🔐 What Is FTPS?
(Agent-Friendly Explanation with Plesk Hosting Context)
✅ TL;DR for Agents:
FTPS = FTP + SSL encryption
It’s just regular FTP, but with a secure connection (SSL/TLS).
Think of it like HTTPS for websites, but for file transfers.
🧩 FTPS vs FTP vs SFTP – Quick Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encrypted? | Used On | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTP | 21 | ❌ No | Default for most shared hosting | ftp.firstday.ca |
| FTPS | 21 or 990 | ✅ Yes (TLS/SSL) | Many Plesk servers | ftp.firstday.ca with encryption |
| SFTP | 22 | ✅ Yes (via SSH) | VPS, Dev/Root access only | Not supported on shared Rebel hosting |
🔒 Important:
SFTP is not the same as FTPS.
SFTP uses SSH, and is typically not available on shared hosting like Plesk with Rebel/Internic.
💡 Why FTPS?
FTPS helps protect:
- Login credentials
- File transfers
- Data in transit
✅ It’s especially useful for customers handling sensitive data or working in corporate environments that require encryption for compliance.
🔧 How FTPS Works on Plesk Hosting
Most Rebel/Internic Plesk servers (like canada6.rebel.com) support FTPS automatically. The server uses its installed SSL certificate to secure the FTP session.
🔐 FTPS connects over:
- Port 21 (Explicit FTPS — the most common and default)
- SSL/TLS encryption layer added during connection
🛠 How Customers Use FTPS (e.g., with FileZilla)
You don’t have to change much — just configure FileZilla correctly.
✅ FileZilla Setup:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Host | ftp.firstday.ca or canada6.rebel.com |
| Port | 21 (leave blank or set manually) |
| Protocol | FTP – File Transfer Protocol |
| Encryption | Use explicit FTP over TLS if available |
| Logon Type | Normal |
| Username | From Plesk FTP setup |
| Password | From Plesk FTP setup |
📌 In the Site Manager (FileZilla), under Encryption, select:
✔️ “Use explicit FTP over TLS if available”
🔎 How to Tell If a Customer Is Using FTPS
In FileZilla logs, if they’re using FTPS, you’ll see something like:
Status: Initializing TLS...
Status: Verifying certificate...
Status: TLS connection established.
If they aren’t using FTPS (just plain FTP), no encryption messages will show.
🧯 FTPS Troubleshooting – Common Agent Questions
| Issue | What’s Going On | Agent Advice |
|---|---|---|
| ❌ TLS handshake failed | Old FileZilla version or expired cert | Ask customer to update FileZilla |
| ❌ Can’t connect over FTPS | ISP or firewall blocks port 21 | Try non-FTPS connection or test another network |
| ❌ Certificate warning | Self-signed SSL or old cached data | Advise customer to “trust” the certificate in FileZilla (only if it’s the Rebel server) |
🔐 Summary for Agents
- FTPS is just FTP with encryption, not a separate service
- ✅ Plesk (e.g.,
canada6.rebel.com) supports FTPS out of the box - ✅ Recommend FileZilla and choose “Use explicit FTP over TLS”
- ❌ Don’t confuse it with SFTP (SSH-based)
- 🔒 Use FTPS when customers ask for “secure FTP” or mention compliance requirements