When a user connects using SFTP the remote/target directory must be set on the client side due to the way the SFTP protocol works. This means the end-user must specify the shared folder name in their SFTP script or software.
Please note that the default directory that you can set server-side on a Users profile is effective when using HTTPS, FTP or FTPS however not for SFTP. SFTP softwares will include a field called “Remote default directory” or similar description on their configuration or options pages.
Our best practice when giving out SFTP connection details is to include:
- Hostname
- Username
- Password
- Name of shared folder/remote default directory
This will allow the user to input the remote directory upon initial configuration of their SFTP software.
Scripting with SFTP #
If the user is using a scripted approach, they would need to issue a change directory command before initiating a file transfer command.
For example, You are trying to login to your Hosted~FTP~ account to download a file called “test.txt” in a folder called “article”
Your script will look like this:
>> sftp username@hostname
For example sftp hostedftptutorial@ftp.hostedftp.com
>>Password or the file path if you are using a PKI key pair (more info here).
>> Remote command to change directory “CD remote folder”
For example “cd article”
Then to download the folder, you run the command
>> Get “test.txt”
