Tip of the Month (December 2006)
Troubleshooting mEnable Connections
When people first start using mEnable, they sometimes have problems
getting the network communication to work. Three things you should check:
- Make sure the mEnable server is running. Go to the Services contol panel
(one of the Administrative Tools) and make sure the SYWARE mEnable
service is installed and running. If you don't see it listed, select
START | PROGRAMS | SYWARE mENable | Install Service to install
it.
- When mEnable asks you for the Host, specify the IP address
of the mEnable server machine. For example, you may be using a
SQL Server database. You should specify the IP address of the
mEnable server machine, not the machine running SQL Server (unless,
of course, they are the same machine).
- If you are using mEnable in conjunction with Visual CE or Report CE, make
sure there is a file called WCEODBC.INI in the windows folder on the
mEnable server machine. This is where we store the table definitions,
synchronization settings, etc.
Network problems can be tricky to resolve, but here is a series of tests
you can do to try to diagnose where the problem is:
- Run Pocket Internet Explorer on the handheld. Can you browse to
http://www.syware.com (or any other web site)? If not, you don't have
wireless access. You probably will have to contact your hardware
manufacturer for help in resolving this problem.
- Create an ActiveSync connection between the handheld the mEnable
server machine. While still connected, run your mEnable application on
the handheld. When asked for a host, specify ppp_peer
(ppp_peer is shorthand for "the machine at the other end of the
cable"). Does that work? If not, you may have to open port 20225 in the
firewall on the mEnable server.
To open port 20225 on Windows XP: select
START | CONTROL PANEL | WINDOWS FIREWALL, open the
Exceptions tab and click Add a Port. In the Name
field, enter SYWAREmEnable, for the Port Number enter
20225, select TCP, and click OK to close the window.
- On the mEnable machine, go to a DOS prompt (it is one of the
accessories). A black window will come up which you can type into.
Type in ipconfig followed by the <ENTER> key.
You will see the IP address of your mEnable server machine.
Create an ActiveSync connection between the handheld the mEnable server
machine. While still connected, run your mEnable application on the
handheld. When asked for a host, specify the IP address you found
using ipconfig. Does that work? If not, your handheld may not
have visibility to your mEnable server. Make sure the handheld and
the mEnable server are on the same subnet. You probably are going to
have to ask your network administrator for help with this.
- On the mEnable machine, go to a DOS prompt (it is one of the
accessories). A black window will come up which you can type into.
Type in ipconfig followed by the <ENTER> key.
You will see the IP address of your mEnable server machine.
Disconnect the handheld from the mEnable server machine. Run your
mEnable application on the handheld. When asked for a host, specify the
IP address you found using ipconfig. Does that work? If not, your
handheld may not have visibility to your mEnable server over the wireless
network. Make sure the handheld and the mEnable server are on the same
subnet. You probably are going to have to ask your network
administrator for help with this.
If this does not fix the problem, please send us a
support request and we will try to
help you resolve it. When you contact us, please include the full text of
any error message you may see (including brackets, commas, spaces, etc.)
and let us know if you see the message on the handheld or on the mEnable
server machine.
