Ingesting data using an FTP client

DISCO recommends using the high-speed uploader in order to have the fastest transfer speeds and maintaining metadata directly from local files. Because FTP is a transfer protocol that copies files, file system metadata is not always maintained. Zipping files before transfer is the best way to maintain filesystem metadata when transferring during FTP.

If you need to ingest your files via FTP, you'll need to choose an FTP client. We recommend you use FileZilla, but if you are unable to use FileZilla, try WinSCP.

NOTE: DISCO is in the process of changing their SFTP servers. Please follow the instructions below to learn how to find the new hosting information or update your login credentials.

Ingesting using FileZilla

1. Go to FileZilla and download the client. Install the client on your computer.
2. In DISCO, find the FTP connection information specific to your review database:
   • In the DISCO main menu, click Ingest.
   • On the Ingest page, click New Ingest -> Send to DISCO Professional Services -> SFTP.
     
3. In the SFTP modal, you will see the protocol, host, port, and your user's specific username and password information. The username and password information displayed is specific for each user and each matter. The same user will need a different username to FTP into another matter.
   
   • The modal will generate a password specific to the displayed username. A new password can be generated at any time from this screen. Whenever a new password is generated, it invalidates all previous passwords for that username. This means each user can have only one valid password at a time.
4. Open FileZilla and add the protocol, host, username, password, and port to connect to the DISCO server.
5. Submit a new data form to DISCO. In the form, include:
   • If you had any connection issues, so someone can contact you to resolve them.
   • The file types of the majority of the files. This will help us provide an accurate turnaround time.
   • The overall size of your ingest.
   • How many container files are included in your ingest session.
   • What your review timeline is, so we can help you strategize with document tagging, culling, and production.
6. In FileZilla, drag the data you want to ingest from the left column to the right column.
   
   Note: Depending on the size of your data, the upload process may take hours.

Ingesting using WinSCP

1. If you can't use FileZilla and you are on Windows, download WinSCP.
   • Note: WinSCP has some advanced settings where the WinSCP client attempts to manipulate the system dates on the receiving FTP client. These settings are not supported by DISCO's SFTP. If you need to maintain system dates on files, we recommend using the high-speed uploader to transfer your data or packaging up loose files into a Zip container before transferring via SFTP.
2. Once downloaded, unzip the download and double click WinSCP.exe to open the program.
3. In DISCO, find the FTP connection information specific to your review database:
   • In the DISCO main menu, click Ingest.
   • On the Ingest page, click New Ingest -> Send to DISCO Professional Services -> SFTP.
     
4. In the SFTP modal, you will see the protocol, host, port, and your user's specific username and password information. The username and password information displayed is specific for each user and each matter. The same user will need a different username to FTP into another matter.
   
   • The modal will generate a password specific to the displayed username. A new password can be generated at any time from this screen. Whenever a new password is generated, it invalidates all previous passwords for that username. This means each user can have only one valid password at a time.
5. Open WinSCP and add the protocol, host, username, password, and port to connect to the DISCO server.
6. Submit a new data form to DISCO. In the form, include:
   • If you had any connection issues, so someone can contact you to resolve them.
   • The file types of the majority of the files. This will help us provide an accurate turnaround time.
   • The overall size of your ingest.
   • How many container files are included in your ingest session.
   • What your review timeline is, so we can help you strategize with document tagging, culling, and production.
7. In WinSCP, drag the data from the left column (1) to the right column (2).
   
   Note: Depending on the size of your data, the upload process may take hours.