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Version: 8.6

Connect to Camunda 8

To deploy diagrams, start process instances, or test tasks, you must first connect Desktop Modeler to a Camunda 8 Orchestration Cluster. Follow the steps below to connect to Camunda 8 SaaS. To connect to a local installation, visit the Camunda 8 Self-Managed guide.

  1. Click the connection selector. For new installations, this will show No connection. If you have previously selected a connection, it will show the name of that connection.

    No connection button in status bar

  2. To add a new connection, open the settings. You can either click Manage connections, or open the settings directly (Cmd/Ctrl + ,).

    Showing a connection selection popup

    By default, a local c8run connection is already set up. If you have previously used Desktop Modeler to deploy diagrams, those connections will also be available under Unnamed Connection.

  3. Click Add connection.

    Connection manager showing add button

  4. Enter a name, the cluster URL, and the credentials (client ID and client secret) for your API client.

    Connection manager with new connection information filled in

    Desktop Modeler automatically validates the connection. If you have issues connecting to the cluster, see the troubleshooting page.

    Connection manager showing connection error

    If the connection is established successfully, you can go back to the connection selection, where your new connection is now available.

    Connection manager showing connection success

  5. Select the connection you just created to use it for deployment or starting a new process instance.

    New connection selected in connection manager

    note

    As a next step, deploy your diagram.