SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is one secure file protocol used to manage, and transfer files over an encrypted transport connection. In comparison to the traditional FTP protocol, it offers all the functionality in a more secure and easier to configure way.

The lesson guides you on how to connect your cPanel account via SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol or Secure File Transfer Protocol).

SFTP clients generally require the following information to make a connection to the server. Open your SFTP client and configure it with the following information:

1. Hostname — Your server’s hostname (for example, hostname.yourdomain.com)
2. SSH port number — The port number on which sshd listens (for instance, 22)
3. Security — Whether the client combines FTP and SFTP functionality
4. Username — The SSH username that the client uses to connect to the server
5. Password — The SSH user’s password
6. Private Key — The SSH user’s private key

Lets Make This Easier For You,

• In step number six, this is the absolute path to a private key on your local machine (for instance, c:\data\id_dsa)
• In step number four, the username can be a valid cPanel account username or the root user
• Remember, you cannot use your FTP account to connect via SFTP
• SFTP is not just FTP over SSH. Instead, it is an entirely separate protocol
• cPanel users can generate and download a private key via cPanel’s SSH Access interface via cPanel -> Home -> Security -> SSH Access
• The root users can generate and download a private key via WHM’s Manage root’s SSH Keys interface on a dedicated server or VPS via WHM -> Home -> Security Center -> Manage root’s, SSH Keys

Sometimes, you may see a warning that the host of the server is unknown. To cut back on such situations in the future, accept the key and store it on your local machine.