| WS_FTP | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Developer | Ipswitch, Inc. (Now part of Progress Software) |
| Initial release | 1993 |
| Stable release | WS_FTP Professional 12.9 WS_FTP Server 2022.07 (8.8.7) / June 14, 2023 for client, April 24, 2024 for server |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| Available in | English |
| Website | WS_FTP Site |
WinSock File Transfer Protocol, or WS_FTP, is a secure file transfer software package produced by Ipswitch, Inc. [1] Ipswitch is a Massachusetts-based software producer established in 1991 that focuses on networking and file sharing. [2] WS_FTP consists of an FTP server and an FTP client and has over 40 million users worldwide. [3]
In 2019, Ipswitch Inc was acquired by Progress Software Corporation, who is the current owner of the product.
John A. Junod, a decorated Army master sergeant, developed WS_FTP in 1993. [4] [5] WS_FTP was originally released as Shareware. [6] The rights were sold to Ipswitch in 1996, when Junod retired from the Army and joined Ipswitch. [4]
File Transfer Protocols are used to transfer large files. FTP clients add stability and encryption options over traditional FTP transfers. [5] The WS_FTP client has a "classic" GUI with two panes, one showing the local computer and the other accessing the remote host, though newer versions of the software have updated interfaces, including a web browser interface. [5] The WS_FTP secure server encrypts files using SSL/FTPS, SSH, or SCP2 and HTTPS transfers. [3] [7] It is self-contained, eliminating the need for an external database. [7] WS_FTP's additional built-in capabilities include email client integration, alerts and notifications, server failover, and transfer scheduling. [1]