Problem with client-server setup

[kjbbasic]

I'm having problems getting client-server to work. It will not get past trying to connect to the server

Setup:

HCA Plus (latest release)
Windows 7 64 bit (on both test systems)
D-Link DIR-855 router connected to DSL modem for WAN
DHCP enabled (router assigns LAN addresses but they are setup as fixed based on MAC)
All systems have windows firewall turned off, no other system specific firewall software installed
I can ping the systems and all other functionality seems normal inside the LAN (shared file/disk access, communication with printers, etc). I can setup the router and access LAN cameras and the HCA web app from outside the LAN (router virtual server sttings to allow redirection to internal LAN systems)...plus things also work from inside the LAN.

However when I try to get HCA client-server to work I can not get the client to communicate with the server...even using localhost...it does not get past the first step of communicating with the server...just times out....I never see a connection established.

I've uninstalled/reinstalled and tried a number of other things with no success. I've read and re-read the HCA setup instructions (pretty straight forward).

Any thoughts/ideas appreciated. There's something here I'm missing!

Thx,
Ken

[kwilcox]

Port mismatch/firewall settings may be the root cause.

[Apollo11]

I am having the same problem.
Using Win 7 Ultimate 64 Bit
Using D Link 655
The ports check out. Tried 3 different PC's for Client
using net tools the server is not responding!
Note the Web Application works fine using the same ports.
Removed firewall & Anti virus No help!
I am out of options

[kjbbasic]

Thx for the responses, I don't have any firewall in place.

Even if I isolate the system...assuming you should be able to run client/server on the same system..I still have problems. I removed the system from the LAN, hardcoded the IP address (or used localhost)...still no luck.

Are their others successfully using Windows 7 64 bit as the server and a windows 7 client/server arramgement? If their are, did you need to change anything?...or did it "just work"?

Thx,

ken

[ewelin]

Note the Web Application works fine using the same ports.
Hopefully you're not running both the web app and the server on the same port all the time as that could definitely be a cause of the issue.

Also make sure that the server has an HCA file open and loaded as that may cause a connection issue.

Also, yes you can run both the client and server on the same system. If the HCA program is turned on and HCA Server isn't running, HCA will load in stand-alone mode. If you have the HCA Server running and start HCA program it'll load in client mode.

[kjbbasic]

Web app is not running. There is a minimal design avail for loading.

I still can not get by the "Establishing communication with server" step

I'm running client/server on the same windows 7 Pro 64 bit box...trying to get down to minimal config that should work but still no luck.

Again, there are no firewall or anti-virus programs running on this machine.

I can bring up the HCA server and it seems to be waiting for the port connection, then I start the HCA client... but connecting the client to the server does not work.

Again, appreciate the feedback, ...any any other thoughts. Are there any services you depend upon...any other possible config issues?

Thx,

Ken

[ewelin]

Outline the exact steps you're taking... are you trying to get the server and client on the same PC? or is the server on one pc and the client on another?

[kjbbasic]

Steps (for install on same pc, also tried different machines for client and server with same results):

Installed HCA Plus 10 and setup small home design.

Verified small design (one device) worked in HCA standalone.

Went to properties page, client server tab, entered 2000 for the port, the ip address of the machine (verified with ipconfig and ping) [I also tried using localhost]

Shutdown HCA

Started up HCA server. Server comes up, dialog says server is using port 2000, 0 clients

Started up HCA, comes up in "client" mode, no complaints.

Select File->Connect to server and Connecting to server box comes up with correct IP and port
Stays at the "Establishing communications with server" step and times out unable to connect.

I've tried various ports plus using localhost, hard-coded/isolated ip address, etc. with the same results

Am I missing something/ a setup step?
Again, this is in a LAN setup, windows prof 64 bit OS.

[ewelin]

When you load the server, make sure you click File -> Open from the server UI and load a design file. I think that's the only step you're missing.

[kjbbasic]

Thx!

I think that did the trick...at least on my local (same pc for server and client) setup.

I assumed that the "load design at startup" option took care of this for the server as well...but was obviously wrong....and now see that indeed this is a "standalone" option...my bad for missing that one.

It would be nice if a more informative error/state message were in place or if it failed at the "getting design" step...or if the server had a clear "no design loaded, please open a design"...something..to indicate the state/issue. Right now when it fails under these conditions the server seems to be "happily" sitting there and the client asks you to check the IP and port setup when it fails....which led me down the wrong path.

Anyway, thank you for your help...if it works on my real setup (will try in a bit) I'll be very happy.

Again,
Thx!

Ken

[ewelin]

In talking with the development team there appears to have been several support tickets started and resolved with just making sure the server opened a file. I wouldn't be surprised to see a change for that in the next point release.

Glad to hear everything is working great for you.

I'll say I've been running in C/S mode since the release and it's been working great around here. I actually have made more improvements to HCA now that I can just pull up the GUI on my office PC and not have to worry about pulling up VNC and remote connecting to my server in the basement.

[kjbbasic]

...oh, and I found the reload last design on server startup setting on the client-server page, again that was my misstep...

Ken

[Apollo11]

My Thanks also

[wfusco]

How do you get the server to load the design file every time it loads? I have the open to open the last design file selected already but it doesn't work