Deploying website files live

I wasn't sure which board to put this but I know that someone will see it here and comment on it.

When you deploy stuff live how do you do it? I know that you can probably use a build tool like Ant (for Java projects) if you are deploying to a server within the local network. But what if you are deploying dozens of files in seperate folders and in a remote server? I'm sure you do not update each file individually.

I'm insterested in this since I'm a junior web developer and would like to learn the tricks of the trade. We want to ensure that there is minimal (or none at at all) disturbance to the website while we are deploying, right? At work we mainly use ASP and ColdFusion.

Cheers,
Ernie

Ant can also be very useful for non-Java applications.
It can pull from CVS, FTP to and from servers, move-copy-delete files, etc...

By they way, this question would fit better in the General Computing forum.

I'll move it there for you.

Also, since Ben metioned Ant and CVS and stuff, Maven is even better.

Mark

Thanks both of you and for moving the thread to the appropriate forum. Why didn't I think of General computing...anyway

RE:FTP to and from servers:
Wow, i didn't know that Ant can do that, I will RTM more. So far I've been using ant in my JSF apps to copy stuff, create javadocs etc. Ant just keeps on suprprising me everyday. No Maven yet for me then

So how are other people deploying their stuff?

thanks once again.