ReachPlus Alerts Advanced - FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions about ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced). We have tried to address almost all the basic FAQ's, so hope you will find your answer's for a greater ReachPlus experience.
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ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced) Server
Will the ReachPlus Alerts Server or ReachPlus Alerts Console run on my Win95/98/SE/ME machine?
ReachPlus Alerts Server and ReachPlus Alerts Console will only run on Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2004 or Windows XP class machine.
Is the ReachPlus Server required to install or run on the same machine as the ReachPlus Alerts Console?
No. ReachPlus Alerts Server can run on the same server as ReachPlus Alerts Console or on a different server
What is the purpose of the ReachPlus Alerts Server?
ReachPlus Alerts Client and ReachPlus Alerts Console connect to the server. The clients connect for receiving alerts and the console is used to send out information and alerts to the clients connected to the ReachPlus Alerts Server.
What other information (if any) is stored on the ReachPlus Alerts Server?
All IP Ranges and Group information is stored on the ReachPlus Alerts Server. This enables administrators to connect to the server from any machine using a ReachPlus Alerts Console and use the already defined IP ranges and groups.
Where are the Quick Alerts and the Scheduled Alerts stored?
Quick Alerts and the Scheduled Alerts are maintained and stored by ReachPlus Alerts Console on the computer where the console is installed.
Can the ReachPlus Alerts Console connect to more than one ReachPlus Alerts Server?
Yes, but each server shall have its own copy of IP ranges and Groups. This information is not shared between ReachPlus Alerts Servers.
Multiple Issues
I have a problem. Only users belonging to the "Administrators" group are able to connect remotely to ReachPlus Alerts Server on Windows 2003. How do I fix this?
Users who do not belong to the "Administrators" group are not able to connect to the ReachPlus Alerts Server after the installation of Windows 2003 Service Pack 1. What gives?
Does ReachPlus Alerts have any Windows 2003 Service Pack 1 related Issues?
Due to the security enhancements to DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) introduced in Windows 2003 Service Pack 1 users who were earlier able to connect remotely to ReachPlus Alerts Server are denied access.
To fix this problem, do the following:
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ReachPlus Alerts Server and ReachPlus Alerts Console will only run on Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2004 or Windows XP class machine.
Is the ReachPlus Server required to install or run on the same machine as the ReachPlus Alerts Console?
No. ReachPlus Alerts Server can run on the same server as ReachPlus Alerts Console or on a different server
What is the purpose of the ReachPlus Alerts Server?
ReachPlus Alerts Client and ReachPlus Alerts Console connect to the server. The clients connect for receiving alerts and the console is used to send out information and alerts to the clients connected to the ReachPlus Alerts Server.
What other information (if any) is stored on the ReachPlus Alerts Server?
All IP Ranges and Group information is stored on the ReachPlus Alerts Server. This enables administrators to connect to the server from any machine using a ReachPlus Alerts Console and use the already defined IP ranges and groups.
Where are the Quick Alerts and the Scheduled Alerts stored?
Quick Alerts and the Scheduled Alerts are maintained and stored by ReachPlus Alerts Console on the computer where the console is installed.
Can the ReachPlus Alerts Console connect to more than one ReachPlus Alerts Server?
Yes, but each server shall have its own copy of IP ranges and Groups. This information is not shared between ReachPlus Alerts Servers.
Multiple Issues
I have a problem. Only users belonging to the "Administrators" group are able to connect remotely to ReachPlus Alerts Server on Windows 2003. How do I fix this?
Users who do not belong to the "Administrators" group are not able to connect to the ReachPlus Alerts Server after the installation of Windows 2003 Service Pack 1. What gives?
Does ReachPlus Alerts have any Windows 2003 Service Pack 1 related Issues?
Due to the security enhancements to DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) introduced in Windows 2003 Service Pack 1 users who were earlier able to connect remotely to ReachPlus Alerts Server are denied access.
To fix this problem, do the following:
- Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Component Services.
