For those of you using ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) access to export data from Bonterra for custom reporting purposes, you may notice issues connecting if you’re accessing the internet via a different connection (e.g. connecting from home instead of from an office). We highly recommend testing this access at your earliest opportunity to allow sufficient time to request changes, if required.
Requirements for ODBC Access
The requirements for ODBC access remain unchanged – from a security standpoint, we need to associate the ODBC account we create to a static, external IP address. With that in mind, we have the following suggestions for those of you who may be experiencing issues:
Work with your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to secure a static IP address (rather than a dynamic IP, which changes frequently). If you can contact your ISP and request a static IP address, then Penelope can add that static IP address to the ODBC account configuration, which would allow you to use your ODBC access from a different location.
Work with your IT department to set up/use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). It may be possible to configure this VPN in such a way that you would be able to connect using the IP address from the VPN. If this IP address is static, then Penelope would be able to add that IP address to the ODBC account configuration, which would allow you to use your ODBC access from different locations, as long as you were connected to the VPN.
Work with your IT department to set up/allow a remote connection to a computer in your office, which would be connecting to the internet from a static, external IP address. Using this remote connection to the computer in the office, you’d be able to use your reporting software to connect via ODBC. If this computer in your office has a different IP address than the one which you used previously for ODBC access, then Bonterra would need to add the static IP address from this computer to the ODBC account configuration in order to allow a successful connection.
Submit a Request to Add a Static IP Address
To submit a request for an IP address change to your ODBC accounts, please contact the Penelope Support Team.