The preferred method for file transfer is to use encryped file transfer via the scp or sftp commands.
Please note that standard FTP service (not sftp) to individual accounts is turned off for all of the Linux machines. This is because username and password information used when accessing FTP service is passed over the net unsecured, and can be stolen. Please do not attempt to ftp into your account from another machine; it will not succeed, but can still compromise security!
The only FTP access that is allowed is anonymous FTP access to the Linux server, astronomy. The anonymous ftp area that is accessible can be seen directly from any of the Linux machines, in /home/ftp. Upon account creation, there will be a directory /home/ftp/pub/username created; files placed here will be available to external users accessing astronomy via anonymous ftp. If you wish to allow external users to put files onto the FTP server, external users will need to cd to incoming/username after logging into the ftp server. You will be able to see files they have downloaded in /home/ftp/incoming/username from any of the Linux machines. Files uploaded into the /home/ftp/incoming/ area will be owned by the user ftp, but can be deleted by anyone; copy these files into your area so that you will own them, and then please delete them from the incoming/ftp area. ALL LARGE FILES IN THE INCOMING AREA OLDER THAN 6 MONTHS MAY BE AUTOMATICALLY DELETED TO KEEP THE AREA FROM FILLING UP.