Connecting via Cmdline (Mac / Linux)

Overview

Using sftp from terminal isn't as popular as GUI-based SFTP clients, however it does not require the installation of extra software.

Note: connecting via terminal only works for Mac or Linux, as Windows does not have a built-in sftp command.

In order to sftp via terminal, you will need:

• The public IP address of the server.
• The username you will log in as.
• An SSH private key or the password associated with the username.

Open a new terminal window and follow the instructions below.

SSH Key Login

In order to use your private key at the command line, you need to tighten permissions. Run the following command:

chmod 400 <private key file>

(This only needs to be done once)

Log into the SFTP Gateway server by running:

sftp -i <private key file> <username>@<public ip>

You may encounter a warning like this:

Type yes and hit enter.

If your SSH key is passphrase protected, you should see something like:

Enter your passphrase to continue.

If successful, you should see a new prompt that says:

Connected to <public ip>.
sftp>

GIF Demonstration

Password Login

In order to connect to the server with a password, run the following command:

sftp <username>@<public ip>

You may encounter a warning like this:

Type yes and hit enter.

The terminal should then prompt you for a password, like so:

Enter password for <username>
Password:

Enter your password and hit enter.

If successful, you should see a new prompt that says:

Connected to <public ip>.
sftp>

To end your SFTP session, either run exit or press [control + d].

GIF Demonstration

Available Commands

Once connected to the server, you will be able to run SFTP commands:

bye                                Quit sftp
cd path                            Change remote directory to 'path'
chgrp [-h] grp path                Change group of file 'path' to 'grp'
chmod [-h] mode path               Change permissions of file 'path' to 'mode'
chown [-h] own path                Change owner of file 'path' to 'own'
df [-hi] [path]                    Display statistics for current directory or
                                   filesystem containing 'path'
exit                               Quit sftp
get [-afpR] remote [local]         Download file
help                               Display this help text
lcd path                           Change local directory to 'path'
lls [ls-options [path]]            Display local directory listing
lmkdir path                        Create local directory
ln [-s] oldpath newpath            Link remote file (-s for symlink)
lpwd                               Print local working directory
ls [-1afhlnrSt] [path]             Display remote directory listing
lumask umask                       Set local umask to 'umask'
mkdir path                         Create remote directory
progress                           Toggle display of progress meter
put [-afpR] local [remote]         Upload file
pwd                                Display remote working directory
quit                               Quit sftp
reget [-fpR] remote [local]        Resume download file
rename oldpath newpath             Rename remote file
reput [-fpR] local [remote]        Resume upload file
rm path                            Delete remote file
rmdir path                         Remove remote directory
symlink oldpath newpath            Symlink remote file
version                            Show SFTP version
!command                           Execute 'command' in local shell
!                                  Escape to local shell
?                                  Synonym for help

Example: