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url: >-
  /statelake/administering-statelake/designer/transports/inbound-transports/ftp-or-ftp-s-or-sftp-inbound.md
---

# FTP or FTP/s or SFTP (inbound)

A traditional and open protocol, **FTP** is an acronym for **File Transfer Protocol**.

An **FTP Transport** is used to connect to an **FTP** server or service over the internet or local network.

To receive files from the *remote* **FTP** server or service, you configure the **FTP Transport** with the appropriate details to enable you to connect to the *remote* service, so that any files that match your requirements can be retrieved.

The **Inbound Transport** will always activate with a particular **File Connection**, and it is the properties of this **File Connection** that determine the filter for matching files.

The **FTP Transport** can be used to make FTP, FTP/S, and SFTP connections.

While **SFTP** has no relation to the **FTP** protocol technically, it is often confused with **FTP** and for simplicity sake we have combined the two protocols. For **SFTP**, select the button for **SSH Settings**.

## Fields

| Field Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Description | A friendly name for the **FTP Transport**. This is the name that the **Transport** will be known as throughout the configuration. You should enter something meaningful to help you easily recognise the **Transport**. |
| FTP Host | The domain name or IP address of the remote **FTP** server or service. |
| FTP Port | The port that the remote **FTP** service is listening on. A default value will automatically display. |
| User Name | A user name to access and connect to the remote **FTP** server or service. |
| Password | A password for the above user. This will not be displayed on screen. |
| File Directory | The directory on the **FTP** server that will be read from, and will be written into. |
| Control Timeout | Time out period on the **FTP** control channel, in seconds. |
| Transfer Timeout | Time out period on the **FTP** data channel, in seconds. A zero (0) means to wait forever. |
| Secure the data channel when using SSL | This option is only available if **SSL Settings** are saved against this **Transport**. |
| Use clear command channel after SSL authentication | This option is only available if **SSL Settings** are saved against this **Transport**. |
| Use LIST command instead of NLST | Tick this box to use the **LIST** command instead of **NLST**. Some servers return errors when using NLST and no files match the filter.::: infoSelect this option if you are getting errors when downloading and the server has no files. It should not error but simply cancel.::: |
| Use Passive FTP | Uses passive **FTP** connection mode. This is recommended. Untick to use active connections. |
| After download | Select your after download action from the drop-down list of available options. |
| Method | Select either ASCII or BINARY mode for sending data. The default is BINARY which should be attempted as the first choice. |

## Buttons

| Button Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Save | Click to **Save** any changes you have made. All changes will be lost if you do not click the **Save** button. |
| Cancel | Click to **Cancel** any changes you have made. |
| Delete | Click to **Delete** this particular **Transport**. You will be asked to confirm your choice. |
| Test Transport | Click to test the connection to the remote **FTP** service. This is a live test. You need to select the **File Connection** that will be used to filter the files and receive any files into. This will cause the transport to run and download any files that exist on the remote **FTP** service. See below for further details. |
| SSH Settings | Click to edit the SSH settings used when making the connection to the **FTP Transport**. Select this button for **SFTP**. For information regarding this button, please refer to [SSH Settings](/statelake/administering-statelake/designer/transports/ssh-settings). |
| SSL Settings | Click to edit the SSL settings used when making the connection to the **FTP Transport**. Click this button for **TLS**. For information regarding this button, please refer to [SSL Settings (Email Settings)](/statelake/administering-statelake/designer/global-setup/general-setup/email-settings-tab-general-setup/ssl-settings-email-settings) . |

## Test Transport

Once all details have been entered as required, click on this button to test the connection to the remote **FTP** server or service.

You need to select the **File Connection** that will be used to filter the files, and to provide detail of the directories to be used to receive any files into.

::: warning
**Test Transport** is a live test and will cause the transport to run, downloading any files that exist on the remote **FTP** service.
:::

A pop-up **Test Transport** window will appear - select the appropriate **File Connection** from the drop-down list.

Click **Run** to perform the test, and **Cancel** to quit without testing.