SFTP can be used to transfer files larger than 100mb and or provide a more stable connection than you might otherwise get using the File Manager. There are more ways to connect to SFTP than we can name, but we’ll cover a few common ones below.
SFTP Credentials
Regardless of the connection method you use, you’ll need the SFTP credentials provided by the GCP.
Each of your servers have a unique set of credentials, where the connection address is specific to your server’s node, the username is generate from your email/server UUID, and your password is the same as the one you log into the panel with.
You can find your server’s SFTP Credentials under the “System” -> “SFTP Details” tab.
Connecting
FileZilla
FileZilla is a very common GUI application to connect to and visualize SFTP servers. You can use it to connect to your server and upload/download the files on your server from a visualized list similar to a standard file manager.
It can be downloaded directly from the FileZilla Project website by selecting “Download FileZilla Client” and following the steps as prompted by the installer.
With FileZilla downloaded, you’ll need to use your credentials from above to:
- Copy the “Connection Address” field and paste it into the “Host” field of FileZilla.
- Copy the “Username” field and paste it into the “Username” field of FileZilla.
- Enter your GCP Password in the “Password” field of FileZilla and press Quickconnect.
Uploading/Downloading Files
FileZilla
FileZilla can be used to upload and download files from what it calls the Remote Site. The Remote Site is shown on the right side of the client and your local files are shown on the left, allowing you to drag & drop files between the two of them.
You can navigate to the file/folder you want to upload/download on one side of the client, and then drag it from one side to the other. The files that will get transferred as a result will show up in the “Queued files” tab at the bottom of the window.
If you really need to transfer a large amount of small files, or your bandwidth isn’t being fully utilized for multiple large files, you can increase the number of files that FileZilla will transfer at the same time be following the steps below.
Increase transfer count
- Open FileZilla
- Select “Edit” → “Settings” from the menu bar
- Select the “Transfers” option on the left side of the Settings window.
- Under the “Concurrent” tab, change “Maximum simultaneous transfers”
to a value between 1 and 10.
Troubleshooting
FileZilla - Unable to Connect
This error often stems from an incorrect or mismatched password. It should be resolved by changing your service password in the Client Area.