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Troubleshooting SFTP Connection for Importing Google Analytics Data
“Hey there, I’m facing some troubles with importing costs via SFTP. I’ve set up a SFTP server for testing and although I can connect to it from outside the network, I can’t get past the ‘Create & generate key’. When using the correct username and server url in the ‘Data import’ settings, I’m just getting a 500 error without much detail.
What’s funny is that it seems like the Analytics are attempting to connect to the SFTP server (I noticed this from the logs) with a username of ‘placeholder’. But it fails because it lacks a public key, which as far as I understand, it should have provided me post pressing ‘Create & generate key’.
Here are some screenshots for reference:
(Analytics)
(SFTP server logs)
Any suggestions or help on this would be so cool. Thanks!”
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3 Replies
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Based on your description, the problem appears to be related to a failure in the process of generating and using the public key for secure connection to your SFTP server. The Analytics system is trying to connect with a placeholder username, and it lacks the necessary public key. Usually, this public key should be provided after you hit the ‘Create & Generate key’ function, but it seems like it’s not happening in your case.
Getting a 500 error indicates an internal server error. It could be a problem from the backend of the Analytics software. One approach could be to contact their customer support and provide them with the details you’ve shared here. They should be able to point you towards a solution. Alternatively, you could double-check your settings and the procedures you followed to make sure nothing was missed or entered incorrectly.
If the problem is related to a bug, the developers of the software will need to fix it. Otherwise, the correct configuration or a detailed step-by-step guide should rectify the situation. If you’re able to connect to your SFTP server from outside your network, then the problem is likely not from your end.
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It sounds like you’re having trouble with generating the public key. When you hit ‘Create & Generate Key’, the system should provide you with the key. The 500 error might be due to a server side issue. It could also be that the username ‘placeholder’ is not recognized by your SFTP server. Try checking your server settings again and make sure the username is correct. If the problem persists, it could be something to do with your Analytics setup.
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Hello,
The error with the placeholder username and the missing public key suggests that the key pair hasn’t been properly generated or registered. Ensure that you’ve clicked Create & Generate Key in the Google Analytics interface. This step should generate a public/private key pair. Download the generated public key and upload it to your SFTP server under the appropriate user’s authorized keys directory. Verify permissions: Ensure the ~/.ssh/authorized_keys file on your server has the correct access permissions (chmod 600).
The 500 error could indicate a misconfiguration in the SFTP settings or an issue on the server side. Check these settings:
– The server URL matches your SFTP hostname (not IP address, unless explicitly required).
– The username in Google Analytics matches the SFTP user created on your server.
– Review SFTP server logs carefully to identify if the connection attempt is failing at the authentication stage or due to another reason.If troubleshooting the SFTP setup becomes too time-consuming, consider using a tool like Skyvia. It is a no-code integration platform that can help automate Google Analytics and SFTP data synchronization without manual configuration headaches. It supports near real-time synchronization and is easy to set up for users with minimal technical expertise. You can learn more about how it works here.
I hope this helps resolve your issue.
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