Generate/SecureFXsysicon.jpg  Establish a Secure Connection using SSH1


The FTP protocol uses two separate channels for data transfer. The control channel is used to transmit the user logon information and the FTP commands. The data channel is used to transmit the actual file data.

SecureFX can only encrypt both the control and data channels if it is connected to an SSH2 [The second version of the SSH protocol which provides a way to encrypt network traffic between a client and a server, with a slightly different set of security features (including SFTP) than the SSH1 protocol provides.] server. If only an SSH1 server is available, the control channel can be encrypted by combining SecureFX with VanDyke Software's SecureCRT®. This protects the user logon information. Files and directory listings transferred on the FTP data channel, however, will not be encrypted. This combination uses the port forwarding [The concept of connecting a logical port on a local machine to a port on a remote machine over a secure (encrypted) channel. All requests for services sent to the local port are then forwarded across the secure channel to the corresponding port on the remote machine.] capabilities of SecureCRT to encrypt the control channel.

Below is a diagram that depicts the connections between servers and which channel or connection is or is not encrypted.

Before setting up port forwarding for the first time, review the topic "Port Forwarding in SecureCRT" in SecureCRT's online help. Also, make sure that you can successfully connect to the target FTP server using a normal session profile.

Note: Firewalls and proxies are not supported in this configuration. Also, some FTP servers do not support this type of connection for security reasons.

For up-to-date instruction on how to combine SecureCRT with SecureFX please refer to the following URL on our website:

https://www.vandyke.com/support/securefx/faq.html

If you do not have web access, send email to SecureFX-support@vandyke.com for instructions.

SecureCRT is available for download at:

https://www.vandyke.com/download/securecrt/index.html