-When you do this, Emacs uses the FTP program to read and write files on
-the specified host. It logs in through FTP using your user name or the
-name @var{user}. It may ask you for a password from time to time; this
-is used for logging in on @var{host}. The form using @var{port} allows
-you to access servers running on a non-default TCP port.
+When you do this, Emacs may use the FTP program to access files on the
+remote host, or Emacs may use a remote-login program (such as
+@command{ssh}, @command{rlogin}, or @command{telnet}) to do this.
+
+You can always specify in the file name which method should be used to
+access the remote files, for example
+@file{/ftp:@var{user}@@@var{host}:@var{filename}} uses FTP, whereas
+@file{/ssh:@var{user}@@@var{host}:@var{filename}} uses @command{ssh}.
+When you don't specify a method in the file name, Emacs determines a
+default method according to the following rules:
+
+@enumerate
+@item
+If the host name starts with @samp{ftp.} (with dot), then Emacs assumes
+the @command{ftp} method.
+@item
+If the user name is @samp{ftp} or @samp{anonymous}, then Emacs assumes
+the @command{ftp} method.
+@item
+Otherwise, Emacs assumes the @command{ssh} method.
+@end enumerate
+
+@noindent
+Remote file access through FTP is handled by the Ange-FTP package, which
+is documented in the following. Remote file access through the other
+methods is handled by the Tramp package, which has its own manual.
+@xref{Top, The Tramp Manual,, tramp, The Tramp Manual}.
+
+When the Ange-FTP package is used, Emacs logs in through FTP using your
+user name or the name @var{user}. It may ask you for a password from
+time to time; this is used for logging in on @var{host}. The form using
+@var{port} allows you to access servers running on a non-default TCP
+port.