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How to Transfer Files to Instances With FileZilla

Validated on 24 July 2023 - Last edited on 24 July 2023

You can transfer files from a local computer to a Instance using a variety of different protocols and file transfer clients. We recommend using SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) with FileZilla because it is a free, open source, cross-platform tool with a user interface that supports newer users. If you are comfortable using the command line, you can also use tools like rsync and OpenSSH sftp and scp. This tutorial will walk you through the initial installation of FileZilla and how to transfer files to your Instance using an SSH connection.

For security, we recommend using SSH keys with SFTP. If you are not already using SSH keys to connect to your Instance, set them up using How-to Add SSH Keys to New or Existing Instances.

Install FileZilla

On the machine from which you want to transfer files, download and install FileZilla. Choose the version for your operating system.

On Debian-based Linux distributions, like Ubuntu, you can alternatively install FileZilla using the APT package manager:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install filezilla

Configure FileZilla

After you install FileZilla, you need to configure it to connect to the Instance.

Open FileZilla and then click Settings in the Edit drop-down menu.

In the Connection section, click SFTP. This is where you add your Instance private SSH key. Click Add key file�, then locate your Instances private SSH key on your local machine. If FileZilla prompts you to convert the file into a supported format, click Yes.

Configure FileZilla

After you add the SSH key, open the File drop-down menu and click Site Manager. The site manager lets you add, remove, and manage servers and devices that you want to connect to using FileZilla.

Click New Site and enter the name of the Instance. In the protocol field, select SFTP from the drop-down menu. Enter information for the following fields:

  • Host: The IP address of your Instance.
  • Port: Enter the port you use to connect to the Instance (port 22 is the default).
  • Logon Type: Select Interactive.
  • User: Enter the username you are connecting to the Instance with (root is the default user on most Instances).

Configure FileZilla

Once you have entered your settings, click Connect. The status field in the top window displays the status of the connection.

Transfer Files with FileZilla

Once connected to the Instance, use the Local site windows to navigate the directories of your local machine and locate the files you want to upload. Right-click the file you want to transfer to the Instance, then click Upload.

Transfer Files with FileZilla

To transfer files from the Instance to your local machine, use the Remote site windows to navigate the directories of your Instance and locate the files you want to download to your local machine. Right-click the file you want to transfer from the Instance, then click Download.