FTP Agent

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard network protocol used to copy a file from one server to another over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. The FTP Agent lets you issue commands between your local file system (where the Agent runs) and one or more remote FTP servers and between two remote FTP servers. It is not necessary to install the FTP Agent on the FTP server(s). It can be installed anywhere where it best suits your company. Once the FTP Agent is installed, the connection to the FTP server happens through the Agent via Connection objects. You need a Connection object per FTP server that you want to connect to.

Important!

The FTP Agent replaces the RA FTP Agent. Once you have installed the FTP Agent, you will not need the old RA FTP Agent anymore. It is not possible to run both FTP Agents side-by-side.

Architecture

The diagram below illustrates the architecture of the FTP Agent:

The FTP Agent integration consists of a Java Agent library, third-party (external) libraries and the FTP Agent. Automic Automation communicates with the FTP Agent through the JCP. The FTP Agent communicates with the FTP server(s) and allows the exchange of data in both directions.

Prerequisites to Implement the FTP Agent Integration

Local File System From/To Remote FTP Server

To be able to issue commands between a local file system and a remote FTP server host you must define the following:

  • AnFTP Agent for the local file system

  • An FTP Connection object for the remote FTP server

This diagram illustrates this scenario:

Important!

Even if you are connecting between two FTP servers for which you have defined FTP Agents, you still need to define a Connection object for the remote host.

Two Remote FTP Servers

To be able to issue commands between two remote FTP servers, you must define an FTP Agent and Connection objects for both remote FTP servers.

The FTP Agent issues the commands to both servers. You may use this scenario when you cannot or do not want to install an Agent on either of the servers that you need to issue commands between. This scenario issues commands on both servers for most commands you define for a Job.

This diagram illustrates this scenario:

Important Consideration

To be able to implement (install and configure) and work with the FTP Agent, a sound knowledge of Automic Automation is required.

If you are new to Automic Automation, we strongly recommend that you take the following courses before beginning with this integration:

For all users:

For administrators:

For developers and object designers

This documentation describes how to set up the integration and how to work with FTP Jobs: