# S3 / object storage

> Connect S3 / object storage to sanda: what to prepare, the fields the connection form asks for, and how its data lands in your warehouse.

## Connect S3 / object storage

:::steps
1. **Open the catalogue.** In the console, go to **Data · Connections** and press **New connection**.
2. **Choose S3 / object storage.** It is listed under files and storage; you can also search for it by name.
3. **Fill in the form.** Enter the fields below. Credentials go straight to sanda’s sync engine and are never stored in sanda’s database.
4. **Choose what to sync.** Pick the streams you want, and a sync mode for each. See [choose what to sync](https://docs.sanda-os.com.au/connections/choose-streams).
5. **Run the first sync.** sanda tests the connection, then lands each stream as a table in your warehouse.
:::

## Configuration fields

What the connection form asks for. Required fields are marked; the rest are optional.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Bucket** | string | Yes | Name of the S3 bucket where the file(s) exist. |
| **Start Date** | string | No | UTC date and time in the format 2017-01-25T00:00:00.000000Z. Any file modified before this date will not be replicated. |
| **Access Key ID** | string, secret | No | In order to access private Buckets stored on Amazon S3, this connector requires credentials with the proper permissions. If accessing publicly available data, this field is not necessary. |
| **Secret Access Key** | string, secret | No | In order to access private Buckets stored on Amazon S3, this connector requires credentials with the proper permissions. If accessing publicly available data, this field is not necessary. |
| **Endpoint** | string | No | Endpoint to an S3 compatible service. Leave empty to use Amazon S3. |
| **Region** | string | No | Region where the S3 bucket is located. If not provided, the region will be determined automatically. |
| **Delivery Method** | one of 2 options | No |  |
| **Role ARN** | string | No | Specifies the Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of an IAM role that you want to use to perform operations requested using this profile. |
| **The list of streams to sync** | array | Yes | Each item defines a stream: which files belong in it, their format, and how they are parsed and validated. Each stream lands in your warehouse as its own table. |

### Delivery Method


Choose one of the following. Each asks for its own fields.

**Replicate Records**

No further fields.

**Copy Raw Files**

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Preserve Sub-Directories in File Paths** | boolean | No | If enabled, sends subdirectory folder structure along with source file names to the destination. Otherwise, files will be synced by their names only. This option is ignored when file-based replication is not enabled. Default `true`. |


## Related

:::links
- [Sync modes](https://docs.sanda-os.com.au/connections/sync-modes): How sanda reads each stream on every run.
- [Sync schedules](https://docs.sanda-os.com.au/connections/schedules): How often a connection runs.
- [Allowlist sanda’s address](https://docs.sanda-os.com.au/connections/allowlist): For a system behind a firewall.
- [Troubleshoot connections](https://docs.sanda-os.com.au/connections/troubleshooting): What an error means and how to fix it.
:::