Download large files from SFTP server using Get-SFTPItem powershell

Question

Hi.

I am trying to download large files from SFTP server using the powershell command

$mySession = New-SFTPSession -ComputerName 'abc' -Credential $Credential -ConnectionTimeout 10000 -AcceptKey

Get-SFTPItem -SFTPSession $mysession -path $_.FullName -Destination "path"

The above command is taking a longer time to download file, when the file size is huge .

How to fix this issue while downloading larger files ?
Thanks

Answer 1

Have you increased the ConnectionTimeout value from 10000 to, say, 30000? Is it possible the connection is ended by the remote host?

The Posh-SSH module is a third-party software. If you're unable to complete the transfer no matter how large you make the ConnectionTimeout value you should contact the author of the module on GitHub.

Answer 2

Hi @venkatesh padmanabhan

The overriding factor for slow downloads via SFTP is your Internet connection and the connection speed (and any limits) of the SFTP server's connection. There's no programmatic way to make the transfer faster. Here's a powershell script example you may like to customise and try:

try
{
# Load WinSCP .NET assembly
Add-Type -Path "WinSCPnet.dll"

# Setup session options  
$sessionOptions = New-Object WinSCP.SessionOptions -Property @{  
    Protocol = [WinSCP.Protocol]::Sftp  
    HostName = "example.com"  
    UserName = "user"  
    Password = "mypassword"  
    SshHostKeyFingerprint = "ssh-rsa 2048 xxxxxxxxxxx...="  
}  
 
$session = New-Object WinSCP.Session  
 
try  
{  
    # Connect  
    $session.Open($sessionOptions)  
 
    # Download files  
    $transferOptions = New-Object WinSCP.TransferOptions  
    $transferOptions.TransferMode = [WinSCP.TransferMode]::Binary  
 
    $remotePath = "/home/user/*";  
    $localPath = "d:\download\*";  
    $transferResult =  
        $session.GetFiles($remotePath, $localPath, $False, $transferOptions)  
 
    # Throw on any error  
    $transferResult.Check()  
 
    # Print results  
    foreach ($transfer in $transferResult.Transfers)  
    {  
        Write-Host "Download of $($transfer.FileName) succeeded"  
    }  
}  
finally  
{  
    # Disconnect, clean up  
    $session.Dispose()  
}  
 
exit 0  

}
catch [Exception]
{
Write-Host "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
exit 1
}

You may want to consider a different transfer protocol.

I hope this answers your question.

Thanks.

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