# Aventail Connect

Source: [https://docs.aventail.co.uk/docs/connect/overview](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/docs/connect/overview)

Aventail™ Connect configures supported apps to send their model requests through **Aventail™ Link**. Start a compatible model, open **Connected apps** in Link and choose **Connect**. Link handles the supported app's connection settings for you.

You need a registered Link device and the app installed on the same computer. For your first check, [download and serve a compatible model](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/docs/getting-started/quickstartguide#deploy). Coding tools also need suitable model tool support and enough context and memory for the task.

## Example: connect Claude

The same connection pattern applies to the supported apps listed below. The macOS example was recorded on **23 October 2026**, using Claude Desktop and a model displayed as **Gemma4**. Your model name can differ.

### From a serving model to Claude

Reviewed macOS captures from 23 October 2026. Gemma4 is the captured model, not a requirement for every device.

1.  **Confirm the model is ready**
    
    Gemma4 shows Ready to serve and loads on its first request. Use a compatible model with enough memory and context for your task.
    
    [Screenshot: Gemma4 marked Ready to serve in Link, with Stop serving and Serving settings controls.](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/img/link/connect/aventail-models-ready.png)
    
2.  **Check the connected status**
    
    The Claude row shows Connected · Gemma4. Read the line below it: Claude Desktop uses Link when it next opens. Your model name can differ.
    
    [Screenshot: Connected apps showing Claude connected to Gemma4 and a Disconnect button.](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/img/link/connect/aventail-claude-connected.png)
    
3.  **Open Claude Desktop**
    
    After the connection is applied, reopen Claude Desktop and select the connected model. The captured view shows Gemma4 via Aventail; use a harmless prompt before introducing real work.
    
    [Screenshot: Fresh Claude Desktop composer showing Gemma4 via Aventail, without private chats.](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/img/link/connect/claude-gemma-via-aventail.png)
    
4.  **Check where the request ran**
    
    A successful response and an app model label are not a destination record. Review the effective policy and Recent usage in Control.
    
    -   Fresh Claude session: Wait for a pending connection to apply first.
    -   Harmless question: Check the completed answer.
    -   Recent usage: Confirm local, peer or approved provider processing.

**Watch the recorded Claude connection**

[Open the Claude connection recording](https://aventail.co.uk/__l5e/assets-v1/f0859c6f-b52f-4110-a509-23a626fe61aa/aventail-claude-screen-studio-v2.mp4).

Silent recording, 23 October 2026. Open Link from the menu bar, open Connected apps and choose Connect beside Claude. The status changes through Connecting to Connected · Gemma4. Claude Desktop is closed during the change and uses Link when next opened. The written steps below give the full procedure.

Check the processing destination

Connect governs model requests. A routing policy can send them to an approved peer or hosted provider, even when the app connects to a local address. Peer and hosted routing are in beta; provider requests leave this computer and may incur charges. Review the app's file access, tools, storage and other network activity separately.

**Read the app connection and verification steps**

## Connect an installed app

1.  In Link's **Models** tab, choose a compatible model and select **Start serving**. Wait for **Ready to serve**. The model may load on its first request.
2.  Open **Connected apps**, find the app and choose **Connect**. Apps Link cannot find appear under **Other supported apps**; install the app on this computer first.
3.  Read the status beneath the app. If a change is waiting for Claude to close, finish the open work and fully quit Claude Desktop or close the Claude Code sessions concerned. Closing a desktop window alone may only hide it. Link does not quit or restart another app for you.
4.  Open a fresh session and send a harmless question. In the Claude Desktop example, select **Gemma4 via Aventail** in its model picker. This connects Claude to the chosen model; it does not run Anthropic's Claude model weights locally.
5.  Confirm a completed answer, then check the effective policy and **Recent usage** in Control to establish where the request ran. A model label or successful response alone is not proof of the destination. See [routing verification](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/docs/fleet/routing#check-delivery-and-requests).

For the supported automatic setup, you do not need to invent a provider entry, edit an API endpoint or paste a provider key into the app. Organisation-managed settings can prevent a connection; ask the administrator rather than overriding them.

## Supported apps

-   **Claude Desktop:** choose **Claude** in Link. After the connection is applied, reopen Claude Desktop and choose the connected model. Fully quit it from its menu or tray when Link is waiting for it to close.
-   **Claude Code:** uses the same **Claude** connection. Choose the serving model in Link and start a fresh session once the change finishes. This Connect path does not require an Anthropic account.
-   **OpenCode:** choose **OpenCode** in Link. Check that the model supports coding tools and has enough context. The app's own web tools and plugins have separate settings.
-   **Codex CLI, editor extension and desktop app:** choose **Codex** in Link. They share Codex's user configuration. Open sessions keep their model; the desktop app takes up changes when it next starts.

The Codex connection uses the Responses API. The reviewed route supports local models, peers and OpenAI; other cloud providers are not supported for Codex on this path.

While Claude Code uses the Connect gateway, account-based claude.ai connectors are unavailable. Locally configured MCP servers and plugins retain their own settings and data flows.

App, operating-system, model and runtime versions affect compatibility. Successful chat does not establish reliable tool use, long-context work or session resumption. See [compatibility and versions](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/docs/introduction/versions-and-supported-models).

For other clients, use the [Link integration reference](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/docs/integration/your-own-software). The existing [Continue in VS Code](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/docs/integration/vscode), [Open WebUI](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/docs/integration/openwebui), [Obsidian](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/docs/integration/obsidian) and [OpenClaw](https://docs.aventail.co.uk/docs/integration/openclaw) guides describe their own configuration paths.

## Disconnect or recover

Choose **Disconnect** beside the app. Link restores the settings it changed while preserving unrelated edits. Read any warning if settings were edited or cannot be restored automatically. A Claude change may wait for the relevant sessions or desktop app to close; **Cancel the change** cancels a waiting change.

Once the change finishes, reopen the app or start a fresh session. Check the restored provider and model before continuing: a previous configuration may use another service. Codex sessions already open keep their current model until they end.

| Symptom | Next check |
| --- | --- |
| App not found | Install the supported app on this computer, then return to Connected apps. |
| No model available | Check that a compatible model is **Ready to serve**. A remote-only setup needs a supported, applied routing policy. |
| A change is waiting | Finish the Claude sessions or fully quit Claude Desktop as requested, then inspect the status again. |
| An unexpected model answers | Start a fresh session and check the configured default, effective route and Recent usage. |
| Chat works but coding fails | Test model tool support and context capacity; retain the actual error rather than weakening application permissions. |

You can also inspect connections and waiting changes from a terminal:

```bash
aventail connect --list
```

## Related guides

-   [Use open models in Claude with Aventail™](https://aventail.co.uk/guides/claude-code-with-aventail-connect). Follow the illustrated Connect walkthrough for Claude Desktop and Claude Code.
-   [How to use OpenCode with Aventail™ Connect](https://aventail.co.uk/guides/opencode-with-aventail-connect). Connect an installed OpenCode app and verify where its model requests ran.