System Requirements
6309504E
Note the button in the middle of the Google toolbar that
shows 31 blocked (circled in FIG. 5); this is a count of
how many pop-ups the Google toolbar has stopped from
appearing. Click this button to make the toolbar allow
pop-ups from the address currently in the address bar.
Close the browser window and try launching Matrix via
the Matrix client desktop icon again.
The same series of steps is performed for multiple-PC
systems, only the address used is different--the address
of the Matrix server is used instead of 127.0.0.1.
Pop-up blockers are not limited to those included with
browser toolbars. Security products such as Norton
Internet Security also block pop-ups; refer to the ven-
dor’s instructions on how to configure these software
programs.
Software Firewalls
Special Considerations for Firewalls
Summary: Any firewalls in use must allow TCP traffic on
ports 8080-8082 and 3306 at the Matrix Server and port
8082 at each Matrix Client. Matrix will not function prop-
erly if any of these ports are blocked. Windows XP has a
built-in firewall, which is turned on by default (meaning
that these ports are blocked) in Service Pack 2.
Any firewalls on the Matrix PC must allow network traffic
over several ports. PCs communicate with each other
via IP addresses and port numbers. An IP address can
be compared to the street address of an apartment
building, with a port number as a specific apartment
number in the building. The Matrix server and Matrix cli-
ents require certain ports be available/open in order to
communicate properly. These are the default TCP ports
required by the server and each client:
Matrix server:
Port 3306 - Matrix Database
Port 8080 - Matrix Web Server
Port 8081 - Matrix Server
Matrix Client:
Port 8082 - Matrix Client
Communication to these ports can be blocked by firewall
software installed on your computer. Windows XP con-
tains the Windows Firewall, but there are numerous
products provided by third parties such as Symantec
and McAfee that also provide firewall functionality. What
this means for Matrix is that any Firewalls) on the Matrix
PC must be either configured to allow traffic over these
ports or turned off altogether.
The Matrix setup program offers to open these ports for
you in the Windows Firewall. It does not do this for other
firewall products.
Network traffic over these ports can also be blocked by
what is called a proxy server. Whether or not a network
has a proxy server that stops traffic on these ports, port
8080 in particular, is a question for the facility IT person-
nel.
The ports listed above are the defaults. If they are
changed for any reason, corresponding changes must
be made in the firewall settings to allow traffic over the
new port numbers. Changing the port numbers may be
necessary if, for example, another application is already
using these port numbers. Graco strongly recommends
that IT personnel familiar with the network are involved
with this configuration change.
Windows XP Security
The following security-related configuration settings are
not required but are recommended for all Matrix PCs:
1. Be sure a user name and password are required to
access the operating system.
2. Ensure the password-protected screensaver is
enabled and set to automatically activate after 15-30
minutes of system inactivity.
3. Change user passwords on a regular basis and
choose passwords that are difficult to guess.
4. Use anti-virus software to protect against viruses.
Some anti-virus programs are bundled with other
security software, including other security tools such
as pop-up blockers and firewalls. Take note of the
recommendations in the sections titled Special
Considerations for Pop-up Blockers on page 4
and Special Considerations for Firewalls on page
6.
5. Be sure the system is kept up to date with Microsoft
XP updates and service packs.
6. Use a firewall. As mentioned in the section titled
Special Considerations for Firewalls, take care to
allow for continued operation of Matrix by not block-
ing the network ports Matrix needs to use.