Configuring SFTP Adapters in SAP CPI (Cloud Platform Integration)
Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is a widely used protocol for securely transferring files over a network. In SAP Cloud Platform Integration (SAP CPI), SFTP adapters enable seamless and secure file exchange between SAP CPI and external systems or partners. Whether your integration scenario requires receiving files from or sending files to external SFTP servers, configuring the SFTP adapter correctly is crucial for secure and reliable communication.
This article provides a detailed introduction to configuring SFTP adapters in SAP CPI, outlining the key steps, configurations, and best practices.
SAP CPI supports both SFTP sender and SFTP receiver adapters:
- SFTP Sender Adapter: Polls files from an external SFTP server and triggers integration flows when new files arrive.
- SFTP Receiver Adapter: Sends files from SAP CPI to a remote SFTP server.
The adapters support various authentication methods, directory polling, file naming conventions, and error handling features.
- Access to the target SFTP server with valid credentials.
- Required permissions on the SFTP server (read/write depending on scenario).
- Public/Private key pairs if using key-based authentication.
- Access to SAP CPI tenant with sufficient authorizations to create and deploy integration flows.
- In the SAP CPI Web UI (Integration Suite), create a new iFlow or open an existing one where you want to configure the SFTP adapter.
- Drag the SFTP sender or SFTP receiver adapter from the adapter palette into the respective sender or receiver position in your integration process.
- Remote Directory: Specify the folder path on the SFTP server.
- File Name Pattern: Define a pattern (e.g.,
*.xml or data_*.csv) for file filtering.
- Move or Delete Processed Files: Choose whether to delete or move files to a different directory after processing (for sender adapter).
- Polling Interval (Sender Adapter): Set how often the adapter polls the remote directory for new files.
- Compression: Enable compression if supported by your scenario.
- Timeouts: Define connection and read timeouts.
- Retries: Set the number of retry attempts on failure.
- Proxy Settings: Configure proxy details if your network requires it.
- Use the test function in the adapter configuration to verify connectivity with the SFTP server.
¶ 7. Map and Process Data
- Add content modifiers, mappings, and other processing steps as needed between sender and receiver adapters.
¶ 8. Deploy and Monitor
- Deploy the integration flow and monitor message processing via the Operations View to ensure files are picked up or delivered as expected.
- Prefer Key-Based Authentication: It is more secure than password authentication and recommended for production scenarios.
- Use Specific File Patterns: Prevent unintended file processing by specifying precise file name patterns.
- Implement Error Handling: Include exception subprocesses to handle connection issues or file processing failures gracefully.
- Secure Private Keys: Store private keys securely and restrict access within SAP CPI.
- Monitor Polling Frequency: Avoid setting too frequent polling intervals to reduce server load.
- Test in Development: Always test configurations in a non-production environment before moving to production.
SFTP adapters in SAP CPI provide a secure, reliable way to exchange files between cloud integrations and external systems. Proper configuration ensures smooth file transfer operations and helps maintain data security and integrity. By following the outlined steps and best practices, integration specialists can effectively leverage SFTP in their SAP CPI integration scenarios.