In Automate MFT, tasks can be executed using either on a self-hosted agent or a Progress-hosted agent provided by the Progress Automate MFT service. The self-hosted agent is a lightweight executable that runs on modern Windows or Ubuntu Linux servers, within the user's environment. It enables file transfers between any endpoints defined in Automate MFT, provided the agent has network access to those endpoints, including publicly accessible ones. If any endpoint involved in a task is located behind a customer firewall, whether as a source or destination, a self-hosted agent is required. Progress-hosted agents, by contrast, can only be used when all endpoints are publicly accessible.

Note: Ensure that the system hosting the self-hosted agent has accurate date and time settings. If the system clock differs by more than five minutes from the expected time, the agent will fail to establish a connection.

To perform file transfers on your private network, you must install a self-hosted agent.

Add a self-hosted agent

  1. Click the Libraries drop-down menu and select Agents.
  2. Click Add Agent and select Windows or Linux, depending on your system.
  3. Provide a unique name for the agent.
  4. Choose how the agent should update:
    • Always: Agent updates automatically when new versions are available.
    • Scheduled: Specify a day and time for updates.
    • Never: Updates must be performed manually
  5. Set the agent connectivity options:
    • To allow extended wait time for agent reconnection, select the check box.
      • Set the reconnection timeout in seconds.
      • Enter email addresses for disconnect alerts, and a subject line.
  6. Save the Agent configuration
  7. Download the ZIP file, which includes two components:
    • The agent executable, to be installed on a server within your network.
    • An installation script to automate the setup process.
  8. Copy the Registration Key from the same screen.
  9. On your local server or VM, run these steps as a user with administrative privileges to complete a Windows installation.
      1. Unzip the downloaded file.
      2. Place both files in a directory of your choice.
      3. Open Windows PowerShell 5.1 in that directory as an Administrator.
      4. To install the service, run the following command:
        .\windows-service-management.ps1 -Action install -RegistrationKey your registration key
      5. To start the service, run the following command:
        \windows-service-management.ps1 -Action start

      The service is configured to auto-start on reboot.

      If you plan to use a local endpoint to copy files to or from the local disk, ensure the target folder has the correct permissions. To grant access, add the following user to the folder with appropriate permissions:NT Service\Progress Automate MFT Agent.

    For Ubuntu Linux users, refer to Set up a self-hosted agent for guidance.
  10. Verify the agent status in the Agent Library. It should be Connected.