14 DAY TRIAL // Whether you use your favorite email client or instant messenger or just browsing the web, what your computer does for you to benefit from all that is transfer data to specific locations. Actually, the entire Internet relies on file transferring via certain protocols in order to make all the connections and allow you to access the information you want.
FTP is one of the transfer protocols used to download or upload data to a server. The benefits of this protocol are highly brought out with the use of a client to manage all connections to the server and handle its folder structure. FTP clients come in various shapes and at different prices, but lately most of them are free.
SmartFTP manages to combine cool and functional looks with security features, a myriad of options and configuration settings with a $36.95 price, but only if you use it in a corporate environment as for personal use the software is absolutely free. The trial period is of 30 days if you plan to use it for business activities and the only nag is the license reminder screen popping out every once in a while.
Using the application can't get any easier, especially with all the tutorials you have access to and the flexibility of the interface which permits arranging all the panels the most comfortable way for you. Initial screen provides access to the tutorials or lets you open local browser and a remote one (make sure you have all necessary credentials).
Despite the overwhelming panels in the interface, making your way to the application's core requires quite some time. In the lower part, there is Transfer Queue window showing all current operation (both upload and download). For testing purposes, the software makes available in Favorites area a set of FTP addresses you can fiddle with. Among the predefined favorites you'll find a NASA FTP where you can download some cool asteroid and solar pictures. But before starting the download, carefully read the warning upon connecting (for this Log windows has to be activated).
As long as you are testing the preset FTP addresses, try out SmartFTP's tab support by opening more than one connection and toggling between them as easily as making the desired selection. Dragging them in the bar for reaching a comfortable order is also possible. In the case of more connections, at the end of the tab bar there are more controls for quick handling them. You can navigate to the left or to the right or jump directly to the desired address through Active Files button (the little down arrow at the end of the tab bar).
SmartFTP seems to bend over backwards when it comes to comfortable browsing, as it makes available dual pane view for local and remote browsing. This way you can easily upload files from the local computer to a remote location. Transfer Queue window shows the type of the operation, the size of the files handled, source and destination, status of the process, current speed as well as the time elapsed since the start of the operation.
Both remote and local views come with a few gimmicks designed to make your way through folders with myriads of files and one of them is the filter which is nothing more than a search bar. More functionality is added by rename, create new folder options, move and view functions. All these, as well as remote transfer type (AUTO, Binary and ASCII), concert to easy handling of uploading/downloading files.
The application is indeed smart as it raises the flexibility level of standard FTP clients and tries to extend the regular list of features to more options. Thus, it comes equipped with an instrument designed to capture any URL copied to clipboard. Its name is URL Watcher and, unfortunately, during our testing it did not perform as expected. According to Knowledge Base article 0039 of the application, URL Watcher should monitor the clipboard for URLs and whenever copy operation is performed, the user should see a dialog window, but in our case there was absolutely no reaction.
Setting up the application is not a too complicated thing, but, even if you are used with such software, you will notice some very useful options here that really stand up to the name of SmartFTP. You can choose the default download folder (but you can also use the drag and drop option when in double pane view), define the default file viewer, choose the sounds for alerting you on the status of an operation, view connection history, define file formats for selection groups (you can select a certain type of files with a single click), impose transfer speed limitations, customize the interface or backup all your settings.
More important configuration options, like compression during the transfer, security of the connection, speed limits per FTP account, proxy, priority, etc., are to be set up individually for each FTP account available in Favorites list. Properties option in the context menu will give you access to all that and I am sure that you will realize why they call it SmartFTP.
Advanced users can customize the software to ignore empty files/folders or auto-rename options on both upload, download and server to server transfers. In case of double entries, the user has the possibility of creating rules to be automatically followed when the situation requires it.
Performance options for may come in handy in some cases, thus SmartFTP introduces buffer size settings to be used when receiving data or sending it remotely. This way, you can avoid hiccups or even chokes. If you have preferences and want some files to have priority over others, Priority options allow you just that, but be sure you learn the regular expressions first (it is all in the Knowledge Base articles, accessible directly from the software).
