By using FTP, you have an automatic backup - If you use FTP you will be editing your files locally on your own computer. As you make changes you will copy files up to your host's computer. This means no matter what happens to your host, even if their computer is totally destroyed, you've got a copy of your site on your own disk. The reverse is also true - if your computer is trashed you can recover your site from your host's system.

FTP gives you control - You can choose whether to transfer in binary (executables and compressed files) or ASCII (text files) as needed. This is an advantage over FrontPage, which does not give you choice. This means you cannot use FrontPage to upload your site if you use, for example, CGI routines.

Some good FTP projects include following.

AceFTP - http://www.visicommedia.com/aceftp/

This FTP client has ability to do multiple tasks at same time. This means you can start a long copy, look at site and copy some smaller files all at same time.

AutoFTPPro - http://www.primasoft.com/32org/32ftpro.htm

Has ability to schedule transfers for selected times. The template feature allows you to create a pattern which can make future transfers much easier.

CuteFTP - http://www.internet-tips.net/Products/cuteftp.html

This is product that I like to use. It is very easy to use, with a simple interface that allows drag and drop.

KnoWare, Inc - http://www.knowareinc.com/

Several different FTP clients. FtpNetdrive maps an FTP site as a drive letter, which integrates it directly into your desktop. Internet Neighborhood adds FTP site directly to your network neighborhood. These are both very nice products.

WebDrive - http://www.riverfrontsoftware.com/

WebDrive is a Windows 95/98/NT FTP software client that allows you to map an Internet FTP site to a local drive utilizing standard FTP protocol. This enables you to connect to an FTP site and perform familiar file operations like copy, xcopy, and directory functions with Windows explorer, a DOS box, or any other application like Microsoft Word, Excel, etc. WebDrive instantly FTP enables any application that reads or writes files by allowing application to read files from or write files to FTP site.

WS_FTPPro - http://www.ipswitch.com/Products/WS_FTP/index.html

Another very nice FTP client with scheduling, speed and integration into browser. This allows you to enter ftp:// in address bar of browser to call up program.

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The MCSA certification requires three core exams and one elective. The certification is actually very well designed, and should serve as a useful guide for employers.

Why change? Well, I think there are a number of reasons. The biggest reason? The terrorist attack and it's effect on economy. My peers and I have seen, in just a month, our budgets disappear, especially for things like upgrades and certifications. My boss put it very well to me last week, "if you have choice between upgrading and laying people off, what are you going to do?" The answer is obvious. At my company, we have postponed upgrading until next year at least, which means we do not need to get certified.

Another big reason is that MCSE's have jobs, and I don't know about you, but I have trouble finding time to take classes and tests to continue certification. It's hard enough just to keep wife happy, write some articles, and maintain job. So certification, testing and learning will wait.

On top of that, Microsoft has been very unsuccessful in trying to force computer industry to upgrade to Windows 2000 and beyond. Yes, my company did install Windows 2000 on all of our laptops, but we've found Windows NT 4.0 works very well on our other servers and workstations. We have no intention or need to upgrade our hundreds of systems for next several years, unless their is a valid business reason.

Even more importantly, even though we may upgrade our systems to Windows 2000, we have no intention of installing Active Directory anytime soon. Why not? This is a huge change and we simply don't want to support it at this time.

Finally, industry backlash on Microsoft has been huge, and power of 400,000+ MCSE's and their supervisors should not be underestimated.

Personally, I am happy that Microsoft has made this change. Now I can concentrate on important issues like polishing our disaster site, upgrading our security measures, ensuring our backups work properly and making our systems work better for our users.