Connecting with SFTP to a Dreamweaver Website

Get Started

Summary 

  • To meet current security requirements, Legacy Medweb sites have migrated from irt-publish to irt-sftp now requiring two-factor authentication
  • Dreamweaver managed site owners must download and configure new sftp client to transfer files
  • Dreamweaver can still be used for editing and local management of files
  • Webauth two-factor authentication is the same as used for other university services

Quick Links for SFTP client configuration

Background

As of late July, 2017, IRT has had to update our legacy web server to improve security. The new server requires two factor authentication which changes how web authors will need to connect to the server for file transfers. Web authors can still use Dreamweaver to edit their files but will now need to use a separate secure SFTP client that supports two factor authentication to connect to their site and transfer their files. Below is a summary of the changes and what is now required to connect to your legacy Dreamweaver site. 

  • The connection protocol, the host address, and the application used to connect and transfer your site files are all changing. Because Dreamweaver does not support two factor authentication you will no longer be able to connect to your site using your existing WebDAV connection in Dreamweaver. However, you can still use Dreamweaver to edit your web pages and manage local files. Web authors now need to connect to irt-sftp.stanford.edu (the host address)* using Fetch or SecureFX (the separate application ) that supports SFTP and two factor authentication (the protocol) to transfer site files. 

    * Recent network security changes as of summer of 2019 requires users connecting from off campus to be on Stanford VPN and use the host connection  irt-sftp  (no ".stanford.edu")  

  • Download and install an external SFTP program that supports two factor authentication to connect to your site and transfer your files.  We recommend Fetch for Mac and SecureFX for Windows. Both are available for free from the UIT Essential Stanford Software site.  

  • When installing either of these clients, please follow the basic UIT instructions for software installation but do not connect to the hosts or locations specified in the UIT instructions.  Connection information for your School of Medicine legacy site can be found below.

Installing Fetch (Mac authors)

Fetch is a SFTP program for the Mac OS that supports two factor authentication. If you don't already have Fetch you will need to download and install a copy. You can get a free copy of Fetch from Stanford University IT. If you don't know how to install a program on your Mac, contact your department IT representative or seek assistance from the IRT Tech Bar.

Once you have downloaded Fetch, follow the installation instructions from UIT. Stop after you have registered the software (after item 7. and before the 'Using Fetch' instructions) and return here for instructions on how to establish a connection to your School of Medicine web site files.  

Using Fetch


Opening the application should bring you right to a screen where you will fill in your SFTP connection parameters.  If it doesn't open to this screen select File / New Connection from the top menu.


Use the following connection information.

Hostname: irt-sftp.stanford.edu

Username: Your SUNetID

Connect Using: SFTP

Password: Your password associated with your SUNetID

Initial Folder: /d/web/YOURSITENAME where YOURSITENAME is the name of your site (for example: ome, fiscalaffairs, surgery).  If you are unsure of your site name you can find it in your Dreamweaver WebDAV connection settings.  Only grab your site name from the URL located there as the other information is slightly different.

Port: 22

* Remember to replace YOURSITENAME with your actual site name (for example: ome, fiscalaffairs, or surgery) so the string will look like /d/web/ome, /d/web/fiscalaffairs, or /d/web/surgery for these example sites.

Once your information has been added press connect.


After you press connect you will be prompted with two-step authentication.  If you haven't set up a method for two-step auth, or are not familiar with the process you can consult the UIT page on two-step auth.


After successfully passing two-step authentication you will see a list of your site files.  In the example below these are the site files for a site called ome.


In the Fetch preferences (from the top menu go to Fetch / File / Preferences / Download) we suggest setting the application to prompt you each time to select the directory where your files will download.  Since your files will likely be in different directories you will want to maintain that structure in your local files.  Also be sure to select the option to overwrite files with the same name.  Your files on the server should always be your most accurate and best files to use.  Every time you go to edit a file you should download a copy of that file from the server to be sure you are using the most up to date version.  This is very important if you have multiple site authors making changes to your page.  


The final step is getting your site files.  Once connected to your site in the Fetch application you will see your site files.  You can then select the files you want to download by clicking on one or multiple files then clicking the "Get" button.  Fetch will ask you where you want to place your files.  You should place them in the same spot you were placing your local files when using Dreamweaver to connect.  You can also get files another way.  You can open a Finder window to the location you want to place the files and then you can just drag and drop them to the correct location.


As long as you have chosen the same local location to download your files from Fetch as you previously did with Dreamweaver.  As long as you have done this you can continue to edit exactly the same way you did before with Dreamweaver, the only difference now is that you will need to use Fetch to get and put them to the web server.  If you look in your files menu your local files are still the same.  Double click on a file to open and edit it.  When done editing save and close the file.  Then be sure to go back to Fetch and put the newly edited file to the web server to make it live on your site.  And as always check the new live page to be sure it works and looks as expected.

 

If you have any questions please submit a help ticket at http://webhelp.stanford.edu or give us a call at 723-7192 

Installing SecureCRT + SecureFX (Windows authors)

SecureFX + SecureCRT​ are bundled and installed together but you will really only be using SecureFX (the secure SFTP application that supports two factor authentication).  A single installer installs both SecureFX and SecureCRT​ and the configuration settings for the two applications are integrated.  If you don't already have SecureFX + SecureCRT you will need to download and install a copy. You can get a free copy of SecureFX + SecureCRT from Stanford University IT. If you don't know how to install a program on your Mac, contact your department IT representative or seek assistance from the IRT Tech Bar.

Once you have downloaded SecureFX + SecureCRT​, follow the installation instructions from UIT. The software is pre-configured with some connections to common Stanford University locations, but not to the School of Medicine.  You will need to add that location to the software.  Follow the link to Add Sessions and use the below information for your School of Medicine connection. 

Hostname: irt-sftp.stanford.edu

Username: Your SUNetID

Port: 22

Connect Using: SFTP

Password: Your password associated with your SUNetID

Initial Folder: /d/web/YOURSITENAME where YOURSITENAME is the name of your site (for example: ome, fiscalaffairs, surgery).  If you are unsure of your site name you can find it in your Dreamweaver WebDAV connection settings.  Only grab your site name from the URL located there as the other information is slightly different.

 

Migrate to AEM

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is the fully supported web platform for Stanford Medicine.

AEM makes it easy to create responsive, mobile-friendly sites with drag and drop components and built-in configurations — no need to code, no HTML required.

Join divisions, departments, centers, institutes, labs, and many others who have moved over to AEM.