---
title: Add a Host to access an Application Server
canonical: https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/
product: CloudConnexa Docs
description: You can access applications running on a server, computer, network-attached storage (NAS), or any computing device that can set up an OpenVPN tunnel. The computing device you need to access is a Host in CloudConnexa.
keywords: application server
---

# Add a Host to access an Application Server

You can access applications running on a server, computer, network-attached storage (NAS), or any computing device that can set up an OpenVPN tunnel. The computing device you need to access is a **Host** in CloudConnexa. The connection profile used by the OpenVPN client or Connector on the computing device creates an outbound, always-on connection to CloudConnexa. The Host is reachable by the tunnel IP address(es) assigned to its Connector(s). If a domain name is provided to it, it is also accessible via that domain name. CloudConnexa round robins the domain name resolution among the tunnel IP addresses of all the Connectors to distribute the load evenly among all the servers if there are multiple Connectors for the Host.

The **Add Host** configuration starts with a configuration wizard that can be skipped to continue with the form-based Host configuration.

It is recommended that you use the Wizard for the following reasons:

- The collection of information and action sequencing is done logically, making it easier to understand and connect your Host.
- Connector installation and testing are integrated as one of the steps.
- Additional steps outside the Host configuration are also included to ensure proper setup.

## Add a Host using the Configuration Wizard

To add a Host, follow the steps below:

1. Sign in to your WPC's Administration Portal at your **Cloud ID** address (for example, `yourcompany.openvpn.com`).
2. Navigate to **Hosts \> Hosts**.
3. Click **Add Host**.
4. The Host Configuration wizard is displayed with a progress bar on the right that leads you through five steps:
   1. [Define Host](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/#define-host)
   2. [Deploy Host Connector](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/#deploy-host-connector)
   3. [Add Application (Optional)](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/#add-application--optional--125925)
   4. [Add IP Service (Optional)](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/#N1712338382582)
   5. [Configure Access Group (Optional)](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/#configure-access-group--optional--125925)

   The configuration [wizard can be skipped](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/#skip-wizard-to-add-host) by clicking **Skip Wizard**.

### Define Host

1. Enter a Host **Name**.
2. (Optional) Enter the Host **Domain Name** (ex: myhost.example.com).

   > **Note**
   >
   > You must add a domain name here to add an Application to the Host.
3. (Optional) Enter a **Description**.
4. In the **Connector** section, edit the default **Name** and **Region** if needed and optionally add a description.
5. Click **Add Additional Connector** to configure more Connectors.
6. Click **Next** to move to the next step of the Wizard.

### Deploy Host Connector

1. Select the Operating System or the IaaS provider where you will install the Connector from the **Provider Type** drop-down menu. Refer to [About Connectors](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/get-started/about-cloudconnexa/cloudconnexa-connectors.md) and [About Host Connectors](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---connectors/about-host-connectors.md).

   > **Note**
   >
   > The connection profile for the Connector can be downloaded as a .ovpn file after the Host is configured. Refer to [View, make changes, and delete a Host](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/view-make-changes-and-delete-a-host.md)
2. Follow the displayed steps to install the Connector.
3. Click **Next** to move to the next step of the Wizard.
4. A test is run to check if the Connector is online. Click **Next** if it passes. If it fails, click **Back to Instructions** to see the installation steps or click **Proceed Without Testing** to continue with the configuration.

   > **Note**
   >
   > If multiple Connectors were added in the [Define Host](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/#define-host) section, the deploy Connector steps will repeat for the additional Connectors.

### Add Application (Optional)

An Application can be configured only if the Host has been given a domain name. Refer to [About Host Applications](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---applications/about-host-applications.md).

1. Click **Next** to skip adding an Application, or click **Add Application** and continue.
2. Provide a **Name** for the Application.
3. Add an optional **Description**.
4. Change the **All** for **Application Type (Host) protocols** to select specific application protocols to permit while restricting all others.
5. Optionally, provide a subdomain name for the Application in the **Domain** field.
6. Click **Add Application**.

   The newly added Application will be listed. Click **Add Application** to add additional Applications.
7. Click **Next** to move to the next step of the Wizard.

### Add IP Service (Optional)

1. Click **Next** to skip adding an IP Service, or click **Add IP Service** and continue.
2. Provide a **Name** for the IP Service.
3. Add an optional **Description**.
4. Change **All** for **Service Type (Host protocols)** to select specific application protocols to permit while restricting all others.
5. Click **Add IP Service**.

   The newly added IP Service will be listed. Click **Add IP Service** to add additional IP Services.
6. Click **Next** to move to the next step of the Wizard.

### Configure Access Group (Optional)

Refer to [About Access Groups](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/access/access---groups/about-access-groups.md).

> **Note**
>
> For Access Groups to take effect, the **Topology** of the **WPC** must be set to **Custom.** Refer to [Topology](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/settings/settings---wpc/set-wpc-topology-to-control-the-applicability-of-access-control.md).

1. Click **Finish** to conclude the configuration wizard, or click **Add Access Group** and continue.
2. Provide a **Name** and, optionally, a **Description**.
3. Expand/Collapse and search the **Hosts, Networks, and User Groups** sections in the **Source** column to find the entity that you want to give access to.
4. Click on the check boxes of the source entities to select.
5. Expand/Collapse and search the **Hosts, Networks, and User Groups** sections in the **Destination** column to find the resources you want access to be granted. You will see an **Applications shared with you** section as a **Destination** if you have accepted access to shared applications using **AppHub**. Refer to [Access control](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/apphub/app-client-controls-access-to-the-shared-applications.md)
6. Click on the check boxes of destination resources to select.
7. Click **Add Access Group.**

   The newly added Access Group will be listed. Click **Add Access Group** to add additional Access Groups.
8. Click **Finish** to complete the configuration wizard.

You will see a detailed view of the newly configured Host. Refer to [View, make changes, and delete a Host](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/view-make-changes-and-delete-a-host.md)

> **Warning**
>
> After adding an **Access Group**, delete the **Default Full Mesh Access Group** if it exits. The continued presence of the **Default Full Mesh Access Group** will make other **Access Groups** ineffective.

### Tutorial showing how to add a Host with the configuration wizard

## Skip Wizard to add Host

When the Host configuration wizard is skipped, instead of a step-by-step wizard, a form-based entry is provided that collects the information needed for the sections below:

1. [Define Host](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/#define-host)
2. [Add Application (Optional)](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/#add-application--optional--125925)
3. [Add IP Service (Optional)](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/add-a-host-to-access-an-application-server/#N1712338382582)

Click **Add Host** to submit the configuration and you will see a detailed view of the newly configured Host. Refer to [View, make changes, and delete a Host](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/view-make-changes-and-delete-a-host.md)

The Connector needs to be deployed after the Host has been added. Refer to [Deploy a Host Connector for a configured Host](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---connectors/deploy-a-host-connector-for-a-configured-host.md). Any needed Access Groups also need to be added separately. Refer to [About Access Groups](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/access/access---groups/about-access-groups.md).

---

Prev: [About Hosts](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/about-hosts.md)
Next: [View, make changes, and delete a Host](https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/owner/hosts/hosts---hosts/view-make-changes-and-delete-a-host.md)
Index: https://openvpn.net/cloud-docs/llms.txt