SFTP Connection Setup Guide

This guide provides instructions for establishing a secure SFTP connection with Paytient for automated data file transfers between your system and the Paytient platform.

Overview

Paytient supports SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) for exchanging data files with external systems and partners.

Prerequisites

Before setting up the SFTP connection, ensure you have:

• check_circle Received SFTP credentials from Paytient
• check_circle Network access to port 22 (SSH/SFTP)

Connection Details

Your SFTP connection will use the following parameters:

Parameter	Value
Hostname	sftp.paytient.com
Port	22
Protocol	SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)
Authentication	SSH Key Authentication
Username	Provided by Paytient (typically your organization identifier)

info

Your specific username and SSH key will be provided by your Paytient implementation contact.

SSH Key Authentication

Paytient uses SSH key-based authentication for enhanced security. This method is more secure than password authentication and is required for all SFTP connections.

Paytient will provide you with:

• SSH Private Key: Keep this secure and never share it
• SSH Public Key: Already registered with Paytient's SFTP server
• Username: Your unique identifier for the SFTP connection

File Transfer Locations

Files should be uploaded to your designated directory on the SFTP server. Your specific directory path will be provided during implementation.

Example Directory Structure:

sftp.paytient.com/
└── [your_organization_identifier]/

Directory Structure

Your specific directory path will be provided by your Paytient implementation contact.

Troubleshooting

Connection Refused

Problem: Unable to connect to sftp.paytient.com

Solutions:

• Verify port 22 is not blocked by your firewall
• Confirm you're using the correct hostname
• Check your network connectivity
• Ensure SFTP protocol (not FTP) is selected

Permission Denied (publickey)

Problem: Authentication fails with "Permission denied (publickey)"

Solutions:

• Verify you're using the correct SSH private key
• Check file permissions on your private key (should be 600 on Unix systems)
• Confirm your username is correct
• Ensure the key file is not corrupted

Host Key Verification Failed

Problem: "Host key verification failed" error

Solutions:

• Add the host to your known hosts:

  ssh-keyscan -H sftp.paytient.com >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts

• Or accept the host key when prompted on first connection

File Upload/Download Errors

Problem: Cannot upload or download files

Solutions:

• Verify you're in the correct directory
• Check file permissions in your local system
• Ensure you have sufficient disk space

Security Best Practices

• shield Never share your private SSH key with anyone, including Paytient staff
• shield Store keys securely with appropriate file system permissions
• shield Use encrypted storage for any automated systems storing SSH keys
• shield Rotate keys periodically according to your security policies
• shield Monitor access logs for unauthorized connection attempts
• shield Restrict key access to only systems that need it

Getting Help

If you encounter issues or need assistance:

1. Check this documentation for common solutions
2. Review error messages carefully - they often contain specific guidance
3. Contact your Paytient implementation contact with:
   • Your username
   • Timestamp of the issue
   • Full error messages
   • Steps you've already tried

File Format Specifications

For detailed information about file formats, field specifications, and data requirements, please refer to your Data Transfer Specification (DTS) document provided by your Paytient implementation team.