Differences between file server and Ftp server

Differentiating between FTP Servers and File Servers

• A file server, is part of a local area network (LAN) that act as a shared hard drive on the operating system level.
  
• File servers are usually physical servers within an enterprise that are only to be accessed from within the business' own internal network. 
• This is contrary to an FTP server, which can essentially be accessed from any computer in the world that is connected to the Internet, which is a Wide Area Network (WAN). WANs are public, LANs are private.The only exception is in the case of a VPN, which would allow a user to log into the business' internal network from outside by way of a more secure connection.

• Another major difference between FTP servers and file servers comes down to how they're used to accomplish two similar (but different) goals. A file server is typically accessed from the operating system level on a computer. 
• An FTP server, on the other hand, is accessed via the application layer using a very specific type of program called an FTP client. 
• Because FTP servers are designed to be accessed from a WAN, outside of the confines of a business' private network, they also often include a wide range of provisions to prevent against external threats. 
• High levels of encryption are often employed, for example, to make sure that nobody could access sensitive data even if the server itself was compromised for whatever reason. Because file servers are designed to be accessed internally, different considerations are usually taken.

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  Function

  
  
  • File servers store data for an entire network, just as an individual computer's hard drive stores data for that individual computer. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) servers run an FTP application to exchange files over the Internet, which is the world's largest network.
    

  Similarities

  • File serving and FTP serving are both networking methods that involve file transfer between computers. FTP servers need to work together with file servers in order to function. In a network using FTP, file servers store data while FTP servers transmit that data over the Internet, with both being necessary for file transfer to occur.
    

  Differences

  • FTP servers download files from or upload files to file servers. FTP servers move files to and from file server locations. FTP servers require file servers, but file servers do not require FTP servers, since file servers also serve various intranet networks not connected to the Internet.