To upload files in a secure manner to MetaLocator, we provide SFTP access to our Enterprise clients. The helpdesk must create SFTP credentials for you upon request. The helpdesk will provide a username, a hostname and a private key. These are shared securely via LastPass.
We cannot share SFTP credentials via email for security reasons.
To connect to the SFTP repository, an SFTP client must be used.
Ensure you have shared the IP address from which your SFTP client will be connecting with MetaLocator. If you see "Connection refused" or similar timeout errors, the MetaLocator team likely does not have or has not whitelisted your IPv4 Address.
To connect to SFTP, a username, host and key are required. No password is used in this setup.
If the host is provided by MetaLocator, it is securetransfer.metalocator.com.
The username and key will be in the instructions provided by your MetaLocator contact.
On the Linux command line, the syntax is:
sftp -i <fullPathToPrivateKey> user@securetransfer.metalocator.com
For Windows, a variety of SFTP clients are available. These instructions use WinSCP. If you have not been provided a PPK file, you must convert the PEM file to the windows PPK format to use WinSCP.
Open WinSCP
Click New Site
Enter the provided hostname and username
Click Advanced, and select Authentication under SSH. Select the Private Key file (PPK).
Click Ok, then Save. No password is provided. Do not supply or enter a password.
Click Login
Secure File Transfer Setup Using WinSCP
This article provides information about establishing a secure file transfer mechanism between select clients and MetaLocator. In summary these are the steps toward that objective:
Receive the private key (.PEM) file usually sent via LastPass.
Download the .PEM file to a local folder
Download and install the WinSCP client
Configure the site within WinSCP
Connect via WinSCP
Receive the private key (.PEM) file via LastPass.
MetaLocator support will send via email an offer to receive your private key through LastPass. Use the accept shared data button to open LastPass. If you have an account with LastPass login or create a new account to accept the share.
Download the .PEM file to a local folder
Right click the .PEM file attachment from within LastPass. Take note of the Hostname and Username for WinSCP. The Password is not used for the connection.
Download and install the WinSCP client
Navigate to WinSCP.net and select your download then install the application.
Configure the site within WinSCP
Create a new site, select SFTP as File Protocol. Input the Hostname and Username from LastPass. The Password is not used.
Select the Advanced tab then choose SSH > Authentication. Locate the .PEM file saved from LastPass. You will likely need to change the file filter to "All Files" (*.*) to show the .PEM extension.
WinSCP will convert the .PEM file into the .PPK format it uses, save that file. Then select the .PPK format for the Private key file.
Connect via WinSCP
Your site is now configured. Use the WinSCP Login button to make the connection.
At this point you may upload and/or download files as necessary.
The filename can remain the same after each upload (E.g. data.csv), or you can provide a time-stamped filename (E.g. data20221022.csv). A time-stamped name is preferrable, as it allows MetaLocator to definitively ignore files it has already processed.
Ensure the file is in UTF-8 CSV format and is ready to directly import into MetaLocator.
Once the data is uploaded, and a schedule is established to regularly update the file, notify MetaLocator that you are ready for our team to configure the SFTP Import.