Schoolzilla supports multiple methods for securely loading your eSchoolPLUS data:
- VPN* and ODBC** - This is the preferred method for Schoolzilla to connect and pull data form eSchoolPLUS. It is preferred because it is secure and the most efficient for your team to set up and maintain ongoing.
- Files Exported to SFTP - This option is more time-consuming to setup and maintain but is also a supported method of providing eSchoolPLUS data to Schoolzilla.
Setting up a VPN* and ODBC** Connection
To enable you will need to:
- Complete the eSchoolPLUS credentials form on My Data.
- Username: A username set up with read-only access to your eSchoolPLUS database.
- Password: Credentials for the user with read-only access
- Server: The server where eSchoolPlus database is hosted (e.g. 172.00.00.000). This should be a private IP address as we will be accessing once connected to your network.
- Port: Port that can be used to access the database
- Database Name: Database name of your eSchoolPLUS database (e.g. districtname)
- System Version Number: Version number found at the bottom left corner of the login box of your PowerSchool admin login page
- VPN Type: The VPN type we should use to securely connect to the server that hosts your SIS
- Contact Email: Email address(es) for the individuals we should contact in the event of connection errors
- Complete the appropriate My Data form for the VPN we should use to securely connect to the server that hosts your SIS. If you do not see your VPN listed on My Data, let us know which of the following types of VPN we can use to access your system: Cisco, F5, IPSec, L2TP, Pulse, SonicWall, and Windows (SSTP).
Setting up Files Exported to sFTP
- Generate file exports for all tables imported via ODBC method above and zip. See export specs attached. When generating exports, please be sure that:
- Files are csvs with Pipe("|") delimiters
- File Names match Table Names in spec
- No header row in files
- Fields with carriage returns are properly escaped or null in the export.
- Column List and order exactly matches the spec.
- If not already provided, request access to a Schoolzilla SFTP site provisioned for your account.
- Schedule exports to drop to "export" folder on the SFTP site provided as a .zip file.
*Virtual Private Network (VPN): VPN gives Schoolzilla a highly secure way of connecting to the server that hosts your SIS. Think of this as the “pipe” that connects Schoolzilla to your data.
**Open Database Connectivity (ODBC): ODBC lets Schoolzilla pull important data out of your SIS and transport it through the secure VPN “pipe.” Think of this as the “valve” that lets Schoolzilla pump data out of your SIS and into your dashboards.