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In WordPress version 2.7 and 2.8, you’ve probably noticed a new feature built into WordPress…FTP updates of plugins.   It’s a great new feature and does add a layer of security to the whole process.  In the past, you would have to chmod your directories to 777 for this to happen.

Now by providing FTP credentials, you can automatically update your plugins safely and securely.  And there are those that worry about the security of storing your FTP password in the config files.  Well the fact is your database password is already stored in that same file.  In addition, if you think about it, if you had to type your username/password each time into your web-browser, that info is being sent over the net already anyways.

Besides, the FTP method is much more secure on shared servers than using chmod 777 on everything in sight.  FTP updates/updating seems to be the way of the future as opposed to using chmod 777, apps like Joomla have already adopted this method.

There is one catch though, if you don’t have passwords and forms saved in your browser, WordPress will ask you for your FTP login credentials every time.  If you manage alot of WordPress sites, this can get annoying very quickly.

Thankfully, there’s a simple solution which will save the FTP login (username/password/server) so WordPress stops asking you for them.  Here’s how you do it.

1.  Locate your WordPress root diectory and find the “wp-config.php” file.

2.  Edit the file and insert this somewhere in the middle as it’s own block, we normally put it after the mysql username/password block.

/*** FTP login settings ***/
define("FTP_HOST", "localhost");
define("FTP_USER", "yourftpusername");
define("FTP_PASS", "yourftppassword");

Of course you'll want to change "yourftpusername" and "yourftppassword" to the actual FTP usernames/passwords for your site.

Once you’ve made that edit, save the file and voila!  No more punching in your ftp username and password all the time.

Tags: wordpress ftp, wordpress tips