sftp Download tool - Failed Initialization

[Mmisiji60]

Hello, i am pulling data (GET request) from a clients sftp.

The download tool and workflow was working fine for the last 2 months, no changes were made to the workflow nor the download process

suddenly i am getting Error transferring data: Failed initialization   error from the download tool.  I am passing just the url and  user/pass, one file download per run. 

Has anyone found the cause of this?

I am able to access the folder thru filezila just fine with the credentials, just not thru Alteryx.

[Qiu · Accepted solution]

@Mmisiji60 

Most likely your IT changed the security settings according to this post.

https://community.alteryx.com/t5/Alteryx-Designer-Knowledge-Base/Error-transferring-data-failed-init...

[Mmisiji60]

Yes you are right, the server's security was raised and is not matching the download tool security  transfer protocol. I am looking for a workarounds/ substitute for download tool. 

thank you

[CHarrison]

Hi Mmisiji60! Did you find a solution/workaround to this problem yet?

[Plamena10]

Hi, it turned out that my client's encyption was higher than alteryx's and this blocked the connection.

I ended up using a python script in the workflow that would download the files from the SFTP to alteryx server.

[CHarrison]

Hi Plamena10! Thanks for the swift response - any chance you could share an anonymised version of the Python script with me?

[Plamena10]

Sure-  this script is looking for .csv files in folder

Create 2 folders: 

1. for keyfile you will need to create folder both on your local PC and the server if required -in my case i store txt file with  SSH key

2. folder to where the file will be downloaded and (if needed) picked up back into the workflow

hope it helps