Hello,

UVM's upgrade protection for FTP Voyager ends July 10, 2002. At the most recent Standards group discussion, people indicated the a good FTP client was an important part of the web publisher's toolbox, among other things, and that we should continue to make one available.

At the same time, there is a movement toward replacing services like FTP which send usernames and password in clear text over the internet, with secure services, like SSH and SFTP, which encrypt all the traffic between the two computers.

We are at a point where we need to select a direction in which we want to head.

Regardless of our choice:
  1.. Clients can continue to use FTP Voyager; site license is pertpetual 
  2.. We may continue to distribute FTP Voyager at the version available on July 10.
Below are some possible options

  1.. Do nothing - let the FTP Voyager upgrade contact end 
    a.. We can continue to distribute FTP Voyager 
    b.. We have no access to support from vendor 
    c.. We have no access to upgrades from vendor 
    d.. Doesn't provide access to SFTP (encrypted FTP)

  2.. Buy a new FTP Voyager contract ($5000 for two more years) 
    a.. Adds vendor support 
    b.. Adds upgrade options 
    c.. Doesn't provide access to SFTP (encrypted FTP)

  3.. Buy a license for CuteFTP Pro ($8125 for two years) 
    a.. Supports standard FTP services 
    b.. Adds support for SFTP (encrypted services) 
    c.. provides vendor support 
    d.. provides upgrades 
    e.. vendor says they will provide a "good" customized installer
There are other FTP clients out there. I know of no other clients that provide support for both standard FTP and SSH/SFTP. The third option would provide a nice bridge as we transition between traditional and secure services.

We have been distributing SSH.com's Secure Shell, which combines a remote terminal (like telnet) client with a file transfer client. CIT Client services staff have concerns that this product may not continue to provide what we need.

For reference:

UVM FTP Voyager download:
http://www.uvm.edu/software/

FTP Voyager vendor site:
http://www.ftpvoyager.com

CuteFTP Pro vendor site:
http://www.cuteftp.com/products/cuteftppro/index.shtml

I'm interested in your thoughts, comments, reactions. Please send them to
 [log in to unmask]  

Thanks,
--Geoff