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 not 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 authenticate using Username & password or logging in as Anonymous.
    • If you choose Anonymous, select an encryption mode from the following list to establish a secure connection to the FTP server:
      • None: The default encryption mode is set to none.
        Note: When existing bots are updated to the new version, their value is set to None by default.
      • Explicit over TLS: In this mode, the client initiates a connection as a standard FTP session and explicitly requests the server upgrade the connection to a secure one using the AUTH TLS command.
      • Explicit over SSL: In this mode, the client initiates a connection as a standard FTP session and explicitly requests the server to upgrade the connection to a secure one using the AUTH SSL command.
      • Implicit: In this mode, the client must create a secure connection with the server before transmitting any data.
    • 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.

      • Encryption mode: Select an encryption mode from the list to securely connect to the FTP server, and encrypt the data transfer between client and server.

    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.