# STRG Setup: Connect & Transfer Files
> How to connect Blober to STRG object storage with an access key. Browse the buckets of both STRG regions, and copy, move, upload, and download files.
[STRG](https://strg.com/) is S3-compatible object storage[[1]](https://docs.strg.com/overview). Blober has STRG built in. You enter an access key, and Blober lists the buckets of both STRG regions.
Path format:
```
bucket-name/path/to/file.ext
```
## Capabilities
- ✅ Browse buckets and files in US East and EU Central
- ✅ Upload files
- ✅ Download files
- ✅ Delete files
- ✅ Copy/move files
## Prerequisites
- A STRG account ([sign in or create one](https://app.strg.com))
- At least one bucket ([create one](https://docs.strg.com/getting-started-interactive#3-creating-a-bucket)). An access key works in a region once you have a bucket there[[2]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#when-a-key-starts-working).
## Create an access key
1. In the STRG dashboard, open **Access Keys** and select **Create access key**[[3]](https://docs.strg.com/getting-started-interactive#4-creating-an-access-key).
2. Enter a **Name**, for example `Blober`.
3. Under **Buckets**, select **All buckets**, or select **Only some buckets** and tick the buckets that Blober needs. A key for all buckets also reaches the buckets that you create later. A key for some buckets reaches only the buckets that exist when you create it[[4]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#scope).
4. Leave **Only objects whose name starts with…** off. Blober lists each bucket from its top level, and STRG refuses that list to a key limited to a name prefix[[5]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#object-prefix).
5. Choose the **Template**:
- **Full Access** is the template a new key starts on. It has every permission that Blober needs[[6]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#templates), so the key works for every kind of Blober workflow.
- To give the key only the permissions that Blober uses, select **Custom** and tick **List objects**, **Read objects** and **Write objects**. **Write objects** also lets Blober delete files[[7]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#objects). On a key for some buckets, also tick **List all bucket names**. A key with only these permissions cannot change bucket settings or manage other access keys.
- **Read-only Access** cannot upload or delete files[[8]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#templates), so use it only as the source of a Copy workflow.
6. Select **Create access key**. The next dialog shows the **Access key ID** and the **Secret access key**. STRG shows the secret only once[[9]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#what-a-key-is), so copy it before you select **Done**.
## Required credentials
### Access Key ID
- Where to find: [STRG dashboard => Access Keys](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys), in the dialog that creates the key
- Example: `STRGEXAMPLE7KQ2M4N9P`
### Secret Access Key
- Where to find: the same dialog. If you lose the secret, create a new key and delete the old one[[10]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#what-a-key-is).
- Example: `wJalrXUtnFEMI/K7MDENG/bPxRfiCYEXAMPLEKEY`
The form has only these two fields. You do not enter an endpoint or a region.
## Setup
1. In Blober, select **STRG** as the source or destination.
2. Enter your **Access Key ID** and **Secret Access Key**.
3. Browse your buckets.
## Regions
STRG has two regions: US East (`us-east-1`) and EU Central (`eu-central-1`)[[11]](https://docs.strg.com/getting-started-interactive#3-creating-a-bucket). Blober shows the buckets of both regions in one list and finds the region of each bucket for you.
- Inside one region, with the same access key on both sides, Blober copies and moves files on STRG's side. The files do not pass through your computer.
- Between the two regions, or with two different access keys, the files pass through your computer.
## Versions and cost
STRG keeps the earlier versions when you overwrite or delete an object. These versions stay billed until you delete them by version ID or a lifecycle policy removes them[[12]](https://docs.strg.com/billing). A lifecycle policy can delete previous versions after a number of days[[13]](https://docs.strg.com/lifecycle-policies).
In a Blober workflow:
- **Skip if a file with the same name exists** leaves the file on STRG as it is.
- **Overwrite the existing file** keeps the old copy on STRG as an older version.
- A Move or Delete workflow hides the file behind a delete marker, and its older versions stay on STRG.
[File Versioning on Overwrite](https://blober.io/kb/articles/cloud-storage-file-versioning-on-overwrite/) compares STRG with other clouds. [Which S3-Compatible Storage Has No Egress Fees?](https://blober.io/kb/articles/s3-compatible-storage-no-egress-fees/) lists the prices.
## Troubleshooting
### A bucket is missing after you create a new key
A new key starts to work in each region, usually within a few minutes. The **Access Keys** page shows **Setting up in** and then **Ready in** for each region[[14]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#when-a-key-starts-working). While a key is not ready in one region, Blober shows the buckets of the other region. Wait a few minutes and browse again.
### "STRG did not accept the access key"
The Access Key ID or the Secret Access Key in Blober is wrong, the key is new and not ready, or the account has no bucket yet.
1. Copy the Access Key ID from the **Access Keys** page again, and check that it starts with `STRG`.
2. If you no longer have the secret, create a new key, because STRG shows the secret only once.
3. If the account has no bucket, create one.
4. If the key is new, wait a few minutes and run the task again.
### "STRG refused to upload to the bucket"
The full message is `STRG refused to upload to the bucket "". Use an access key with the Full Access template that can reach this bucket.` The key cannot upload to that bucket[[15]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#permissions). For example, it is a Read-only Access key, a key for some buckets that does not include this bucket, or a key limited to a name prefix. A message that starts with "STRG refused to read files from", "copy files into", "move files into" or "delete files from" has the same cause.
1. Create a key with the **Full Access** template. Select **All buckets** or tick this bucket, and leave **Only objects whose name starts with…** off.
2. Enter the new key in Blober.
### "STRG refused to list the buckets"
The key is limited to some buckets and does not have the **List all bucket names** permission. Without it, STRG refuses the bucket list[[16]](https://docs.strg.com/s3-api/ListBuckets), so Blober cannot show your buckets. The **Full Access**, **Write Access** and **Read-only Access** templates include this permission for such a key[[17]](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys#templates). On a **Custom** key, tick it yourself.
> **Terms Compliance**
>
> Your use of STRG through Blober is subject to [STRG's Terms of Service](https://strg.com/terms). See our [Terms of Service](https://blober.io/kb/docs/terms-and-privacy/terms-of-service/) for details.
## External references
- [STRG Documentation](https://docs.strg.com/)
- [Getting started with the dashboard](https://docs.strg.com/getting-started-interactive)
- [Access keys](https://docs.strg.com/access-keys)
- [Billing](https://docs.strg.com/billing)
- [Lifecycle policies](https://docs.strg.com/lifecycle-policies)