Configure JFrog Account

JFrog Connect enables you to link your JFrog Platform account so you can seamlessly pull artifacts from the Artifactory binary repository in your OTA updates.

Binary Repositories

A binary repository stores binary artifacts, such as compiled executable files and container images, along with metadata in a defined directory structure, conceptually similar to a source code repository. The metadata describes the binary software artifact and includes information such as dependencies, versioning, and build promotions.

When you link your binary repository with JFrog Connect, you enable Connect to pull artifacts directly from the repository or to pull container images directly from a container registry. This enables automation of your software updates and creates an infrastructure for you to build consistent and easy update flows.

Default Repository Accounts

When you register to JFrog Connect, a default instance of the JFrog Platform will be automatically created and linked to your instance of Connect.

Some of the action blocks in the JFrog Connect workflows require you to have a link to an account in a binary repository. (For container images, the repository is also referred to as a container registry.) Information about the default registry account appears in the configurations of action blocks that pull from repositories. For example, in the Deploy Containers action block, you can see that the JFrog Default container registry is chosen.

If you selected Default Registry Account, the Artifacts and Release Bundle action blocks will show the default link to your JFrog Platform account as in the example below.

Additional Accounts

Links to Artifactory accounts are defined in the action block configuration of an update flow. If you would like to create an additional link to an Artifactory account, you can do so in the action block configurations when you create a new update flow. The procedures are slightly different depending on the action block.

Link Account from Deploy Containers Action Block

When you specify a container registry in the action block configuration, you enable the Connect Agent to pull container images directly from Artifactory.

In JFrog Connect, go to Updates in the sidebar and click Create Update Flow.

Drag Deploy Containers and drop it in the update flow.

Click the action block to open it for editing and click Other Registry.

Do either this step or step 5. If you just want to switch to a different account that is already linked, under Registry Account choose another account from the dropdown list.

If you want to link to a new registry account, click Add Account and complete the following information:
- Registry Provider: Choose JFrog Artifactory.
- Account Display Name: Choose a name for the account.
- JFrog Platform URL: Enter the URL of the JFrog account.
- JFrog Username: Enter the username for login to the account.
- Access Token: Enter the token to use for linking to the account. (See below for the procedure to generate a token.)

Save the account and create the rest of the update flow.

Link Account from Artifacts or Release Bundle Action Block

When you define artifacts or a release bundle in the action block configuration, you enable the Connect Agent to pull artifacts or a release bundle directly from Artifactory. This is an important step in automating the deployment process.

fIn JFrog Connect, go to Updates in the sidebar and click Create Update Flow.
Drag either Artifacts or Release Bundle and drop it in the update flow.

Click the action block to open it for editing.
Do either this step or step 5. If you just want to switch to a different account that is already linked, by JFrog Account choose another account from the dropdown list.

If you want to create a connection to a new account, click Add Account and complete the following information:
- Display Name: Choose a name for the account.
- JFrog Platform URL: Enter the URL of the JFrog account.
- JFrog Username: Enter the username for login to the account.
- Access Token: Enter the token to use for linking to the account. (See below for the procedure to generate a token.)

Save the account and create the rest of the update flow.

Generate an Access Token

The access token provides a means of authentication when the JFrog Connect Agent requests an artifact from an Artifactory repository. Without a valid token, Connect will not be able to pull the artifacts requested.

To generate a new access token, refer to Access Tokens in the JFrog documentation.

When you generate a new token, it is important to note the following:

Expiration Date: An expired access token will cause an update deployment to fail.
Service Permissions: For using JFrog action blocks, request the Artifactory service permission.