How do you optimize and automate sftp and ftps workflows and processes?

1 Why use SSH for SFTP and FTPS?

SSH is a protocol that allows you to establish a secure connection to a remote server or device using a pair of public and private keys. You can use SSH to log in, execute commands, and transfer files over the network. SSH also supports tunneling, which means you can forward other protocols, such as SFTP and FTPS, through the SSH connection. This way, you can benefit from the security and flexibility of SSH while using the features and functionality of SFTP and FTPS.

2 How to set up SSH keys for SFTP and FTPS?

To use SSH for SFTP and FTPS, you need to generate and exchange SSH keys between your local machine and the remote server. SSH keys are files that contain cryptographic information that identify and authenticate you to the server. You can create SSH keys using a command-line tool such as ssh-keygen or a graphical interface such as PuTTYgen. Once you have your keys, you need to copy the public key to the server's authorized_keys file and keep the private key on your machine. This way, you can log in to the server without entering a password every time.

3 How to use SFTP with SSH?

SFTP stands for SSH File Transfer Protocol, which means it is a protocol that uses SSH to transfer files securely. SFTP is similar to FTP, but it has more features and options, such as resuming interrupted transfers, preserving file permissions and attributes, and performing remote file operations. To use SFTP with SSH, you can use a command-line tool such as sftp or a graphical interface such as FileZilla. You can specify the remote server's address, username, and port, and then enter your private key passphrase if needed. You can then browse, upload, download, and manipulate files on the server using SFTP commands or drag-and-drop actions.

4 How to use FTPS with SSH?

FTPS stands for FTP Secure, which means it is a protocol that uses SSL/TLS to encrypt the data and control channels of FTP. FTPS is different from SFTP, as it is an extension of FTP rather than a separate protocol. FTPS can operate in two modes: implicit and explicit. In implicit mode, the encryption is mandatory and starts from the beginning of the connection. In explicit mode, the encryption is optional and negotiated by the client and the server. To use FTPS with SSH, you can use a command-line tool such as lftp or a graphical interface such as WinSCP. You can specify the remote server's address, username, port, and mode, and then enter your password or certificate if needed. You can then browse, upload, download, and manipulate files on the server using FTP commands or drag-and-drop actions.

6 How to optimize SFTP and FTPS with SSH?

To optimize your SFTP and FTPS workflows and processes with SSH, you can employ some tips and tricks to improve the performance, reliability, and security of your file transfers. For instance, you can compress files to reduce size and speed up the transfer, either through your SSH client or server configuration or SFTP or FTPS client or server options. Additionally, you can use parallelism to transfer multiple files or directories at once with tools such as pscp, psftp, or lftp. Checksums are another way to verify the integrity of files and detect any errors or corruption; md5sum, sha1sum, or cksum generate and compare checksums for local and remote files, while the -c option in sftp enables checksum verification. Lastly, you can use encryption algorithms and ciphers that are both fast and secure; the encryption algorithm and cipher can be chosen in your SSH client or server configuration or SFTP or FTPS client or server options. Alternatively, ssh-audit or nmap can be used to test and evaluate the security and performance of your SSH server.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?