# Ping the server

Source: https://developer.avalara.com/vat-ecom/authentication-in-avatax/ping/

After you set up your authentication method, use `ping` once to verify that the service is up.

```
curl  -X GET  -H 'Accept: application/json'  -H 'Authorization: Basic aHR0cHdhdGNoOmY='  'https://sandbox-rest.avatax.com/api/v2/utilities/ping'
```

You'll see a response similar to the following upon success:

```
{  "version": "1.0.0.0",  "authenticated": true,  "authenticationType": "UsernamePassword",  "authenticatedUserName": "TestUser",  "authenticatedUserId": 98765,  "authenticatedAccountId": 123456789,  "authenticatedCompanyId": 123456789,  "crmid": "1111"}
```

**Advice:**  
You only need to use `ping` once. If you want to verify periodically that the service is running, use a webhook and subscribe to [status.avalara.com](http://status.avalara.com) instead of pinging multiple times.