Transfer integrity support of the software permits the checking of the file before and after the transfer is completed for file integrity. After the files have been sent/received, a post-transfer check compares the hash value from a trusted source (either the server or the local file). The option is particularly useful as there may be glitches during the transfer and the file may become corrupted on its way to destination.
Another handy feature in SmartFTP is on-the-fly compression designed to reduce the time for certain data transfers. If Mode Z is enabled (under Compression settings of a Favorite account choose "zlib" option) you can save bandwidth and reduce the time for completion. The compression ratio goes like this: text files shrink to ~15-20% of the original size, HTML files diminish to ~25-30% of the original while media, video and sound lose the least weight (~90-95% of the original). Trying on-the-fly-encryption on already archived files will not shrink them more and the results will not be noticeable.
SmartFTP includes some of the best security options on the market. SSL/TLS cryptographic protocols allow safe connection and file transfer via certificates and public keys. You can create as many self-signed certificates as you need with as long a key as you want and you can also set an expiration if your connection to the server is time bound. Unfortunately, in this version of SmartFTP, the resulting certificate is not exportable.
On the upside, with SFTP there were absolutely no problems and the public/private key pair was created with absolutely no problems. You can choose between DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm) and RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) host key algorithms and the length goes as up as 4096 bits, while the encryption algorithms that can be used are AES (256-bit, 192-bit and 128-bit), 3DES, Blowfish, DES and CAST 128.
Considering all the options it makes available, SmartFTP is not designed for the average Joe that fiddles with FTP addresses every now and then, but for the hardcore user that needs fast, secure and reliable connections to a remote server and needs a client able to support large amounts of data. It is easy to use, indeed, but there are so many options that it's going to take a long time to configure it properly. And, once you reach that stage, you can back them all up to a location on the local computer. More than this, the software can automatically backup at a user defined time interval (daily, weekly, monthly).
The current version is not yet finished, but it promises a lot and the glitches are minimum. However, there are some problems that could be overlooked by some of the users, but not by all of them.
The Good
SmartFTP is extremely flexible with regards to the interface, allowing the user full customization of the panels of the main application window.
Automatic backup feature relieves you of this care and takes care of the problem at a definite time interval.
The use of bookmark folders for remote locations surely makes uploading to a specific location faster and with much less hassle.
Double pane view of remote server and local computer give a more pervasive view of the locations involved in the transfer procedure. Also, the support for tabs for both remote and local view comes as a big hand when dealing with multiple locations at once.
Account specific settings permit deeper configuration for transfer performance, speed limits, priority, connection type, integrity check, file compression during transfer, SSL/TLS, proxy or SFTP.
The Bad
URL Watcher did not work in our case, but this can be on account of the beta stage of the application, just like the fact that the client certificate created is not exportable.
The Truth
SmartFTP does a great job with file transferring, making available a myriad of useful options for both advanced and average users. From the moment you launch it, you benefit from guidance and, little by little, you can reach to harness each of its settings.
Learning curve is extremely mild and you will spend more time configuring it rather than learning how to operate it. However, once all is configured you can backup all the data (Favorites, registry settings, Custom Commands, Quick Folders and Transfer Queue) as well as set the software to refresh it at certain time intervals.
The application is vast enough to fit anyone's needs and customizing it is the only process that takes a while longer. There are minor issues with this version which hopefully will be fixed by the time the stable version is released.
For a home user, this is not quite the best solution, as it takes a while to configure and all settings may seem overwhelming. However, a professional will definitely appreciate every piece of SmartFTP and consider the software one of the best clients on the market (save for the minor slips of this version). Bottom line is that SmartFTP is indeed smart, but not perfect, yet well deserving our "Pick" award.
NOTE: The software is in beta stage and normally it should receive the default rating (three stars all the way), but there are very few issues, so it will receive what we think to be a fair rating, considering that a home user does not need all the options available (although they are impressive) as they are more suited for power users and corporate environment, and that the price is a tad steep.
NOTE: The bug that prevented the user from exporting the certificate together with the SSL/TLS key has been fixed. Current version of the application successfully exports the client certificate and the private key to disk.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
