PowerShell: How to Download a File from SFTP

In the Windows ecosystem, the PowerShell scripting language is a powerful tool for automating tasks, and it has been increasingly gaining functionality over the years. One such enhancement is the integration of native OpenSSH client starting with Windows 10, build 1809. This has made working with remote systems like SFTP servers much more straightforward. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to download a file from an SFTP server using PowerShell and the native OpenSSH client.

Introduction to OpenSSH

OpenSSH (Open Secure Shell) is a suite of secure networking utilities based on the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol. It provides secure encrypted communications between two untrusted hosts over an insecure network. In the context of SFTP, OpenSSH provides a secure way to access remote file systems and transfer files. While there are many third-party tools available for this purpose, the advantage of using OpenSSH is that it's a native solution, and it doesn't require the installation of additional software on a Windows 10 system.

Downloading a File from SFTP Server

Here's how you can use PowerShell and OpenSSH to download a file from an SFTP server:

 scp "my-sftp-user@my-sftp-host:/path/to/remote/file" "C:\path\to\local\destination\file"

This script will prompt you to enter your password. After successful authentication, the file transfer will begin. In the above script, replace my-sftp-user , my-sftp-host , /path/to/remote/file , and C:\path\to\local\destination\file with your actual values.

A Note on Security

While the above script is a simple and effective way to download a file from an SFTP server, it does have a limitation - it prompts for a password. This might not be ideal in automated scenarios. To overcome this, you can use key-based authentication, which involves generating a pair of public and private keys and adding the public key to the SFTP server. This is a more secure method and it doesn't require manual password input.

Conclusion

With the native integration of OpenSSH in Windows 10, PowerShell has become an even more powerful tool for system administrators and users who need to interact with remote systems. The ability to download files from an SFTP server using native OpenSSH commands streamlines the process and negates the need for third-party software, making your scripts more portable and easier to maintain. It's a testament to the increasing versatility and functionality of PowerShell in the modern Windows environment.