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Understand Connect Keys

A Connect key binds a device to your JumpCloud organization when you install the JumpCloud Agent. You need a Connect key for each new agent installation, including reinstalls.

Considerations:

  • Each JumpCloud admin or user has a unique Connect key.
  • Admin-generated Connect keys never expire.
  • User-generated Connect keys are valid for one hour. Users can generate a new key if theirs expires before installation completes.
  • Users can retrieve a Connect key from the User Portal only if an admin has enabled remote agent install. See Enable Users to Install the JumpCloud Agent.

Connect Key Format​

The Connect key format is longer than the previous format and contains information to standardize, secure, and more efficiently connect devices to orgs in JumpCloud.

The current format has the following properties:

  • Prefixed with jcc_ to allow easy recognition that it is a JumpCloud Connect key
  • Base64-encoded to make it easy to copy and paste
  • Simple JSON-encoded values

Old format example:

64b6ada5c3e6b21addb4f24935d4ececa6610205

New format example:

jcc_eyJwdWJsaWNLaWNrc3RhcnRVcmwiOiJodHRwOi8va2lja3N0YXJ0LWluc2VjdXJlLmp1bXBjbG91ZC5sb2NhbCIsInByaXZhdGVLaWNrc3RhcnRVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3ByaXZhdGUta2lja3N0YXJ0Lmp1bXBjbG91ZC5sb2NhbCIsImNvbm5lY3RLZXkiOiI1OWUwYzM0MDk1OGU3NDUwZmQ3YjA2ZmFlYmVkNzZhNDllNzM1NTgxIn0g

Existing Connect keys remain fully functional and do not require regeneration.

Find the Connect Key in the Admin Portal​

To find the Connect key in the Admin Portal:

  1. Log in to the JumpCloud Admin Portal.
Important

If your data is stored outside of the US, check which login URL you should be using depending on your region. If your organization uses LDAP, RADIUS, or requires firewall allow list configuration, the Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) will also be region specific. See JumpCloud Data Centers for the URLs, FQDNs, and IP addresses.

  1. Go to Device Management > Devices, then select the Devices tab.
  2. Click + Device.
  3. Select the operating system tab and locate the Connect key:
    • Mac: Click the Mac tab, then select Install via Mac Agent. The Connect key appears below the download link.
    • Windows: Click the Windows tab. With Install via MSI Download selected, the Connect key appears below the download link.
    • Linux: Click the Linux tab. The Connect key is already included in the displayed install command.

Find the Connect Key in the User Portal​

To find the Connect key in the User Portal:

  1. Log in to the JumpCloud User Portal.
  2. Go to Security.
  3. Under JumpCloud Device Enrollment, select the operating system for the device.
  4. Click Generate Key, then copy the key.

For full User Portal download and install steps, see Install the JumpCloud Agent from the User Portal.

Use the Connect Key During Installation​

  1. Download and launch the JumpCloud Agent installer for the device's operating system, or use the Linux install command from the Admin Portal.
  2. When prompted, paste the Connect key you copied from the Admin Portal or User Portal.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation.

See also Install or Uninstall the JumpCloud Agent.

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