Client Login Area

Hi I have seen in the past design companies have client login area's, I want to create one instead of using an ftp client and anonymous ftp. I'd use it so I can upload/download files to and from clients. Obviously I want to make it web based, I was looking into how php handle's ftp... Would I actually use the ftp for this type of thing? Or would it more simply be along the lines of a MySQL database and a client could login to a php page which displays their files and maybe also an upload button... Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!

if you are not to bothered about using scripts, i found one that may do what you want. its called phpXplorer (http://www.phpexplorer.org/phpXplorer/www/), i have found it very useful and it doesn't require mysql.