- Expand the Component Services\Computers\My Computer\DCOM Config container.
- Right-click ReachPlusAlerts, and then click Properties.
- On the Security tab, under Launch and Activation Permissions, select the "Customize" radio button and then click the Edit button.
- Assign 'Local Launch', 'Remote Launch', 'Local Activation' and 'Remote Activation' rights to the built-in group 'Distributed COM Users'. This group has been introduced by Windows 2003 Server Pack 1.
- Make the Windows NT user group you have created, that can connect to ReachPlus Alerts Server remotely, a member of 'Distributed COM Users'.
- The Windows NT user group should also be listed in the 'Configure NT Security...' dialog of ReachPlus Alerts Console.
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ReachPlus Console
What is the purpose of the ReachPlus Alerts Console?
ReachPlus Alerts Console has dual functionality. On one hand, it functions as a control panel for the administrator for configuring the various ReachPlus Alerts Server options, creating user accounts etc. On the other hand, it is used to initiate alert messages to all or select users on the network.
Can I use more than one ReachPlus Alerts Console to connect to a ReachPlus Alerts Server?
Yes, you can.
Can I manage more than one ReachPlus Alerts Servers from the same ReachPlus Alerts Console?
Yes, you can. Select "Connect to ReachPlus Alerts Server..." on the Tools menu, specify ReachPlus Alerts Server's IP address or hostname in the dialog box and click the "Connect" button.
I have installed ReachPlus Alerts Server and getting the message that "Demo license has expired"
Please contact tekAlign Sales (sales@tekAlign.com) if you wish to extend the evaluation period.
What are the system requirements to run the ReachPlus Alerts Console?
ReachPlus Alerts Console has almost the same system requirements as the ReachPlus Alerts Server. It will run on Windows NT, 2000, 2003 or XP class machines with 256 Megabytes of RAM and at least 30 Megabyte of disk space.
How many characters can I send using ReachPlus Alerts server?
If using ReachPlus Alerts Server and Client, the limit is 1024 characters per message. Without the ReachPlus Alerts client, the limit is approximately 800 characters using the default Messenger Service.
I installed a demo version of ReachPlus and now wish to purchase it. What do I do next?
Please use our website to purchase a retail license and install the license in your license directory to activate it. It is that simple. You do not have to reinstall or upgrade the application.
Why does ReachPlus Alerts Basic use ping?
When sending messages, some of the hosts might be offline. In order to detect if a host is offline or online, ReachPlus Alerts Basic uses ping. If a given host is found offline, ReachPlus Alerts does not attempt to send the message to that host which results in faster transmission of messages. You can also set ping timeouts for machines outside your network.
What does the "Force Popup Window on ReachPlus Alerts Client" option mean?
ReachPlus Alerts Client can display new messages either by popping up a new window or in the form of a balloon tool-tip. (The balloon tool-tip is supported on Windows Me, 2000 and XP only). ReachPlus Alerts Client users can choose to turnoff the viewing of messages in the form of a popup window. The administrator can override this setting by using the "Force Popup Window on Client" option for urgent or important messages.
Does ReachPlus Alerts Server support different fonts and colors?
Yes it does. Apart from the ability to send different fonts, and colors, font sizes are also supported. You will, however, need to have the ReachPlus Alerts Client running on the client computers to use this feature. The default messenger service does not support use of fonts, font sizes and colors.
What are Quick Alerts?
In order to cater to the need of sending emergency Alerts quickly, ReachPlus Alerts allows you to pre-configure an Alert and save it for sending it later. You can also set a global, system-wide hotkey for a Quick Alert by right-clicking it and choosing Assigned Hotkey from the resulting context menu. You can then press the hotkey combination thus configured from anywhere in the system in order to send the Quick Alert.
Can we use a different name for the "From" field of the message?
Yes you can but it works with ReachPlus Alerts Clients only and not with default messenger service.
What information is logged by the ReachPlus Alerts Server?
Date and time of message sent, the recipient's IP address and the means by which the message was sent (via ReachPlus or default Windows messenger service).
