Getting Started

If you do not have a tenant for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, you can sign up for a free trial.

Once you have completed the sign up and your tenant is up and running, you can add the External File Storage - FTP Connector app from the AppSource marketplace. If you have questions about the installation process of an app through Microsoft AppSource, you can find more information on installing apps on the Microsoft Docs site.

Prerequisites

Before setting up the FTP Connector, you need:

  • An FTP, FTPS, or SFTP server — with a hostname or IP address reachable from the internet
  • Credentials for the server — username and password, an SSH private key, or a client certificate depending on your server's authentication requirements
  • The server's port number — default is 21 for FTP/FTPS and 22 for SFTP
  • Appropriate BC permissions — see Permission Setups

How the Connector Works

Business Central cannot connect directly to FTP or SFTP servers. The FTP Connector uses a secure Azure Function bridge hosted by NAV-X to relay file operations between Business Central and your server. All communication between Business Central and the bridge uses HTTPS. The bridge connects to your FTP or SFTP server, performs the requested operation, and returns the result.

NAV-X does not store any of your data. The bridge is fully stateless — no files, credentials, or file content are retained at any point. See index.md for more details.

Permission Setup

Before using the connector, ensure your Business Central user has the correct permission set assigned. See Permission Setups for details.

Step 1: Add an FTP/SFTP Account in Business Central

Choose the Tell me what you want to do icon, enter External File Storage, and then choose the related link. On the File Accounts page, choose Add Account, then select FTP/SFTP from the list of available connectors.

This opens the Set Up FTP/SFTP Account wizard. Follow the three steps:

  1. Connection — select your Protocol (FTP, FTPS, or SFTP), enter the Host Name and Port, and configure Passive Mode if required. Enter the Account Name for this account. Choose Next
  2. Authentication — choose your Authentication Type and enter the required credentials (username and password, SSH private key, or client certificate). Choose Next
  3. Advanced & Finish — optionally enter a Default Directory to use as the base path for all file operations. Choose Test Connection to verify the connection, then choose Finish to save the account

The account is now registered and available as an External File Storage provider throughout Business Central.

Step 2: Verify the Account

After finishing the wizard, your new account appears in the File Accounts list. To open it:

  1. Select the account and choose Manage Account
  2. On the FTP/SFTP Account card, choose Test Connection to verify the server is reachable

If the connection test passes, the connector is working.

Next Steps

See Also