Secure File Transfer (sftp)

Secure file transfer (sftp) provides a secure alternative to ftp. You can run sftp interactively, or use it in combination with a batch file for automated, secure file transfer.

Because sftp uses authentication and encryption provided by ssh, a Secure Shell server must be running on the remote computer. Settings for sftp connections are controlled by the ssh client configuration file. For details about these settings, see Client Configuration Keywords. You can also use the -o option to configure settings on the sftp command line. Command line options override configuration file settings.

For detailed information about command line options, see sftp Command Line Options. For an sftp command reference, see Supported sftp Commands.