Couchdrop provides a public host key that can be used to verify the authenticity of the endpoint you are connecting to. This key is static and we do not expect it to change in the future.

The host key for all Couchdrop endpoints

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Couchdrop acts as an SFTP server out of the box and supports thousands of users in a single tenant and Petabytes of data through our cloud storage integrations.

Introduction to SFTP

Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is a secure and reliable method of transferring files between systems over a network. Unlike traditional FTP, which sends data in plain text, SFTP encrypts both authentication credentials and file data using the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol. This ensures that sensitive information remains protected during transit.

SFTP in Couchdrop

Couchdrop gives you SFTP without the servers. In minutes, you can spin up secure, cloud-hosted SFTP endpoints that connect directly to your existing storage like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or S3. Your partners still use SFTP exactly as they always have — but you get cloud-native flexibility, enterprise-grade security, and zero infrastructure to manage. It’s the simplest way to modernize SFTP

Getting Started with Couchdrop

Inbound SFTP is enabled by default in Couchdrop accounts - but you will need to configure SFTP users for access.

Accessing Couchdrop via SFTP requires a user account. Inbound SFTP users are independent from Administrators in Couchdrop and are designed to have limited access.

We do not recommend using your owner account as they have elevated permissions to Couchdrop and generally SFTP users are shared with external systems and providers.

User Management in Couchdrop

Creating a new User

Creating a new Inbound SFTP user is done in the management dashboard from Couchdrop and is a simple two step process.

Requirements

To create a new user - you will need:

• A username and password - the username needs to be unique in Couchdrop.

• A folder location where that user will be isolated to.

• Administrator access to your Couchdrop tenant

Configuration Steps

Login to Couchdrop at -

1. From the dashboard - click "+ Create" and then choose SFTP User

2. Follow the wizard to create your new user

3. Share the newly created user with your end customer

You can see who has access directly in the Couchdrop SFTP section from the web app.

Introduction

Traditional SFTP and FTP servers use local storage and most cloud hosted SFTP servers provide some level of storage. Couchdrop is a bit different in this regard. Rather than including storage that is on disk, Couchdrop connects to your storage platform.

We support over 30 different cloud storage engines, including:

• Dropbox

• SharePoint

• Google Drive

• Amazon S3

• Backblaze B2

• Wasabi

• Azure Files

• External SFTP and FTP servers

• Microsoft Windows File Servers

This means that you can bring your own storage to Couchdrop and use SFTP on top of your existing collection of folders and documents.

We do offer storage, but we are using Amazon S3 buckets to store that data. Meaning that you benefit from the amazing reliability and security of Amazon S3 without having to worry about the config.

Connecting Storage to Couchdrop

Learn about connecting Cloud Storage:

Connecting to Couchdrop with a SFTP client is simple. To get started, you will need:

• A username and password or

• A username and key

• The hostname for your Couchdrop POP. This can be found by clicking Connect

• A SFTP client or platform/software that supports SFTP.

General Connection Details

Couchdrop uses the default ports for SFTP and a unique hostname for your tenant.

Common Clients

Couchdrop SFTP has native support for all SFTP clients. SFTP is a mature protocol - if you are looking for a client to test or use - below are some great options that are well supported.