I am having problem sending alerts to machine outside my subnet or across my router. Please help?
ReachPlus uses TCP for message delivery. Please make sure that the port on which the ReachPlus Alerts server is listening is allowed on your firewall. Only then can a ReachPlus Alerts Client connect to the server. Also see the question “What ports are required for ReachPlus to route through a network?” for more information.
What are the differences between tekAlign's ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced) and ReachPlus Alerts (Basic)?
For differences and features for both, please see our comparison matrix here.
What platforms does ReachPlus Alerts Client run on?
Windows 9x and Windows ME, Windows NT, 2000, 2003 and Windows XP
Will tekAlign ever develop a ReachPlus Alerts Client for Linux, Solaris, MAC OS, and Windows Mobile etc.?
We might. Send us an email at sales@tekAlign.com mentioning what client platform you would like.
ReachPlus Alerts Client displays the Popup window, even though I have unchecked the Popup Window option.
See "What does the "Force Popup Window on Client" option mean?" above.
Does ReachPlus Alerts Client support message history?
Yes it does. It saves all the messages received with a date, time-stamp and who sent the message. ReachPlus Alerts Client saves message history in its current directory i.e. the directory where it is installed.
Will the Server queue the message if my machine is offline?
Yes! When sending a message, the sender can specify the queue-time-period, which we call message validity. If the sender has specified a message validity time-period when sending a message and your machine is offline, the server will continue to attempt to deliver the message until the validity period expires.
If I am not running the ReachPlus Alerts Client can I still receive messages?
Yes you can. If you are running Windows NT 2000 or Windows XP, ReachPlus server switches to default windows messenger service to send messages. For Windows 95/98/ME machines, they need to run 'WINPOPUP.exe' to receive messages if not using the ReachPlus Alerts Client
How much does the ReachPlus Alerts Client cost?
It comes free with the demo or the full release of ReachPlus Alerts Server and Console.
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ReachPlus Alerts Console has dual functionality. On one hand, it functions as a control panel for the administrator for configuring the various ReachPlus Alerts Server options, creating user accounts etc. On the other hand, it is used to initiate alert messages to all or select users on the network.
Can I use more than one ReachPlus Alerts Console to connect to a ReachPlus Alerts Server?
Yes, you can.
Can I manage more than one ReachPlus Alerts Servers from the same ReachPlus Alerts Console?
Yes, you can. Select "Connect to ReachPlus Alerts Server..." on the Tools menu, specify ReachPlus Alerts Server's IP address or hostname in the dialog box and click the "Connect" button.
I have installed ReachPlus Alerts Server and getting the message that "Demo license has expired"
Please contact tekAlign Sales (sales@tekAlign.com) if you wish to extend the evaluation period.
What are the system requirements to run the ReachPlus Alerts Console?
ReachPlus Alerts Console has almost the same system requirements as the ReachPlus Alerts Server. It will run on Windows NT, 2000, 2003 or XP class machines with 256 Megabytes of RAM and at least 30 Megabyte of disk space.
How many characters can I send using ReachPlus Alerts server?
If using ReachPlus Alerts Server and Client, the limit is 1024 characters per message. Without the ReachPlus Alerts client, the limit is approximately 800 characters using the default Messenger Service.
I installed a demo version of ReachPlus and now wish to purchase it. What do I do next?
Please use our website to purchase a retail license and install the license in your license directory to activate it. It is that simple. You do not have to reinstall or upgrade the application.
Why does ReachPlus Alerts Basic use ping?
When sending messages, some of the hosts might be offline. In order to detect if a host is offline or online, ReachPlus Alerts Basic uses ping. If a given host is found offline, ReachPlus Alerts does not attempt to send the message to that host which results in faster transmission of messages. You can also set ping timeouts for machines outside your network.
What does the "Force Popup Window on ReachPlus Alerts Client" option mean?
