Ssh Sftp

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SFTP

Price: KiTTY is free to use. KiTTY is an SSH client that is based on PuTTY’s 0.71 version.

  1. The SSH File Transfer Protocol is a network protocol that provides file access, file transfer, and file management functionalities over SSH. By using SFTP, you can easily change, browse, and edit files on your Raspberry Pi. SFTP is easier to set up than FTP once Raspberry Pi OS has SSH enabled. For security reasons, since the November 2016.
  2. The sftp-server is a standalone binary. The internal-sftp is just a configuration keyword that tells sshd to use the SFTP server code built-into the sshd, instead of running another process (what would typically be the sftp-server). The internal-sftp was added much later (OpenSSH 4.9p1 in 2008?) than the standalone sftp-server binary.
  3. SSH and SFTP With the Admin Security or JITC feature sets enabled, the Secure Shell (SSH) and related Secure Shell File Transfer (SFTP) protocols provide for the secure transfer of audit files and for the secure transfer of management traffic across the wancom0 interface.

SFTP is the Secure (or SSH) File TransferProtocol.

The SFTP backend can be used with a number of different providers:

  • C14
  • rsync.net

SFTP runs over SSH v2 and is installed as standard with most modernSSH installations.

Paths are specified as remote:path. If the path does not begin witha / it is relative to the home directory of the user. An empty pathremote: refers to the user's home directory.

'Note that some SFTP servers will need the leading / - Synology is agood example of this. rsync.net, on the other hand, requires users toOMIT the leading /.

Here is an example of making an SFTP configuration. First run

This will guide you through an interactive setup process.

This remote is called remote and can now be used like this:

See all directories in the home directory

Make a new directory

List the contents of a directory

Sync /home/local/directory to the remote directory, deleting anyexcess files in the directory.

SSH Authentication

The SFTP remote supports three authentication methods:

  • Password
  • Key file, including certificate signed keys
  • ssh-agent

Key files should be PEM-encoded private key files. For instance /home/$USER/.ssh/id_rsa.Only unencrypted OpenSSH or PEM encrypted files are supported.

The key file can be specified in either an external file (key_file) or contained within therclone config file (key_pem). If using key_pem in the config file, the entry should be on asingle line with new line ('n' or 'rn') separating lines. i.e.

key_pem = -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----nMaMbaIXtEn0gAMbMbaSsdnMbaassn-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----

This will generate it correctly for key_pem for use in the config:

If you don't specify pass, key_file, or key_pem then rclone will attempt to contact an ssh-agent.

You can also specify key_use_agent to force the usage of an ssh-agent. In this casekey_file or key_pem can also be specified to force the usage of a specific key in the ssh-agent.

Using an ssh-agent is the only way to load encrypted OpenSSH keys at the moment.

If you set the --sftp-ask-password option, rclone will prompt for apassword when needed and no password has been configured.

If you have a certificate then you can provide the path to the public key that contains the certificate. For example:

If you concatenate a cert with a private key then you can specify themerged file in both places.

Note: the cert must come first in the file. e.g.

Host key validation

By default rclone will not check the server's host key for validation. Thiscan allow an attacker to replace a server with their own and if you usepassword authentication then this can lead to that password being exposed.

Host key matching, using standard known_hosts files can be turned on byenabling the known_hosts_file option. This can point to the file maintainedby OpenSSH or can point to a unique file.

e.g.

There are some limitations:

  • rclone will not manage this file for you. If the key is missing orwrong then the connection will be refused.
  • If the server is set up for a certificate host key then the entry inthe known_hosts file must be the @cert-authority entry for the CA
  • Unlike OpenSSH, the libraries used by rclone do not permit (at timeof writing) multiple host keys to be listed for a server. Only the firstentry is used.

If the host key provided by the server does not match the one in thefile (or is missing) then the connection will be aborted and an errorreturned such as

or

If you see an error such as

then it is likely the server has presented a CA signed host certificateand you will need to add the appropriate @cert-authority entry.

The known_hosts_file setting can be set during rclone config as anadvanced option.

ssh-agent on macOS

Note that there seem to be various problems with using an ssh-agent onmacOS due to recent changes in the OS. The most effective work-aroundseems to be to start an ssh-agent in each session, e.g.

Ssh Sftp Linux

And then at the end of the session

These commands can be used in scripts of course.

Modified time

Modified times are stored on the server to 1 second precision.

