Launch and log in to a VPN Client

[jlcalbre]

I have many jobs that require me to pull data from a MYSQL database over a VPN.  I'd like to issue a SAS command to launch the Cisco VPN client and log in automatically insteead of having to manually log in each time.  Is that possible from SAS?  I use SAS to launch other things like EXcel and Outlook and issue commands to those applications but I can't find anything that looks like what Iam trying to do with the VPN.  Thanks.

[art297]

Can you create a shortcut for the VPN client and simply launch the shortcut?

[jlcalbre]

The problem isn't so much launching the actual program but selecting the connection and passing the log-in info from SAS to the Cisco client to complete the connection.

[art297]

Can that info be saved in the shortcut?  I haven't used a Cisco client, but have always been able to setup shortcuts to include all necessary ids and passwords.