ReachPlus Alerts Client can display new messages either by popping up a new window or in the form of a balloon tool-tip. (The balloon tool-tip is supported on Windows Me, 2000 and XP only). ReachPlus Alerts Client users can choose to turnoff the viewing of messages in the form of a popup window. The administrator can override this setting by using the "Force Popup Window on Client" option for urgent or important messages.
Does ReachPlus Alerts Server support different fonts and colors?
Yes it does. Apart from the ability to send different fonts, and colors, font sizes are also supported. You will, however, need to have the ReachPlus Alerts Client running on the client computers to use this feature. The default messenger service does not support use of fonts, font sizes and colors.
What are Quick Alerts?
In order to cater to the need of sending emergency Alerts quickly, ReachPlus Alerts allows you to pre-configure an Alert and save it for sending it later. You can also set a global, system-wide hotkey for a Quick Alert by right-clicking it and choosing Assigned Hotkey from the resulting context menu. You can then press the hotkey combination thus configured from anywhere in the system in order to send the Quick Alert.
Can we use a different name for the "From" field of the message?
Yes you can but it works with ReachPlus Alerts Clients only and not with default messenger service.
What information is logged by the ReachPlus Alerts Server?
Date and time of message sent, the recipient's IP address and the means by which the message was sent (via ReachPlus or default Windows messenger service).
I am having problem sending alerts to machine outside my subnet or across my router. Please help?
ReachPlus uses TCP for message delivery. Please make sure that the port on which the ReachPlus Alerts server is listening is allowed on your firewall. Only then can a ReachPlus Alerts Client connect to the server. Also see the question “What ports are required for ReachPlus to route through a network?” for more information.
What are the differences between tekAlign's ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced) and ReachPlus Alerts (Basic)?
For differences and features for both, please see our comparison matrix here.
What platforms does ReachPlus Alerts Client run on?
Windows 9x and Windows ME, Windows NT, 2000, 2003 and Windows XP
Will tekAlign ever develop a ReachPlus Alerts Client for Linux, Solaris, MAC OS, and Windows Mobile etc.?
We might. Send us an email at sales@tekAlign.com mentioning what client platform you would like.
ReachPlus Alerts Client displays the Popup window, even though I have unchecked the Popup Window option.
See "What does the "Force Popup Window on Client" option mean?" above.
Does ReachPlus Alerts Client support message history?
Yes it does. It saves all the messages received with a date, time-stamp and who sent the message. ReachPlus Alerts Client saves message history in its current directory i.e. the directory where it is installed.
Will the Server queue the message if my machine is offline?
Yes! When sending a message, the sender can specify the queue-time-period, which we call message validity. If the sender has specified a message validity time-period when sending a message and your machine is offline, the server will continue to attempt to deliver the message until the validity period expires.
If I am not running the ReachPlus Alerts Client can I still receive messages?
Yes you can. If you are running Windows NT 2000 or Windows XP, ReachPlus server switches to default windows messenger service to send messages. For Windows 95/98/ME machines, they need to run 'WINPOPUP.exe' to receive messages if not using the ReachPlus Alerts Client
How much does the ReachPlus Alerts Client cost?
It comes free with the demo or the full release of ReachPlus Alerts Server and Console.
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ReachPlus Alerts Client
What are the system requirements to run the ReachPlus Alerts Client?
ReachPlus Alerts Client can run on any 32 bit Microsoft Windows capable machine.
How much does the license cost?
ReachPlus license cost is based on the number of hosts on the network. Please email sales@tekAlign.com for licensing and purchase information or visit our order page for more information.
I installed a demo version of ReachPlus, and now wish to purchase it. What do I do next?
Please use our website to purchase a retail license and install the license in your license directory to activate it. It is that simple. You do not have to reinstall or upgrade the application!
What is the latest release of ReachPlus?
It is ReachPlus Alerts version 4.0
What is the difference between ReachPlus Demo and ReachPlus retail version?
Both are the same in terms of features and functionality except, you can only send 50 alerts to a maximum of 35 users.
If I type a URL in the message will it automatically appear as a click able link for the recipient?
