topic Re: SFTP Connection Refused in SAS Enterprise Guide

SFTP Connection Refused

sun538 — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 14:46:19 GMT

We recently set up SFTP share for our team and tested the connection using windows PowerShell and it works properly (we can transfer the file). However, when we want to do SFTP sharing via SAS, it fails. Following is the code we use:

filename outfile sftp 'Transactions.csv' 
CD ='\\.....\folder\Transactions.csv' 
host="corpsftp.xxxxxx.com" 
user="xxxxxx"  
optionsx='-pw "xxxxx"'
DEBUG  ;

PROC EXPORT Data = TRAN_Final /* This is the dataset name */ 
OUTFILE= outfile 
DBMS=csv 
REPLACE;
Run;

However, we get the following error:

"Connection refused, check key authentication and sshd server status."

Since we are sure that connection works properly, can you please advise what causes this error to happen? Thank you.

Re: SFTP Connection Refused

Kurt_Bremser — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 14:56:52 GMT

You cannot supply a password to sftp via commandline (for security reasons). You must set up passwordless authentication with public/private keypairs first.

Re: SFTP Connection Refused

sun538 — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 17:52:07 GMT

Hi, Thank you for your response. Can you please advise where this private/public key should be created?

Re: SFTP Connection Refused

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 21:00:00 GMT

Depending on which software you have installed, this can help:

https://help.krystal.uk/cpanel-advanced-topics/how-to-use-public-private-keys-for-ssh-and-sftp-windows

You create a public/private keypair, install the public key in your .ssh subdirectory on the server, and the private key in your Windows client. The goal is to only supply the username and host to log in to the server from the commandline.

Your server/network admins should be able to assist you.

Re: SFTP Connection Refused

Sajid01 — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 14:11:25 GMT

Hello
The error is an indicator of an invalid key or sshd daemon not running on the server.
Please make sure that the same approach is being used in SAS as that in the Powershell script i.e. username/password OR private/Public key for authentication.
The following is an helpful SAS document, please do read if you have not done already.
https://support.sas.com/content/dam/SAS/support/en/technical-papers/configuring-ssh-client-software.pdf