# IBM Cloud Object Storage (infrastructure) connection #

To access your data in IBM Cloud Object Storage (infrastructure), create a connection asset for it\.

The Cloud Object Storage (infrastructure) connection is for object storage that was formerly on SoftLayer\. SoftLayer was replaced by IBM Cloud\. You cannot provision a new instance for Cloud Object Storage (infrastructure)\. This connection is for users who set up an earlier instance on SoftLayer\.  

## Create a connection to Cloud Object Storage (infrastructure) ##

To create the connection asset, you need this information\.

### Required connection values ###

The **Login URL** is required, plus one of the following values for authentication:

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 *  **Access Key** and **Secret Key**
 *  **Credentials** If you plan to use the S3 API, you must enter an **Access Key**\.  
    
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### Connection values in the Cloud Object Storage Resource list ###

The values for these fields are found in the Cloud Object Storage **Resource list**\.

To find the **Login URL**:

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1.  Go to the Cloud Object Storage **Resource list** at [https://cloud\.ibm\.com/resources](https://cloud.ibm.com/resources)\.
2.  Expand the **Storage** resource\.
3.  Click the Cloud Object Storage service\. From the menu, select **Endpoints**\.
4.  Copy the value of the public endpoint that is in the same region as the bucket that you want to use\.

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To find the values for **Access key** and the **Secret Key**:

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1.  Go to the Cloud Object Storage **Resource list** at [https://cloud\.ibm\.com/resources](https://cloud.ibm.com/resources)\.
2.  Expand the **Storage** resource\.
3.  Click the Cloud Object Storage service, and then click the **Service credentials** tab\.
4.  Expand the Key name that you want to use\. Copy the values without the quotation marks:
5.  **Access Key**: `access_key_id`
6.  **Secret Key**: `secret_access_key`
    
    Note: Alternatively, you can use the contents of the JSON file in **Credentials** to copy the values for the **Access Key** and **Secret Key**.

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To find the **Credentials**:

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1.  Go to the Cloud Object Storage **Resource list** at [https://cloud\.ibm\.com/resources](https://cloud.ibm.com/resources)\.
2.  Expand the **Storage** resource\.
3.  Click the Cloud Object Storage service, and then click the **Service credentials** tab\.
4.  Expand the Key name that you want to use\.
5.  Copy the entire JSON file\. Include the opening and closing braces `{ }` symbols\.

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For **Certificates**  
(Optional) Enter the self\-signed SSL certificate that was created by a tool such as OpenSSL\.

### Choose the method for creating a connection based on where you are in the platform ###

**In a project** : Click **Assets > New asset > Connect to a data source**\. See [Adding a connection to a project](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/manage-data/create-conn.html)\.

**In a deployment space** : Click **Add to space > Connection**\. See [Adding connections to a deployment space](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/analyze-data/ml-space-add-assets.html)\.

**In the Platform assets catalog** : Click **New connection**\. See [Adding platform connections](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/manage-data/platform-conn.html)\.

### Next step: Add data assets from the connection ###

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 *  See [Add data from a connection in a project](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/manage-data/connected-data.html)\.

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## Where you can use this connection ##

**Projects**

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 *  Decision Optimization
 *  SPSS Modeler
 *  Synthetic Data Generator

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**Catalogs**

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 *  Platform assets catalog

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## Supported file types ##

The Cloud Object Storage (infrastructure) connection supports these file types: Avro, CSV, Delimited text, Excel, JSON, ORC, Parquet, SAS, SAV, SHP, and XML\.

## Learn more ##

Related connection: [IBM Cloud Object Storage connection](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/manage-data/conn-cos.html)

**Parent topic:**[Supported connections](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/manage-data/conn_types.html)

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