Yes!
What ports are required for ReachPlus to route through a network?
ReachPlus Alerts (Basic) Clients listen on port 61099 for incoming messages. The ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced) Server listens on port 47650. Both of these applications allow the user to configure a different port than the default.
What service dependencies does the software have?
ReachPlus Alerts depends on DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) and Messenger Service. Use of Messenger Service however, is optional.
Does the software run in a peer to peer environment for clients? Or only administrators can send messages to clients?
Messages can only be sent from ReachPlus Alerts Console. This is one way messaging only and the clients cannot send messages back to the console or other clients. However, ReachPlus Alerts supports a rich user management scheme which includes the ability for administrators to configure users who can send alerts using the console.
How is multicasting used?
Multicasting is not used by ReachPlus for message transmission. It is used only for the purpose of discovering the server if the client does not have the required information to connect to the server. Multicasting is optional and can be turned off to reduce network traffic.
Is the ReachPlus Alerts Client reliant on the Windows Messenger Service?
ReachPlus Alerts Client does not depend on Windows Messenger Service. The use of Windows Messenger Service is optional. ReachPlus Alerts Server uses the Windows Messenger Service (if the user has configured ReachPlus Alerts to use it) to send messages to a client computer if the ReachPlus Alerts Client is not running on that computer.
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ReachPlus Alerts Client can run on any 32 bit Microsoft Windows capable machine.
How much does the license cost?
ReachPlus license cost is based on the number of hosts on the network. Please email sales@tekAlign.com for licensing and purchase information or visit our order page for more information.
I installed a demo version of ReachPlus, and now wish to purchase it. What do I do next?
Please use our website to purchase a retail license and install the license in your license directory to activate it. It is that simple. You do not have to reinstall or upgrade the application!
What is the latest release of ReachPlus?
It is ReachPlus Alerts version 4.0
What is the difference between ReachPlus Demo and ReachPlus retail version?
Both are the same in terms of features and functionality except, you can only send 50 alerts to a maximum of 35 users.
If I type a URL in the message will it automatically appear as a click able link for the recipient?
Yes!
What ports are required for ReachPlus to route through a network?
ReachPlus Alerts (Basic) Clients listen on port 61099 for incoming messages. The ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced) Server listens on port 47650. Both of these applications allow the user to configure a different port than the default.
What service dependencies does the software have?
ReachPlus Alerts depends on DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) and Messenger Service. Use of Messenger Service however, is optional.
Does the software run in a peer to peer environment for clients? Or only administrators can send messages to clients?
Messages can only be sent from ReachPlus Alerts Console. This is one way messaging only and the clients cannot send messages back to the console or other clients. However, ReachPlus Alerts supports a rich user management scheme which includes the ability for administrators to configure users who can send alerts using the console.
How is multicasting used?
Multicasting is not used by ReachPlus for message transmission. It is used only for the purpose of discovering the server if the client does not have the required information to connect to the server. Multicasting is optional and can be turned off to reduce network traffic.
Is the ReachPlus Alerts Client reliant on the Windows Messenger Service?
ReachPlus Alerts Client does not depend on Windows Messenger Service. The use of Windows Messenger Service is optional. ReachPlus Alerts Server uses the Windows Messenger Service (if the user has configured ReachPlus Alerts to use it) to send messages to a client computer if the ReachPlus Alerts Client is not running on that computer.
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ReachPlus Client for Mac OS X
What are the system requirements to run the ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) for Mac?
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4.1 or higher, Mac computer with 1.66GHz or higher and 512 MB RAM
What is the difference between ReachPlus Client and ReachPlus Client for Mac OS X?
Both are the same in terms of features and functionality except ReachPlus Client for Mac OS X is specifically designed for the Mac users. ReachPlus Alerts Client is only available for the advanced version of ReachPlus Alerts. Following features that are available in Microsoft Windows version of the client are not available in the Mac verison.
