!
USER game
421-The server is currently at the maximum allowed user count.
421-
421 * Too many users are connected, please try again later...
Delaying for 60 seconds before reconnect...
Disconnected.

This is probably the most likely message you'll get from the servers. It means the server is indeed up, but there are already the maximum connections allowed. For the main server, this is 10. You can set your retry at 60 seconds, and let the program sit, or you can try another server.

Remember that Site Manager that popped up at the beginning? You can add a session to it by clicking on the 6th button from the left on the toolbar (the far right button in this picture). The left button in this picture will open up the Site Manager for you to choose which saved ftp to connect to.