# Create a VFS connection

Perform the following steps to create a VFS connection in PDI:

1. Start the PDI client (Spoon) and create a new [transformation](https://github.com/pentaho/documentation/blob/main/PDIA/10.2/PDI/Data%20Integration%20Perspective/Data%20Integration%20perspective%20in%20the%20PDI%20client/Work%20with%20transformations%20cp=GUID-1B9C8573-4C71-47FD-AF03-E9A0A43EDCD4=4=en=.md) or [job](/pdia-data-integration/10.2-data-integration/data-integration-perspective-in-the-pdi-client/work-with-jobs.md).
2. In the **View** tab of the Explorer pane, right-click on the **VFS Connections** folder, and then click **New**.

   The New VFS connection dialog box opens.

   ![New VFS Connection dialog box](/files/Q0JBGzucR8LF0AVDR3Hq)
3. In the **Connection Name** field, enter a name that uniquely describes this connection. Optionally, add a **Description**.

   The name can contain spaces, but cannot include special characters, such as `#`, `$`, `/`, `\`, `%`, and `%`.
4. In the **Connection Type** field, select from one of the following types:
   * **Amazon S3/Minio/HCP**
   * **Azure Data Lake Gen 1**
   * **Azure Data Lake Gen 2 / Blob**
   * **Google Cloud Storage**
   * **HCP REST**
   * **Local**
   * **SMB/UNC Provider**
   * **Snowflake Staging**
5. In the connection details panel of New VFS Connection dialog box, select the connection type details and options. Choose from the following connection types and options:

   **Note:** You can add a predefined variable file to the fields that have the ![Insert Variable Icon](https://github.com/pentaho/documentation/blob/main/PDIA/10.2/PDI/Data%20Integration%20Perspective/Data%20Integration%20perspective%20in%20the%20PDI%20client/Connecting%20to%20Virtual%20File%20Systems%20cp/VFS_Variable%20Insert_Icon=GUID-FF2B54CF-F37F-4C16-9544-36743357AE6D=1=en=Low.png)icon. Place the cursor in the required field and enter `Ctrl+Space`. Select the required file from the list of files available. The variable must be a predefined variable and not a runtime variable. The variables are defined in the Kettle.properties. For more information on variables, see [Kettle Variables](/pdia-data-integration/10.2-data-integration/data-integration-perspective-in-the-pdi-client/advanced-topics-pdi-perspective/pdi-run-modifiers/variables/kettle-variables.md).

