Fetch for Macintosh:
Using SFTP to upload files to
a server
Quickstart guide
Developed by:
Academic Technology Services & User Support, CIT
atc.cit.cornell.edu
Last updated 10/11/2007
Fetch 5.2
Getting started with Fetch
What is SFTP?
… SFTP (SSH File
Transfer Protocol) is a
way of securely
exchanging files
computers over the
internet.
In order to use Cornell's course web server (formerly known as Instruct1) or
streaming server, you must use SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) to copy
files from your personal computer onto the web server so they can be visible
on the internet. Despite the similarity in name and function, SFTP is a
completely different protocol from FTP. To use SFTP for secure connections,
the server you are connecting to must also support SFTP. The course web
server and streaming servers both support SFTP. Fetch is a MacOSX
application for transferring files with FTP and SFTP.
In order to use SFTP to transfer files to the streaming video server, you must
first have an account on the server.
•
If you do not have an account, fill out the IT Resource Request Form
at http://atcsupport.cit.cornell.edu/itrequest/
Gather Necessary Information
Before proceeding, please collect the following information from your hosting
provider:
1. Address of the host
2. User id or login assigned by provider
3. Password assigned by your hosting provider
4. Name of your directory on the server
Installing Fetch from Bear Access Services
Fetch is provided by Cornell’s Bear Access Services
http://www.cit.cornell.edu/bearaccess/. If you do not currently have Fetch
installed do the following:
1. Go to http://uportal.cornell.edu and click on the Bear Access tab.
2. Under Bear Access/Installers, select Network tools and select Fetch.
3. Follow the installation instructions. You should now see Fetch in your
applications folder
Connecting to an SFTP Server with Fetch
Tip
You must have login
information and the
appropriate permissions
to upload files to a
server.
1. Launch Fetch.
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2. From the Shortcuts menu, select New Shortcut…
Tip
To save the connection
information for easy
access later on, choose
Make Shortcut from the
Shortcut’s pop-up
menu.
Figure 1 Fetch - New Shortcut window
3. Fill out the site details and login information.
The example below is specific for the course webserver or streaming
server using SFTP.
Name: any meaningful name for your shortcut
Kind: Folder
Hostname: courses.cit.cornell.edu (for course web server)
or streaming1.video.cornell.edu (for streaming server)
Username: your netID or login
Connect using: SFTP
Password: enter your password (passwords for the streaming server
and the course web server are not necessarily the same and are
different from your Kerberos/email password).
Path: coursewww/yourdirectory (for course web server)or
/content/courses/yourdirectory/ (for streaming server)
“yourdirectory” refers to the directory name for your account. Check
the documentation that came when your account was created.
4. Click OK
If you are successful you should see confirmation within a few moments.
Note: If you have problems at this point, verify your NetID, password and
directory name.
Overview of the Fetch window.
When you have established a connection between your local computer and an
SFTP site, the Fetch main window displays the files and folders of the remote
site. The server and directory are in the title bar of the window.
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Figure 2 Main Fetch window
•
•
The Get icon means to get or download files from the server.
The Put icon means to put or upload files to the server. These
terms will be explained more fully below.
Navigating the server (remote site)
The files on the remote server are divided among “directories,” which are
equivalent to folders on the Macintosh.
You can change to a different folder in several ways which include:
⇒ Double-click the name of the folder in the item list..
⇒ The Path button on the top of the main window displays a pop-up
menu that lets you go to any folder that contains the current folder.
⇒ The Go menu and the Recent button in the main window each list
folders you have recently visited.
Download files (Get)
There are several ways to get files from the server.
About file names
- Filenames are casesensitive.
- Don't use spaces or “/”
in filenames. Numbers,
and hyphens,
underscores, and
periods are fine.
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⇒ Select the file or folder and click the Get button in the toolbar. If
you have the Fetch Download Preferences set to “Ask every
time,” you will be prompted to navigate to where you want the file
to go. Otherwise, the file(s) will end up in the location specified.
⇒ Select multiple files or folders, click them while holding the
Command or Shift key, and then click the Get button.
⇒ Double-click files or folders.
⇒ Select a file or folder and drag it from the Fetch file list to a
location in the Macintosh Finder.
Note: The files will go to the folder that you have set in the Fetch Preferences
(Download tab). You can set it to “Ask every time” to prompt you to designate
a location on your computer.
.
Figure 3 Fetch Download Preferences
Upload files (Put)
There are several ways to “put” or upload files or folders from your computer
to the server using Fetch.
⇒ Click the Put button in the transfer window toolbar or choose Remote >
Put from the menus. You will be prompted to select a file from your
computer.
⇒ To put multiple files or folders, click the Put toolbar button, and then use
the Shift and Command keys to select multiple files and folders.
⇒ Select a file, files, or folder in the Macintosh Finder and drag them to the
Fetch file list.
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Figure 4 Fetch Put Window
Disconnect and exit
For security, when you are finished transferring files, make sure you end your
session.
1. From the File menu, select Close
2. Quit Fetch
Frequently asked questions
⇒ What if I can’t connect to the server?
o Check to see that you have the host name entered exactly.
o Make sure you are connected to the internet.
o Check to see that you have the host name entered exactly.
o Verify you have the correct user name and password
Assistance
If you have questions, please send an e-mail to: [email protected]
For more information see Fetch Help within the Fetch application.
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