Modified times are used in syncing and are fully supported.

Some SFTP servers disable setting/modifying the file modification time afterupload (for example, certain configurations of ProFTPd with mod_sftp). If youare using one of these servers, you can set the option set_modtime = false inyour RClone backend configuration to disable this behaviour.

Ssh/sftp Access

Standard Options

Here are the standard options specific to sftp (SSH/SFTP Connection).

--sftp-host

SSH host to connect to

  • Config: host
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_HOST
  • Type: string
  • Default: '
  • Examples:
    • 'example.com'
      • Connect to example.com

--sftp-user

SSH username, leave blank for current username, $USER

  • Config: user
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_USER
  • Type: string
  • Default: '

--sftp-port

SSH port, leave blank to use default (22)

  • Config: port
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_PORT
  • Type: string
  • Default: '

--sftp-pass

SSH password, leave blank to use ssh-agent.

NB Input to this must be obscured - see rclone obscure.

  • Config: pass
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_PASS
  • Type: string
  • Default: '

--sftp-key-pem

Raw PEM-encoded private key, If specified, will override key_file parameter.

  • Config: key_pem
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_KEY_PEM
  • Type: string
  • Default: '

--sftp-key-file

Path to PEM-encoded private key file, leave blank or set key-use-agent to use ssh-agent.

Leading ~ will be expanded in the file name as will environment variables such as ${RCLONE_CONFIG_DIR}.

  • Config: key_file
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_KEY_FILE
  • Type: string
  • Default: '

--sftp-key-file-pass

The passphrase to decrypt the PEM-encoded private key file.

Only PEM encrypted key files (old OpenSSH format) are supported. Encrypted keysin the new OpenSSH format can't be used.

NB Input to this must be obscured - see rclone obscure.

  • Config: key_file_pass
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_KEY_FILE_PASS
  • Type: string
  • Default: '

--sftp-pubkey-file

Windows

Optional path to public key file.

Set this if you have a signed certificate you want to use for authentication.

Leading ~ will be expanded in the file name as will environment variables such as ${RCLONE_CONFIG_DIR}.

  • Config: pubkey_file
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_PUBKEY_FILE
  • Type: string
  • Default: '
Ssh

--sftp-key-use-agent

When set forces the usage of the ssh-agent.

When key-file is also set, the '.pub' file of the specified key-file is read and only the associated key isrequested from the ssh-agent. This allows to avoid Too many authentication failures for *username* errorswhen the ssh-agent contains many keys.

  • Config: key_use_agent
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_KEY_USE_AGENT
  • Type: bool
  • Default: false

--sftp-use-insecure-cipher

Enable the use of insecure ciphers and key exchange methods.

This enables the use of the following insecure ciphers and key exchange methods:

  • aes128-cbc
  • aes192-cbc
  • aes256-cbc
  • 3des-cbc
  • diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256
  • diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1

Those algorithms are insecure and may allow plaintext data to be recovered by an attacker.

  • Config: use_insecure_cipher
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_USE_INSECURE_CIPHER
  • Type: bool
  • Default: false
  • Examples:
    • 'false'
      • Use default Cipher list.
    • 'true'
      • Enables the use of the aes128-cbc cipher and diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256, diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1 key exchange.

--sftp-disable-hashcheck

Disable the execution of SSH commands to determine if remote file hashing is available.Leave blank or set to false to enable hashing (recommended), set to true to disable hashing.

  • Config: disable_hashcheck
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_DISABLE_HASHCHECK
  • Type: bool
  • Default: false

Advanced Options

Here are the advanced options specific to sftp (SSH/SFTP Connection).

--sftp-known-hosts-file

Optional path to known_hosts file.

Set this value to enable server host key validation.

Leading ~ will be expanded in the file name as will environment variables such as ${RCLONE_CONFIG_DIR}.

  • Config: known_hosts_file
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_KNOWN_HOSTS_FILE
  • Type: string
  • Default: '
  • Examples:
    • '~/.ssh/known_hosts'
      • Use OpenSSH's known_hosts file

--sftp-ask-password

Allow asking for SFTP password when needed.

If this is set and no password is supplied then rclone will:

  • ask for a password

  • not contact the ssh agent

  • Config: ask_password

  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_ASK_PASSWORD

  • Type: bool

  • Default: false

--sftp-path-override

Override path used by SSH connection.

