Network considerations

While PlanetPress Workflow is typically installed on a server machine that is only accessed by one single user such as an IT person, multiple users logging on to that machine is a possibility (except with terminal servers, see Environment considerations). Because each user may have different local and network rights, it may be important to consider the implications in regards to PlanetPress Workflow. To change the service log on information, see Workflow Services.

Local and network rights

Programs, such as PlanetPress Workflows and all its services, must identify themselves in order to be granted permission to perform operations on the computer on which they run as well as on other computers accessible via a network connection. On a given workstation, you can configure your PlanetPress Workflow to use either the local system account or any specific user account. When you do this, you grant PlanetPress Workflow and all its services the same rights associated with the selected account.

When you are running PlanetPress Workflow Configuration program on a workstation, if it is associated with an account that is different from your account, the following icon is displayed in the lower right corner of PlanetPress Workflow Configuration program: . The icon reminds you that the logon information is different for the PlanetPress Workflow services, and that some network resources may not be accessibly by PlanetPress Workflow when running a live configuration.

Account requirements

PlanetPress Workflow and its services require administrator rights to run on any given computer and must therefore be associated with an account that has such rights.

We recommend creating a network or domain account specifically for the PlanetPress Workflow services, which has administrator credentials on the machine where it is installed, and is given proper rights for any network resources your configuration may request.

Mapped drives

Mapped drives (for example, drive X: leading to \\server\public\) are always user-specific and are created at logon. This means that mapped drives are typically not available by the PlanetPress Workflow services when running a live configuration. Furthermore, while the mapped drives are not shared, they are still limited to one map per computer, meaning if one user maps the X: drive, a different user (or a service) will not be able to map it again.

This creates a limitation in PlanetPress Workflow: if you create a mapped drive as a user, you will not have access to this mapped drive while running as a service unless you log off, and then have PlanetPress Workflow Tools map the drive using a Run Script action inside a Startup Process.

We strongly recommended that instead of using mapped drives, you use full UNC paths for your network drives. PlanetPress Workflow Tools can automatically convert mapped paths to UNC paths. For more information, please see Network behavior preferences.

Network ports used by each service

The port configuration for each PlanetPress Workflow component is described in the following table. The port number assignments comply with Internet standards. If PlanetPress Workflow component is not active, the port is not used.

Component

Protocol

Local Port

Remote Port

Email Input (POP3 mode)

TCP

Default1

110

Email Input (Outlook mode)

TCP

see Remote Port

See Network Ports Used by Key Microsoft Server Products

Folder Capture

TCP/UDP

Default1

Standard Windows file and printer sharing ports2:

  • UDP 137, 138; TCP 139 (NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT))
  • UDP 445; TCP 445 (SMB over TCP/IP)

LPD Input

TCP

515 (listening port)

N/A

FTP Input

TCP

Default1

21

Telnet Input

TCP

Default1

9100 (configurable)

FTP Output

TCP

Default1

21

Email Output (SMTP mode)

TCP

Default1

25

Email Output (Outlook mode)

TCP

See Email Input (Outlook mode)

See Email Input (Outlook mode)

Send to Folder Windows Queue Output

TCP

Default1

Standard Windows file and printer sharing ports2:

  • 137, 138 and/or 139 (NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT))
  • 445 (SMB Over TCP/IP)

LPR Output

TCP

Default or 721 to 7313

515

PlanetPress Database

TCP or UDP

Unknown4

Unknown4

SNMP Condition

UDP

Default1

161

1 Value is greater than 1024 and is assigned by Windows XP. This is the default.

2 Windows NT 4.0 uses NetBIOS over TCP/IP for file and printer sharing, while Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 may be configured to use NetBIOS over TCP/IP or SMB over TCP/IP. The operating system may use additional ports. Refer to the Windows documentation for further information.

3 If the “No source port range restriction” option is checked (recommended), see footnote a. If the option is unchecked, the local port will be chosen from a range going from 721 to 731.

4 Contact your DBMS vendor to determine which ports are used by the ODBC driver for accessing a network database.