--- title: "Connecting the Agent to a CTERA Portal" slug: "connecting-the-agent-to-a-ctera-portal-2-1" tags: ["Windows", "Protect", "Agent", "Share", "7.12", "Drive"] updated: 2026-06-07T06:39:24Z published: 2026-06-07T06:39:24Z canonical: "kb.ctera.com/connecting-the-agent-to-a-ctera-portal-2-1" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.ctera.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Connecting the Agent to a CTERA Portal Users logging on to a PC running a CTERA Agent, with CAC, Common Access Card, are automatically and transparently authenticated to the CTERA Portal. Single sign-on (SSO) to the CTERA Portal must be defined in Microsoft Active Directory, using the Kerberos protocol. When validating the CTERA Portal certificate, certificate revocation checking is performed using CAPI/OSB revocation checks. **To connect to a CTERA Portal:** 1. Click the CTERA Agent tray icon, ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-W6GSAGTL.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A29%3A14Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A29%3A14Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2BX1MihGBe9Gl5jPJtmRUdOhV4aI78MZeMZa0z1biSIo%3D), in the taskbar. The **Welcome to CTERA Agent** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-UUIDKELB.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A29%3A14Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A29%3A14Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2BX1MihGBe9Gl5jPJtmRUdOhV4aI78MZeMZa0z1biSIo%3D) **Note** If the CTERA Agent tray icon is hidden, click the up-arrow in the notification area of the taskbar to display hidden icons. 2. Enter the CTERA Portal's DNS name or IP address. Alternatively, if you want to configure CTERA Agent to connect to the CTERA Portal via a proxy: - Click **Advanced**. - In the **Advanced** window, configure the proxy settings. For details, see [Setting Up Connection Via a Web Proxy](/v1/docs/connecting-the-agent-to-a-ctera-portal-2l#setting-up-connection-via-a-web-proxy). 3. Click **Continue**. **Note** If the CTERA Portal sends an unknown or untrusted CA certificate, a warning is displayed when connecting the agent to the portal, offering the option to proceed anyway. ![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-53S43PFB.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A29%3A14Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A29%3A14Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2BX1MihGBe9Gl5jPJtmRUdOhV4aI78MZeMZa0z1biSIo%3D) The sign-in window is displayed unless single sign-on (SSO) has been defined configured and you then use SSO to access the CTERA Agent. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-LGZEI282.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A29%3A14Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A29%3A14Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2BX1MihGBe9Gl5jPJtmRUdOhV4aI78MZeMZa0z1biSIo%3D) 4. Enter your username and password for accessing the CTERA Portal and click **Sign in**. A message that the login was successful is displayed, the CTERA Agent tray icon changes to ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-U9A887LX.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A29%3A14Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A29%3A14Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2BX1MihGBe9Gl5jPJtmRUdOhV4aI78MZeMZa0z1biSIo%3D) and the **CTERA Agent** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-RME7EQ4W.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A29%3A14Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A29%3A14Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2BX1MihGBe9Gl5jPJtmRUdOhV4aI78MZeMZa0z1biSIo%3D) If the CTERA Agent is **not** licensed for backup, and only CTERA Drive Share is available, the **CTERA Agent** window is displayed. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-K81UOMAW.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A29%3A14Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A29%3A14Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2BX1MihGBe9Gl5jPJtmRUdOhV4aI78MZeMZa0z1biSIo%3D) ## Setting Up Connection Via a Web Proxy CTERA Agent supports HTTPS proxies that support the CONNECT method. If you want CTERA Agent to connect to the CTERA Portal via a proxy, you can configure the proxy before you sign into CTERA Agent. The following proxy authentication schemes are supported: - Basic - NTLM - NTLMv2 Note Using a proxy auto-config (PAC) file is not supported. **To set up a connection to the CTERA Portal via a web proxy:** 1. In the **Welcome to CTERA Agent** window, click **Advanced**. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/30792387-cdcb-4791-aa14-94929bbcd3fe/Images/Documentation/image-HJKWWHM6.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-11T04%3A29%3A14Z&se=2026-11-11T05%3A29%3A14Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=%2BX1MihGBe9Gl5jPJtmRUdOhV4aI78MZeMZa0z1biSIo%3D) 2. Select an option from the **Proxy Settings** drop-down list. **No Proxy** – A proxy server is not used. **Use HTTP Proxy** – CTERA Agent uses the proxy you configure to connect to the CTERA Portal server: **Auto** – CTERA Agent attempts to automatically determine your proxy settings according to your Windows settings. Automatic proxy detection is based on the system-wide proxy settings, which are not the same as the browser settings. Configure the system proxy settings using the following command: `netsh winhttp set proxy <settings>` - **Address** – The address of the proxy server. - **Port** – The proxy server port number. 3. Check **Proxy server requires a password** if the proxy server requires authentication via a username and password: - **Username** – The username for authenticating to the proxy server. - **Password** – The password. 4. Click **Save**. Note The proxy settings set in the **Advanced** window are saved as the default proxy settings. If you connect not using these proxy settings and then use the proxy settings again, these default settings are displayed.