This allows checksum calculation when SFTP and SSH paths aredifferent. This issue affects among others Synology NAS boxes.

Shared folders can be found in directories representing volumes

Home directory can be found in a shared folder called 'home'

  • Config: path_override
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_PATH_OVERRIDE
  • Type: string
  • Default: '
Ssh

--sftp-set-modtime

Set the modified time on the remote if set.

  • Config: set_modtime
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_SET_MODTIME
  • Type: bool
  • Default: true

--sftp-md5sum-command

The command used to read md5 hashes. Leave blank for autodetect.

  • Config: md5sum_command
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_MD5SUM_COMMAND
  • Type: string
  • Default: '

--sftp-sha1sum-command

The command used to read sha1 hashes. Leave blank for autodetect.

  • Config: sha1sum_command
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_SHA1SUM_COMMAND
  • Type: string
  • Default: '

--sftp-skip-links

Set to skip any symlinks and any other non regular files.

  • Config: skip_links
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_SKIP_LINKS
  • Type: bool
  • Default: false

--sftp-subsystem

Specifies the SSH2 subsystem on the remote host.

  • Config: subsystem
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_SUBSYSTEM
  • Type: string
  • Default: 'sftp'

--sftp-server-command

Specifies the path or command to run a sftp server on the remote host.

The subsystem option is ignored when server_command is defined.

  • Config: server_command
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_SERVER_COMMAND
  • Type: string
  • Default: '

--sftp-use-fstat

If set use fstat instead of stat

Some servers limit the amount of open files and calling Stat after openingthe file will throw an error from the server. Setting this flag will callFstat instead of Stat which is called on an already open file handle.

It has been found that this helps with IBM Sterling SFTP servers which have'extractability' level set to 1 which means only 1 file can be opened atany given time.

  • Config: use_fstat
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_USE_FSTAT
  • Type: bool
  • Default: false

--sftp-disable-concurrent-reads

If set don't use concurrent reads

Normally concurrent reads are safe to use and not using them willdegrade performance, so this option is disabled by default.

Some servers limit the amount number of times a file can bedownloaded. Using concurrent reads can trigger this limit, so if youhave a server which returns

Ssh Sftp Client

Then you may need to enable this flag.

If concurrent reads are disabled, the use_fstat option is ignored.

  • Config: disable_concurrent_reads
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_DISABLE_CONCURRENT_READS
  • Type: bool
  • Default: false

--sftp-idle-timeout

Max time before closing idle connections

If no connections have been returned to the connection pool in the timegiven, rclone will empty the connection pool.

Set to 0 to keep connections indefinitely.

  • Config: idle_timeout
  • Env Var: RCLONE_SFTP_IDLE_TIMEOUT
  • Type: Duration
  • Default: 1m0s

Limitations

Ssh Sftp Commands

SFTP supports checksums if the same login has shell access and md5sumor sha1sum as well as echo are in the remote's PATH.This remote checksumming (file hashing) is recommended and enabled by default.Disabling the checksumming may be required if you are connecting to SFTP serverswhich are not under your control, and to which the execution of remote commandsis prohibited. Set the configuration option disable_hashcheck to true todisable checksumming.

SFTP also supports about if the same login has shellaccess and df are in the remote's PATH. about willreturn the total space, free space, and used space on the remotefor the disk of the specified path on the remote or, if not set,the disk of the root on the remote.about will fail if it does not have shellaccess or if df is not in the remote's PATH.

Note that some SFTP servers (e.g. Synology) the paths are different forSSH and SFTP so the hashes can't be calculated properly. For themusing disable_hashcheck is a good idea.

The only ssh agent supported under Windows is Putty's pageant.

The Go SSH library disables the use of the aes128-cbc cipher bydefault, due to security concerns. This can be re-enabled on aper-connection basis by setting the use_insecure_cipher setting inthe configuration file to true. Further details on the insecurity ofthis cipher can be foundin this paper.

SFTP isn't supported under plan9 until thisissue is fixed.

Note that since SFTP isn't HTTP based the following flags don't workwith it: --dump-headers, --dump-bodies, --dump-auth

Note that --timeout isn't supported (but --contimeout is).

C14

Power Automate Sftp Ssh

C14 is supported through the SFTP backend.

See C14's documentation

Difference Between Sftp And Ssh

rsync.net

rsync.net is supported through the SFTP backend.

Sftp Ssh Key Authentication

See rsync.net's documentation of rclone examples.