> OctoPerf load testing - Connecting a Jira notification to Jira Cloud or Jira Data Center.

Source: https://api.octoperf.com/doc/notifications/jira/connection/

# Connecting to Jira

Before OctoPerf can update your board, it needs to connect to your Jira instance. The connection details you provide depend on whether you use **Jira Cloud** or **Jira Data Center**.

## Choosing a connection type

The **Type** field lets you pick how OctoPerf authenticates with Jira:

- **Cloud**: for Jira Cloud (Atlassian-hosted). Uses your account **email** and an **API token**.
- **Data Center - Basic**: for self-hosted Jira, using a **username** and **password**.
- **Data Center - Access Token**: for self-hosted Jira, using a **Personal Access Token** only.

The fields displayed below the Type selector change automatically based on your choice.

### The address (URL)

Whatever type you choose, you must provide the base **URL** of your Jira instance:

- For Jira Cloud, this looks like `https://your-company.atlassian.net`,
- For Jira Data Center, this is the address where your Jira server is reachable.

The address must start with `http` or `https` and point to a valid host. Addresses such as `localhost` are not accepted.

## Jira Cloud

For Jira Cloud, provide:

- The **URL** of your instance (ending in `.atlassian.net`),
- The **Email** of your Atlassian account,
- An **API token** generated from your Atlassian account.

![Jira Cloud connection](https://api.octoperf.com/doc/notifications/jira/img/jira-connection-cloud.png "Jira Cloud connection")

### Creating a Jira Cloud API token

Jira Cloud no longer accepts a password for this kind of integration, so you need an API token instead:

1. Sign in to your Atlassian account and open your **account security** settings.
2. Open the **API tokens** section.
3. Select **Create API token**, give it a name, and confirm.
4. Copy the generated token and paste it into the **Token** field in OctoPerf.

![Create a Jira Cloud API token](https://api.octoperf.com/doc/notifications/jira/img/jira-cloud-api-token.png "Create a Jira Cloud API token")

!!! note
    The token is only shown once by Atlassian, so copy it immediately. Treat it like a password.

## Jira Data Center

Jira Data Center is the self-hosted version of Jira (previously called Jira Server). It offers two ways to authenticate.

### Data Center - Basic

Provide:

- The **URL** of your Jira server,
- Your **Username**,
- Your **Password**.

![Jira Data Center basic connection](https://api.octoperf.com/doc/notifications/jira/img/jira-connection-datacenter-basic.png "Jira Data Center basic connection")

### Data Center - Access Token

This option uses a **Personal Access Token** instead of a username and password. Provide:

- The **URL** of your Jira server,
- The **Token** (your Personal Access Token).

![Jira Data Center access token connection](https://api.octoperf.com/doc/notifications/jira/img/jira-connection-datacenter-token.png "Jira Data Center access token connection")

#### Creating a Personal Access Token

1. In Jira, open your profile and go to the **Personal Access Tokens** section.
2. Select **Create token**, give it a name and, if prompted, an expiry.
3. Copy the generated token and paste it into the **Token** field in OctoPerf.

![Create a Personal Access Token](https://api.octoperf.com/doc/notifications/jira/img/jira-datacenter-pat.png "Create a Personal Access Token")

## Checking the connection

Your credentials are treated as secrets: OctoPerf encrypts them and never displays them again once saved.

Use the **Check connection** button to confirm your details are correct:

- **Connection is not validated**: you have not tested the connection yet. Select the button to check it.
- **Unable to connect with the given info**: the address or credentials are incorrect. Double-check them and try again.
- **Connection invalid / Please fill your connection information**: one or more required fields are still empty.

!!! note
    The board configuration only appears once the connection has been successfully validated. See [Configuring the board and issue workflow](https://api.octoperf.com/doc/notifications/jira/board/).

## Related documentation

- [Jira notifications overview](https://api.octoperf.com/doc/notifications/jira/)
- [Configuring the board and issue workflow](https://api.octoperf.com/doc/notifications/jira/board/)
- [Notifications overview](https://api.octoperf.com/doc/notifications/)