1. Assign Hotkey to Alerts
2. Check for software updates
3. Display alerts in a balloon tip
4. Alert text formatting
How do I configure the connection to ReachPlus Alerts Server?
To specify connection information for the ReachPlus Alerts Server, please do the following:
1. Click the ReachPlus->Preferences menu to bring up the Preferences window
2. Enter the port number ReachPlus Alerts Server is listening on, in the edit box labeled Port
3. Click the Edit button next to the dropdown list labeled Primary Host
4. In the Edit Hosts window, click Add to add the computer name or IP address of the computer which is running the ReachPlus Alerts Server
ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) now has all the information it needs to automatically connect to the ReachPlus Alerts Server running on the specified computer.
As ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) attempts to connect to the Server, it will display the current connection status in the status bar in ReachPlus Alerts Client's main window.
How do I configure security between Client and Server?
ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) receives all Alerts in an encrypted form by using a Security Key. You can change this key by following these steps:
1. Click the ReachPlus->Preferences menu
2. In the resulting Preferences window, click the button labeled Security
3. In the resulting Security window, in the edit box labeled Security Key, enter the key
4. Click OK to finish
Note: The Security Key must be the same in ReachPlus Alerts Console (Advanced) and ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) applications. Do not change this key unless expressly advised to do so by your ReachPlus Alerts Administrator.
How do I play custom sounds for alert levels?
By default, when a new Alert is displayed, ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) plays a different sound depending on the Alert Level of the Alert. ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) can also be configured to play custom sounds for each Alert Level that it supports. To specify which custom sounds to play, please follow these steps:
1. Click the ReachPlus->Preferences menu to bring up the Preferences window
2. Click on the Sounds button.
3. In the resulting window titled Sounds, you can specify sounds for any or all of the Alert Levels.
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System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4.1 or higher, Mac computer with 1.66GHz or higher and 512 MB RAM
What is the difference between ReachPlus Client and ReachPlus Client for Mac OS X?
Both are the same in terms of features and functionality except ReachPlus Client for Mac OS X is specifically designed for the Mac users. ReachPlus Alerts Client is only available for the advanced version of ReachPlus Alerts. Following features that are available in Microsoft Windows version of the client are not available in the Mac verison.
1. Assign Hotkey to Alerts
2. Check for software updates
3. Display alerts in a balloon tip
4. Alert text formatting
How do I configure the connection to ReachPlus Alerts Server?
To specify connection information for the ReachPlus Alerts Server, please do the following:
1. Click the ReachPlus->Preferences menu to bring up the Preferences window
2. Enter the port number ReachPlus Alerts Server is listening on, in the edit box labeled Port
3. Click the Edit button next to the dropdown list labeled Primary Host
4. In the Edit Hosts window, click Add to add the computer name or IP address of the computer which is running the ReachPlus Alerts Server
ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) now has all the information it needs to automatically connect to the ReachPlus Alerts Server running on the specified computer.
As ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) attempts to connect to the Server, it will display the current connection status in the status bar in ReachPlus Alerts Client's main window.
How do I configure security between Client and Server?
ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) receives all Alerts in an encrypted form by using a Security Key. You can change this key by following these steps:
1. Click the ReachPlus->Preferences menu
2. In the resulting Preferences window, click the button labeled Security
3. In the resulting Security window, in the edit box labeled Security Key, enter the key
4. Click OK to finish
Note: The Security Key must be the same in ReachPlus Alerts Console (Advanced) and ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) applications. Do not change this key unless expressly advised to do so by your ReachPlus Alerts Administrator.
How do I play custom sounds for alert levels?
By default, when a new Alert is displayed, ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) plays a different sound depending on the Alert Level of the Alert. ReachPlus Alerts Client (Advanced) can also be configured to play custom sounds for each Alert Level that it supports. To specify which custom sounds to play, please follow these steps:
1. Click the ReachPlus->Preferences menu to bring up the Preferences window
2. Click on the Sounds button.
3. In the resulting window titled Sounds, you can specify sounds for any or all of the Alert Levels.
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