Connect action

The Connect action enables you to establish a connection with an FTP/SFTP server that you want to use for automating tasks. This must be the first action you use to automate an FTP/SFTP-related task.

Specify details of the FTP/SFTP server and associate it with a session name. Use the session name provided in this action in the other actions so that you do not have to provide details of the server in those actions.
Note: The proxy setting is currently not supported for FTP/SFTP > Connect action, and therefore, when you establish connections to the FTP server, it does take into consideration the proxy settings configured in the host or Bot Agent.

Procedure

  1. Double-click or drag the Connect action in the FTP/SFTP node in the Actions palette.
  2. In the Server name field, enter the FTP/SFTP server name.
  3. In the Port field, enter the FTP/SFTP server port number.
  4. Use the Server type filed to select one of the following server type:
    Server typeSteps
    FTP Authentication type: You can choose to authenticate by either using Username & password or logging in as Anonymous. If you choose Username & password, complete the following fields:
    • In Username & password, select Credential, variable,or Insecure string.
    • Enter values in the Username and Password fields.

      If you choose to authenticate using the user credentials (username and password), insert a Credential Vault for enhanced security or enter the value directly in the Insecure string field.

    Transfer Mode: Select the transfer mode to be Active or Passive.

    Transfer type: Select the type to be either Binary or ASCII for transferring files between server and client.

    Optional: Enter the default directory path on the FTP server.
    FTP Secure Authentication type: You can choose to authenticate by either using Username & password or logging in as Anonymous. If you choose Username & password, complete the following fields:
    • In Username & password, select Credential, variable,or Insecure string.
    • Enter values in the Username and Password fields.

      If you choose to authenticate using the user credentials (username and password), insert a Credential Vault for enhanced security or enter the value directly in the Insecure string field.

    Secure FTP
    Choose Key and username, Key and credentials, or Credentials to authenticate the user:
    • Key and username: Select the Private Key File from Control Room file, Desktop file, or Variable. To enter the Username, select from the following options:Credential, variable, , and Insecure string.
    • Key and credentials: Select the Private Key File from Control Room file, Desktop file, or Variable. To enter the Username, select from the following options:Credential, variable, , and Insecure string.
    • Note: Ensure that the SFTP server has a corresponding public key file.
    • Credentials: Select Credential , Variable, or Insecure string to enter the value in the Username and Password fields.

      If you choose to authenticate using the user credentials (username and password), insert a Credential Vault for enhanced security or enter the value directly in the Insecure string field.
  5. Optional: Select Reconnect if connection fails check box.
    Use the following drop-down menus to select additional options while reconnecting:
    1. Attempts: Select the number of times the action must attempt to reconnect.
    2. Time between attempts: Select the time lapse between each attempt.
    Note: If the connection fails due to incorrect credentials, the action will not attempt to reconnect.
  6. Select any of the following tabs to create an FTP/SFTP session:
    • Local session: Specify a session name that can be used only in the current bot.
    • Global session: Specify a session name that can be used across multiple bots, such as parent bots and child bots.
      Recommendation: The parent and child bots should have the same package version.
    • Variable: Specify or create a session variable of subtype FTP/SFTP session.
  7. Click Save.