Transfer Files from FTP Server to Google Drive

Description

FTP to Google Drive Transfer Template

What This Template Does

This workflow automatically transfers files from an FTP server to Google Drive. It's perfect for:
Backing up files from remote servers
Migrating data from FTP to cloud storage
Automating file synchronization tasks
Creating scheduled backups of server content

How It Works

The workflow follows these steps:

Manual Trigger - You start the process by clicking "Execute"
Lists FTP Directory - Scans the specified FTP folder for all items
Filters Files Only - Separates actual files from directories (folders)
Downloads Files - Retrieves each file as binary data from the FTP server
Uploads to Google Drive - Stores all downloaded files in your specified Google Drive folder

Requirements

Before using this template, you'll need:

FTP Server Access**: Server address, username, and password
Google Drive Account**: With OAuth2 authentication set up in n8n
n8n Instance**: Self-hosted or cloud version

Setup Instructions

Step 1: Configure FTP Credentials

In n8n, go to Settings → Credentials
Create a new FTP credential
Enter your FTP server details:
Host: Your FTP server address
Port: Usually 21 for FTP
Username: Your FTP username
Password: Your FTP password
Test the connection and save

Step 2: Set Up Google Drive Authentication

Create a new Google Drive OAuth2 credential
Follow n8n's Google Drive setup guide:
Create a Google Cloud project
Enable Google Drive API
Create OAuth2 credentials
Add your n8n callback URL
Authorize the connection in n8n

Step 3: Configure the Workflow

Update FTP Path:
Open the "List FTP Directory" node
Change the path parameter from /_instalki to your desired FTP folder

Set Google Drive Folder:
Open the "Upload to Google Drive" node
Replace the folderId with your target Google Drive folder ID
To find folder ID: Open the folder in Google Drive and copy the ID from the URL

Assign Credentials:
Ensure both FTP nodes use your FTP credential
Assign your Google Drive credential to the upload node

How to Use

Test First: Run the workflow manually with a few test files
Monitor Execution: Check the execution log for any errors
Verify Upload: Confirm files appear in your Google Drive folder
Schedule (Optional): Add a schedule trigger if you want automatic runs

Customization Options

Filter Specific File Types
Add a condition after "Filter Files Only" to process only certain file extensions:
{{ $json.name.endsWith('.pdf') || $json.name.endsWith('.jpg') }}

Add Error Handling
Insert error-handling nodes to manage failed downloads or uploads gracefully.

Organize by Date
Modify the Google Drive upload to create date-based folders automatically.

File Size Limits
Add checks for file size before attempting upload (Google Drive has limits).

Troubleshooting

Common Issues:

FTP Connection Failed**: Check server address, port, and credentials
Google Drive Upload Error**: Verify OAuth2 setup and folder permissions
Files Not Found**: Ensure the FTP path exists and contains files
Large Files**: Consider Google Drive's file size limitations (15GB for free accounts)

Tips:
Test with small files first
Check n8n execution logs for detailed error messages
Ensure your Google Drive has sufficient storage space
Verify FTP server allows multiple concurrent connections

Security Notes

Never hardcode credentials in the workflow
Use n8n's credential system for all authentication
Consider using SFTP instead of FTP for better security
Regularly rotate your FTP passwords
Review Google Drive sharing permissions

Next Steps

Once you have this basic transfer working, you might want to:
Add email notifications for successful/failed transfers
Implement file deduplication checks
Create logs of transferred files
Set up automatic cleanup of old files
Add file compression before upload