Using SAP PI/PO as SFTP server

[prasanna_vittal]

Our client is replacing their existing middleware with SAP PO. One of the things they are missing out is that middleware's capability to double up as an FTP service. In their landscape, they have some systems that are directly uploading the files into the middleware. Now that we will be using SAP PO, we have asked them to install SFTP service at their end, so that SAP PO's SFTP adapter can send and receive files. Now we are being asked why can't we install SFTP service on SAP PO system, so that they can directly push the files.

As a SAP PO consultant, I know that this is not the best practice. The middleware is not supposed to be used as a file host/server.

But I am looking for a document to support by argument. I googled for it but couldn't find any.

Can anyone please give links to any documents/articles which talks about this point?

Thanks in advance,

Regards,

Prasanna

[bhavesh_kantilal · Accepted solution]

Actually if your SAP PI / PO Server is a Unix Installation or a Linux Installation, it is a SFTP Server by default as Unix Servers use SSH by default! Ofcourse we never use / enable this service for external access but it is pretty much possible technically.

The only challenge to exposing PI/PO if running on a Unix / Linux  Box as a SFTP Server is from a management perspective. A SFTP Server from a typical vendor would provide you with a UI for Admin, User Management, Key Management, File Archival, Deletions etc. In the case if you PI ./ PO Server is on Linux and you expose this as a SFTP Service, all of this would need custom scripts etc!

So from the expectations of your Client - this is a valid expectation. Other middle wares ( including SAP Business Connector ) provides this service and so can PI but none of them provide lets say provide all the features of a true SFTP Server. So the question you might need to ask your client is - what is the expectation of this SFTP Server to be hosted on PI / PO? Is it just to act as a dumping files / picking files with minimal users or is it much more than that?

If you are on a Windows Server - this answer does not hold true!

Regards

Bhavesh

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Bhavesh. I am not sure if they are looking for the UI part. I will check on that. But they certainly want to use it as a place where they can dump files, which our PO can pick up. They have systems inside and outside company network. Some of them may not want to invest on a new SFTP server. Since we are on Unix server, I can discuss these points with them and if they have minimal expectations from this SFTP server, then we will use it.

Regards,

Prasanna

[bhavesh_kantilal · Accepted solution]

To add - if PI / PO is going to process these files, then you can use NFS In your File Adapter. So basically, from a PI/PO Perspective it is accessing its local file system and from a External Applications perspective they are accessing a SFTP Server. You would need to make sure that the user has permissions only to RW ( and not execute ) on the Directory where the files will be places etc. Basically, you would need a experienced Admin from Unix / Linux side who know what he is doing!

Regards

Bhavesh

[vicky20691]

Hi Prasanna,

adding to bhavesh response, in case it is a windows server still you can use it as a sftp server

Regards,

Vikas