Transferring files using OpenSSH
Transferring files using OpenSSH on Windows
Supported Clients:
| Download Client Softwares | OS Platform | AWS User Guide |
| FileZilla | Windows, Macintosh, and Linux | Use FileZilla |
| WinSCP | Microsoft Windows only | Use WinSCP |
| OpenSSH | Macintosh and Linux | Use OpenSSH |
FileZilla is the preferred client, but if that doesn’t work on your computer, the other 2 are options.
Notes:
- Please download and install one of the clients We will be using OpenSSH in this document.
- Your SFTP server credential requires either a password or key-based You can use either.
- To keep these credentials secure, we are sending the details via a password manager name “LastPass”.
- While your computer maybe Windows, Mac, or Linux based, the example below should look the same or similar.
In this example, we’ll be using OpenSSH on Windows to transfer files.
Install OpenSSH Client in Windows 10/11
There are two separate components of OpenSSH in Windows – an SSH client and an SSH server. Microsoft implemented both in Windows using OpenSSH Client and OpenSSH Server respectively.
And there are also two main methods to install and uninstall these components in Windows but we choose method 1 as the easiest way to install the OpenSSH.
The OpenSSH Client feature is installed by default in higher-end versions of Windows like Windows 11.
Method 1: Install OpenSSH using Windows Settings
To install OpenSSH Client, let’s first use the more modern approach – Windows Settings.
1.) Click the Start button, then click Settings and go to Apps -> Optional features
2.) On the right, click View features button, scan the list to see if the OpenSSH is already installed. If not, at the top of the page in the Add an optional feature, then: Find OpenSSH, the result will found 2 features, but only select OpenSSH Client.
3.) Click Next and hit Install button.
4.) Wait until the OpenSSH Client app install and complete. Restart your computer, and double check if OpenSSH Client found in the “Installed features”
Connect to SFTP Server
SFTP commands using an OpenSSH client
1.) Create an SFTP connection Create an SFTP connection
Command: sftp -i <private key> username@endpoint
2.) Display the remote working directory (Command: ls –alt)
3.) Display the local working directory (Command: lls –alt)
Change local working directory (Command: lcd “new local path”)
Upload a single file (Command: put “filename”)
