The ReachPlus Alerts Connectivity Manager (RPCM) is a software tool that helps you configure your Windows machine for ReachPlus Alerts.

The tool automatically starts in Wizard Mode during the installation process for ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Server and ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Client and guides you through the process of configuring your machine so that ReachPlus Alerts can function properly. You can also run the RPCM tool anytime after the installation by clicking the Start button, pointing to the tekAlign -> ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced) -> Server or tekAlign -> ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced) -> Client menu and choosing the 'ReachPlus Alerts Connectivity Manager' menu item.

The ReachPlus Alerts Connectivity Manager can perform the following tasks when configuring the machine:

1. Windows Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) Configuration

RPCM lets you configure the Microsoft Windows Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) such that it allows ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Server to accept incoming connections and allows ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Client to receive multicasts. The former is necessary for ReachPlus Alerts Server to function while the later enables the ReachPlus Alerts Client to automatically discover the Server on the network. Also, if the ICF is configured to disallow all incoming connections (that is, if the 'Don't allow exceptions' checkbox is checked on the 'General' tab in the Windows Firewall Control Panel applet), RPCM will configure the Firewall to allow exceptions as well.

2. Windows Messenger Service Configuration

In order to receive Alerts on a Windows machine that does not have ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Client installed, Windows Messenger Service must be enabled and running. The RPCM tool optionally allows you to configure the Messenger Service so that Alerts can be delivered via the Messenger Service. Following is a step by step guide to configuring the system using the ReachPlus Alerts Connectivity Manager tool:

The above is a screenshot of the first screen of the RPCM Wizard. The RPCM tool will automatically run as part of the installation process for ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Server and ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Client. Alternatively, you can also start the RPCM tool by clicking the Start button, pointing to the tekAlign -> ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced) -> Server or tekAlign -> ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced) -> Client menu and choosing the 'ReachPlus Alerts Connectivity Manager' menu item.

In this screenshot, the section titled Windows Internet Connection Firewall shows that the Windows Internet Connection Firewall needs to be configured for both ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Server as well as ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Client applications. The section titled Windows Messenger Service shows that the Messenger Service is either stopped or disabled.

Click Next to Continue

On the second screen of the RPCM wizard, in the section titled Windows Internet Connection Firewall, you can choose to allow incoming connections for ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Server and ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Client applications.

If you want ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Server to be able to receive incoming connections, check the 'Configure Windows Firewall for ReachPlus Alerts Server' checkbox. If you want to allow ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Client to be able to automatically discover the ReachPlus Alerts Server by using multicasting, check the 'Configure Windows Firewall for ReachPlus Alerts Advanced Client' checkbox.

In the section titled Windows Messenger Service, you can see that the Messenger Service is currently disabled and stopped. If you wish to use the Messenger Service to receive Alerts on this machine, please check the 'Configure the Messenger Service to receive Alerts' checkbox.

Click Next to Continue

The final screen of the Wizard displays a detailed summary of operations that were performed by RPCM.

Please note that when either ReachPlus Alerts Server or ReachPlus Alerts Client is un-installed, the un-install process fully reverses all the relevant changes made by ReachPlus Alerts Connectivity Manager.