SFTP Exports destinations: common issues and solutions

1. Connection Lost Before Handshake

Issue: "Can't connect to SFTP with given credentials: Connection lost before handshake"

Solution: This error often occurs due to typos in the connection details. Double-check the following:

• Ensure the host address is entered correctly.
• Verify that all credentials (username, password, port) are accurate.
• Confirm that the SFTP server is responsive and accessible.
• Confirm that the path is accessible for the user

2. Handshake Failure Due to Cipher Mismatch

Issue: "Can't connect to SFTP with given credentials: Handshake failed: no matching C->S cipher"

Solution: This error occurs when there's a mismatch between the encryption ciphers supported by Fundraise Up and the server. To resolve this issue, configure the server to use compatible ciphers, such as aes256-cbc

3. Connection Timeout

Issue: "Can't connect to SFTP with given credentials: Timed out while waiting for handshake"

Solution: This error may occur due to network issues or server configuration. Try the following:

• Check your server's network connection and firewall settings.
• Verify that the SFTP server is operational and accessible.

4. FTP vs. SFTP Protocol Mismatch

Issue: Attempting to use FTP credentials for an SFTP connection

Solution: FTP and SFTP are different protocols and typically require different credentials and server configurations:

• Confirm with your provider whether they support SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) or only FTP.
• Obtain separate SFTP credentials if available.
• If the server only supports FTP, consider requesting SFTP support for enhanced security, as Fundraise Up only supports SFTP.

5. Write Stream Error

Error message: "error_put: Write stream error: Unknown status"

Solution: This error may be related to file permissions or path issues. Try the following:

• Verify that the SFTP user has write permissions for the destination directory.
• Ensure there's sufficient disk space on the SFTP server.

General Tips

• Always double-check all SFTP credentials (host, username, password, path, port) before setting up a connection.
• Verify that the SFTP user has the necessary permissions to read/write in the specified directories.
• Try connecting to the SFTP server directly using a client like FileZilla to isolate any issues.
• Add the Fundraise Up IP addresses to your SFTP server's allow list to ensure incoming connections are permitted.
• Ensure your SFTP server settings don't have regional restrictions that might block connections from Fundraise Up's data centers.