Community Brands / Abila/Avectra VPN Connection Information for AVHOST domain

Please note for windows 10 users you will need to download and configure the sonicwall mobile connect from the Microsoft app store. Older versions can use the legacy instructions on page 7

  1. Click Start > type store > click on store >

  2. Search in the store for SonicWall Mobile Connect. Click on Mobile connect

  3. Click on Install


  1. Click Start > Click the gear > Open Network and Internet.

  2. Click on VPN
  1. Click on Add a VPN connection

  2. For VPN provider, choose SonicWall Mobile Connect, Connection name to recognize the connection, and Servername or Address will be vpn.avectra.com. Click Save

  3. Click on your VPN and click connect.

  4. When you are prompted for credentials, make sure you specify the Domain avhost\username

  5. Check your email for your temporary Password.
  6. Copy and paste your Temporary Password.

  7. You should now be connected.

Once Connected users who have proper authorization may remote desktop to servers or Connect to SQL SSMS.

Using SSMS locally, you must launch SSMS through a batch file.

  1. Open notepad, copy the text below and modify for your username and the location of your SSMS install.
    runas /netonly /user:avhost\jsciacca_avctr "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\130\Tools\Binn\ManagementStudio\Ssms.exe"
  2. File Save – As, Make sure you change the Save as Type to All files (*.*) Name the file with the extension of .bat

  3. Double click your icon. You will be prompted for a password. (password does not show being typed)

  4. When SSMS opens, Type in your servername and click connect. It is not actually using Windows authentication. It is using the authentication from the Batch file.

Legacy instructions for Netextender on Windows 8 / 7 / Vista / XP

  1. Visit using an internet browser program
  2. Login using your AVHOST login
  1. This will result in a one-time password getting sent to your email account associated with your AVHOST login credentials.
  1. Use this one-time password to log in
  1. This will bring you into the VPN menu. Click the NetExtender button. This should download the client. (NOTE: Depending on your organization’s network configuration, you might need to add *.avectra.com to a trusted site for the download to work – if you have problems with that, please contact your companies IT help desk.)

NOTE: You only need to do steps 1-5 the first time that you connect to the VPN. Otherwise you can just launch the VPN from the start menu of your computer

  1. Once the client is downloaded, login using your AVHOST credentials
  1. The VPN will send you a one-time password each time you login, which is a requirement of the PCI Council guidelines.

Once connected, Users who have proper authorization can Remote Desktop to their servers

Using SSMS locally, you must launch SSMS through a batch file.

  1. Open notepad, copy the text below and modify for your username and the location of your SSMS install.
    runas /netonly /user:avhost\jsciacca_avctr "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\130\Tools\Binn\ManagementStudio\Ssms.exe"
  2. File Save – As, Make sure you change the Save as Type to All files (*.*) Name the file with the extension of .bat

  3. Double click your icon. You will be prompted for a password. (password does not show being typed)

When SSMS opens, Type in your servername and click connect. It is not actually using Windows authentication. It is using the authentication from the Batch file.