Description: Apple ftp Sites Frequently Asked Questions (2/97)
Header: Apple ftp Sites Frequently Asked Questions (2/97)

 Article Created: 7 June 94
 Article Reviewed/Updated: 09 January 1997

 TOPIC -----------------------------------------------------------

 This article provides an overview of ftp sites in general, a description of
 the ftp sites maintained by Apple, and answers to common problems.

 DISCUSSION ------------------------------------------------------

 What are ftp Sites?
 ===================

 An ftp site is a server which has an Internet connection and uses the File
 Transfer Protocol (an agreed upon standard for transferring files using the
 TCP/IP protocol) to let you log on and download files.

 Servers can be Macintosh computers, MS-DOS machines, or UNIX based PCs or
 workstations. Limits, such as the number of users logged on, can be placed on
 an ftp site. Obviously, the more memory and processor speed a machine running
 as an ftp site has, the better able it is to handle more users, more file
 transfers, and so on.


 Apple's ftp Sites
 =================

 There are currently a number of ftp sites maintained at Apple, most of which
 are located in Austin, TX or Cupertino, CA.  We are constantly adding
 additional ftp servers:

 ftp.info.apple.com (Austin, TX)
 ftp.apple.com (Cupertino, CA)
 ftp.info.euro.apple.com (Zeist, the Netherlands)

 - The following web page (http://support.info.apple.com/ftp/mirrors.html)
 lists *all ftp sites* Apple has around the world. The ftp.info.apple.com
 site(s) has a current capacity of over 2,000 concurrent ftp sessions, with
 several thousand more coming this winter and spring - all served by 3 T-1s
 and a T-3 connection.  (ftp.apple.com has capacity for approx. 1,000)

 Apple Computer Gopher Server
 ----------------------------
 gopher://gopher.info.apple.com/

 Contains both the complete collection of Apple Software Updates and the Apple
 Tech Info Library.

 How the Software is Posted
 ==========================

 All files are compressed using Stuffit Deluxe into self extracting archive
 files (usually identified by the .sea suffix appended to the end of the file
 name). They are then converted to the BINHEX format uploaded using Fetch (see
 the next section for an explanation of software). We then download and check
 each file we upload.

 Many files start out as Disk Images. Customers downloading disk image files
 need to download and use Apple s Disk Copy application to create floppy disk
 copies of each disk image. There is a Quick Reference Guide (QRG) on how to
 use Disk Copy available from the Apple Fax Info system, as well as document
 "Dealing with Disk Images" posted on info.hed.apple.com in the Apple Support
 Area.


 The Software That is Available
 ==============================

 The Apple software updates collection is very large and is broken into two
 major categories: US and Worldwide.  Inside the worldwide directory, is a
 large of localized software - that is, software that has been translated into
 other languages for use with localized MacOS systems.

 Inside both the US and Worldwide folders is the following directories, many
 of which contain subdirectories:

 Apple II
 DOS-Windows
 Macintosh
 Newton
 UNIX (on some servers)


 What software You Should Use
 ============================

 In general, Apple recommends that you obtain the latest version of an
 application that uses the ftp protocol to transfer files.

 The following are the most common applications, many of which are included in
 the Apple Internet Connection Kit, now available in the USA.

 Fetch 2.1.2 or 3.0
 ------------------
 An application developed at Dartmouth College; the most popular ftp client
 for Macintosh users. It automatically downloads and converts the binhexed
 files to the .sea file format.

 Anarchie 140
 ------------
 Anarchie is an ftp and Archie client. It lets you browse ftp sites, download
 files, or find them using an Archie server. It requires System 7 and MacTCP
 1.1 or later. Anarchie lets you view any directory as a folder, making it a
 very Macintosh-like application.

 Turbogopher 1.0.8b4
 -------------------
 An Internet surfing application developed by the University of Minnesota,
 capable of downloading and converting binhexed files to the .sea file format.

 Netscape Navigator
 ------------------
 A web client from the NetScape Communications Corp.

 Microsoft Internet Explorer
 ---------------------------
 A web client from Microsoft Corp.

 Common Problems
 ===============

 The following common problems may be encountered by customers on Apple's ftp
 servers.

 ftp server: cannot log on
 -------------------------
 You cannot log on due to the maximum concurrent user limit. You should try
 again later or another Apple ftp server.

 Apple Computer gopher server: cannot download files successfully, ftp client
 reports "end of file error" or "EOF error"
 ------------------------------------------
 We do verify each file we upload, but occasionally files do get corrupted and
 we replace them.

 However, most of the time, you cannot download a file due to one of following
 problems:

 * Not using most current version of ftp client, such as Fetch 2.1.2 or Fetch
 3.0.

 * The server connection "times out" or disconnects. Try logging on again,
 either early in the morning or late at night.

 * You cannot establish a consistent connection with any ftp site. Make sure
 TCP/IP software is the most current version.


 Other Commercial Online Services Apple Supports
 ===============================================
 Currently Apple publishes to America Online and CompuServe in addition to the
 Internet.


 Article Change History:
 06 Feb 1996 - Updated urls.
 09 Jan 1996 - Updated article, removing AppleLink, updating Internet
 references.
 21 May 1996 - Removed reference to eWorld


 Support Information Services
 Copyright 1994-97, Apple Computer,  Inc.
 Keywords:  kol,kinter,kalley,kfaq