FTP problem/confusion - I'm new to all of this

[MarkTobin]

Hi,

I've just purchased the Webhosting package (basic).

I'm trying to create a blog, using Wordpress.org templates, that will be hosted at my domain: www.marktobin.co.uk

The domain name and Webhosting are both through BT.

When I go into the BT Website Centre, and have 'Home' tab selected I begin to encounter problems.

Clicking on 'Access FTP' on the top navigation bar yields the following result:

A new window pops up with the URL: ftp://marktobin.co.uk/

This window has an error message that reads: Firefox can't find the server at marktobin.co.uk

So, I go back to the BT Website Centre (again with 'Home' tab selected) and this time, under 'Account Details' on the left hand column, click on marktobin.co.uk. This yields the same result, albeit with the new window's URL reading http:/marktobin.co.uk

I've genuinely no idea what's happening. Is it me? Is it BT? Did I do something wrong, or enter something incorrectly when I purchased the hosting package? I should be able to access the FTP without any problem, right?

Can somebody help me, in a way that is easy to understand? I'm totally new to this and am already feeling outta my depth!

Cheers

Mark

[dave]

Hi Mark, The problem is that Firefox does not support FTP and in fact the last browser to support FTP was Internet Explorer 6. Instead you should use a 'proper' FTP program such as Filezilla which you can get for free.

[MarkTobin]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for such a quick response... I've downloaded Filezilla but am still having problems. When I enter all the appropriate information:

Host: ftp.marktobin.co.uk

Username: marktobin.co.uk

Password: [THE PASSWORD I USE TO LOGIN TO MY BT ACCOUNT]

Port: [I'M CURRENTLY LEAVING IT BLANK AS PER THE INSTRUCTIONS I'VE READ ON FILEZILLA'S HELP DOCUMENTATION]

I get the following message in Filezilla:

Status:    Resolving address of ftp.marktobin.co.uk
Status:    Connection attempt failed with "EAI_NONAME - Neither nodename nor servname provided, or not known".
Error:    Could not connect to server

I'm clearing making a mistake, or have clearly set something wrong on my BT account, but I've no idea what it is.

I'm really sorry to be such a doofus, but is there something obvious I'm missing? Or have I nodged it up good and proper?

[dave]

Doing a DNS lookup, it looks like your domain records are not set up correctly. Perhaps touman can fix it for you if he is reading this! One other thing I noticed Mark, and that is that you said you were using the basic hosting package. If you are trying to install Wordpress, I believe that this needs MySQL so you may need to upgrade your hosting package to the more expensive of the two.

[MarkTobin]

Ah bloody hell. I messed it up, didn't I?!

Y'know, this is what happens when you're wading into unknown waters while a screaming 18-month-old daughter is demanding your attention...

I'm happy to upgrade if that's what's needed, but before that I feel  I'm in need of some kind of expert help to untangle whatever mess I've left behind me.

Here's hoping Touman is reading this and is feeling charitable... If he isn't, is there anything I can do to rectify this problem (or, given my evident uselessness, should I wait for the bog boys/girls?)

[Ian1974 · Accepted solution]

I have now added the missing records. With regards to sql you will need to upgrade to professional hosting at £15.00 per month. Regards, Ian

[MarkTobin]

Ian,

I don't want weird magic you conjured behind the scenes, but FileZilla is now playing ball.

So very many thanks to you and Dave for holding my hand through that little embarrassment.

Now, to be clear, if I want www.marktobin.co.uk to work (and by 'work' I mean that when someone types that URL into a browser, they see a blog that I've customised from a wordpress.org template) I'm going to have to upgrade from my basic hosting package to the Professional service, which is £15pcm rather than £5pcm. This is because of something callled mySQL, which I am sure I will learn about in the future.

I just want to be double sure, because I'm clearly new to this and don't want to be shelling out more cash than is actually, strictly, necessary.

Many, many thanks

Mark

[dave]

If you are installing the normal version of Wordpress then yes you will need to upgrade this. If you are unsure, carry on with what you were doing first and if it prompts you later on for MySQL details then you can upgrade.

[Ian1974]

Hi Mark, I have sent a pvt message regarding this. I can confirm you do need sql with wordpress and it works fine on the BT servers. Regards, Ian - F -