| Connection type                  | Options                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Amazon**                       | <p>Click <strong>S3 Connection Type</strong> and select <strong>Amazon</strong> from the list to use an Amazon S3 connection.</p><p>Simple Storage Service (S3) accesses the resources on Amazon Web Services. See <a href="https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sdk-for-java/v1/developer-guide/credentials.html">Working with AWS Credentials</a> for Amazon S3 setup instructions.</p><ul><li>Select the <strong>Authentication Type</strong>:<br>- <strong>Access Key/Secret Key</strong><br>- <strong>Credentials File</strong></li><li>Select the <strong>Region</strong>.</li><li><p>When <strong>Authentication Type</strong> is:</p><ul><li><strong>Access Key/Secret Key</strong>, then enter the <strong>Access Key</strong> and <strong>Secret Key</strong>, and optionally enter the <strong>Session Token</strong>.</li><li><strong>Credentials File</strong>, then enter the <strong>Profile Name</strong> and the <strong>File Location</strong>.</li></ul></li><li>Select the <strong>Default S3 Connection</strong> checkbox to make <strong>Amazon</strong> the default S3 connection.</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| **Minio/HCP**                    | <p>Click <strong>S3 Connection Type</strong> and select <strong>Minio/HCP</strong> from the list to use a Minio/HCP S3 connection.</p><p>Minio accesses data objects on an Amazon compatible storage server. See the <a href="https://docs.min.io/docs/">Minio Quickstart Guide</a> for Minio setup instructions.</p><ul><li>Enter the <strong>Access Key</strong>.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Secret Key</strong>.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Endpoint</strong>.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Signature Version</strong>.</li><li>Select the <strong>PathStyle Access</strong> checkbox to use path-style requests. Otherwise, Amazon S3 bucket-style access is used.</li><li>Select the <strong>Default S3 Connection</strong> checkbox to make <strong>Minio/HCP</strong> the default S3 connection.</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| **Azure Data Lake Gen 1**        | <p>Accesses data objects on Microsoft Azure Gen 1 storage services. You must create an Azure account and configure Azure Data Lake Storage Gen 1. See <a href="https://docs.hitachivantara.com/r/W5Oy5NghPggWbWs_8gNJXw/bVcEnW6Cj5aOLgChBPiz5w">Access to Microsoft Azure</a> for more information.</p><ul><li>The <strong>Authentication Type</strong> is <strong>Service-to-service authentication</strong>, only.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Account Fully Qualified Domain Name</strong>.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Application (client) ID</strong>.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Client Secret.</strong></li><li>Enter the <strong>OAuth 2.0 token endpoint</strong>.</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| **Azure Data Lake Gen 2 / Blob** | <p>Accesses data objects on Microsoft Azure Gen 2 and Blob storage services. You must create an Azure account and configure Azure Data Lake Storage Gen 2 and Blob Storage. See <a href="https://docs.hitachivantara.com/r/W5Oy5NghPggWbWs_8gNJXw/bVcEnW6Cj5aOLgChBPiz5w">Access to Microsoft Azure</a> for more information.</p><ul><li>Select the <strong>Authentication Type</strong>:<br>- <strong>Account Shared Key</strong><br>- <strong>Azure Active Directory</strong><br>- <strong>Shared Access Signature</strong></li><li>Enter the <strong>Service Account Name</strong>.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Block Size (Min 1 MB to Max 100 MB)</strong>.The default is 50.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Buffer Count (Min 2)</strong>. The default is 5.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Max Block Upload Size (Min 1 MB to 900 MB)</strong>. The default is 100.</li><li>Select the <strong>Access Tier</strong>. The default value is Hot.</li><li><p>When <strong>Authentication Type</strong> is:</p><ul><li><strong>Account Shared Key</strong>, then enter the <strong>Service Account Shared Key</strong>.</li><li><strong>Azure Active Directory</strong>, then enter the <strong>Application (client) ID</strong>, <strong>Client Secret</strong>, and <strong>Directory (tenant) ID</strong>.</li><li><strong>Shared Access Signature</strong>, then enter the <strong>Shared Access Signature</strong>.</li></ul></li></ul> |
| **Google Cloud Storage**         | <p>Accesses data objects on the Google Cloud Storage file system. See <a href="https://cloud.google.com/storage/docs">Google Cloud Storage</a> for more information on this protocol.</p><ul><li>Enter the <strong>Service Account Key Location</strong>.</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **HCP REST**                     | <p>Accesses data objects on the Hitachi Content Platform. You must configure HCP and PDI before accessing the platform. You must also configure object versioning in HCP Namespaces. See <a href="https://docs.hitachivantara.com/r/W5Oy5NghPggWbWs_8gNJXw/U4R_swcuWATRSshT9TM1bw">Access to HCP</a> for more information.</p><ul><li>Enter the <strong>Host</strong> and <strong>Port</strong> number.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Tenant</strong>, <strong>Namespace</strong>, <strong>Username</strong>, and <strong>Password</strong>.</li><li>Click <strong>More options</strong> then enter the <strong>Proxy Host</strong> and <strong>Proxy Port</strong> number.</li><li>Select whether to use <strong>Accept self-signed certificate</strong>. The default is No.</li><li>Select whether the <strong>Proxy is secure</strong>. The default is No.</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| **Local**                        | <p>Accesses a file system on your local machine.</p><ul><li>Enter the <strong>Root Folder Path</strong> or click <strong>Browse</strong> to set a folder connection in the local physical file system of the machine. Optionally, use an empty path to allow the selected roles to access the root directory and its folders.</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **SMB/UNC Provider**             | <p>Accesses Server Message Block data using a Universal Naming Convention string to specify the file location.</p><ul><li>Enter the <strong>Domain</strong>. The domain name of the target machine hosting the resource. If the machine has no domain name (for example, a home computer), then use the name of the machine.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Port Number</strong>. The default is 445.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Server</strong>, <strong>User Name</strong>, and <strong>Password</strong>.</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| **Snowflake Staging**            | <p>Accesses a staging area used by Snowflake to load files. See <a href="https://docs.snowflake.net/">Snowflake staging area</a> for more information on this protocol.</p><ul><li>Enter the <strong>Host Name</strong>.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Port Number</strong>. The default is 443.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Database</strong>.</li><li>Enter the <strong>Namespace</strong>, <strong>User Name</strong>, and <strong>Password</strong>.</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |

6\. For all connection types except \*\*Local\*\* which is selected in step 5, enter the \*\*Root Folder Path\*\* for your VFS connection. Enter the full path to set a connection to a specific folder. Optionally, use an empty path to allow access to all folders in the root.

```
The default is to the root and its folders in your local physical file system.
```

7\. (Optional) Click **Test** to verify your connection.

8. Click **OK** to complete the setup.

You can now use your connection to specify VFS information in your transformation steps or job entries, such as the Snowflake entries or HCP steps. See [PDI and Snowflake](https://github.com/pentaho/documentation/blob/main/PDIA/10.2/PDI/Advanced%20Pentaho%20Data%20Integration%20topics/Advanced%20topics%20\(Pentaho%20Data%20Integration%20overview\)/PDI%20and%20Snowflake%20cp=GUID-75EACA27-8EEE-4543-BD57-99A2697F1839=4=en=.md) and [PDI and Hitachi Content Platform (HCP)](https://github.com/pentaho/documentation/blob/main/PDIA/10.2/PDI/Advanced%20Pentaho%20Data%20Integration%20topics/Advanced%20topics%20\(Pentaho%20Data%20Integration%20overview\)/PDI%20and%20Hitachi%20Content%20Platform%20\(HCP\)=GUID-F4977458-2FA6-4D2C-8991-1391D0849655=6=en=.md) for more information about these entries and steps, and see [Access files with the VFS browser](/pdia-data-integration/10.2-data-integration/data-integration-perspective-in-the-pdi-client/virtual-file-system-browser/vfs-browser-connecting-to-virtual-file-systems/use-the-vfs-browser-in-the-pdi-client.md) for general VFS connection details.


---

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