AX FX Weather Service

[mechdorn]

Hello All,

I recently installed our 6-7 project with the server software. The software is actually running on a corporate server. The weather service does not work. This is the third time this has happened. First time, the IT dept said it was corporate policy to block out outgoing references to unaccountable internet users. The second time the IT dept. was pretty much untouchable and wouldn't be bothered by a trivial request. This time, the IT dept is interested in getting the service to operate. My questions are, is there a specific firewall port that needs to be opened? Is there a proxy setting that needs adjustment. Is there a certain Java version that needs to be installed on the sever? Is there a specific URL that needs a special permission granted? In advance, thanks to all.

[freddy-b]

Hello All,

I recently installed our 6-7 project with the server software. The software is actually running on a corporate server. The weather service does not work. This is the third time this has happened. First time, the IT dept said it was corporate policy to block out outgoing references to unaccountable internet users. The second time the IT dept. was pretty much untouchable and wouldn't be bothered by a trivial request. This time, the IT dept is interested in getting the service to operate. My questions are, is there a specific firewall port that needs to be opened? Is there a proxy setting that needs adjustment. Is there a certain Java version that needs to be installed on the sever? Is there a specific URL that needs a special permission granted? In advance, thanks to all.

I think its 37 ...but not 100% certain.

[lwarren]

This is from the help documents;

The WeatherService gets initial data (requested on outbound port 80) from www.weather.gov (http://www.weather.gov) and www.nws.noaa.gov (http://www.nws.noaa.gov) by domain name URLs, and requires such addresses to be resolved to IP addresses. On an AxSupervisor or a Workbench engineering workstation, the host Windows PC is typically configured to obtain DNS servers automatically. In this case, these DNS addresses are resolved and the WeatherService starts normally. Subsequent weather updates typically use cached (previously resolved) IP addresses, however, at times the domain name URLs may be used again.

Unless using AX-3.4 or later (with client proxy server support, configured via the "HttpProxyServer" component found in the net module), there may be difficulties using the WeatherService in any host behind a firewall/proxy server that requires authentication for port 80 access. In this case, a possible workaround would be to enter exceptions in the firewall/proxy server for all IP addresses known to be associated with www.weather.gov (http://www.weather.gov) and www.nws.noaa.gov.Starting (http://www.nws.noaa.gov.Starting) in AX-3.4, the net module's HttpProxyServer provides support for a "non-transparent" proxy server, allowing configuration of proxy server settings and open proxy connections. For related details, see HttpProxyServer in the "Component Guides" section of the NiagaraAX User Guide.

[lwarren]

I think its 37 ...but not 100% certain.

I believe the Time Sync Service uses port 37.

[digo]

I believe the Time Sync Service uses port 37.

Yes, UDP port 37 is used by the older timesync service - an implementation of the daytime protocol, which has been superseded by NTP.

3.4 and later support NTP which uses TCP port 123.
See this (http://www.niagara-central.com/ord?portal:/discussion/DiscussionThread/7613) discussion on the timesync client <= 3.3


Hello All,
The software is actually running on a corporate server... My questions are, is there a specific firewall port that needs to be opened?

Yes, tcp port 80 outbound, plus a valid dns server to resolve the urls mentioned above by lwarren.



Is there a proxy setting that needs adjustment.

Many places employ some sort of content filtering software / hardware appliance (OpenDNS, WebSense, St. Bernard, SonicWall, etc) which may require authentication before allowing outgoing connections. In that case, you can use the ProxyService to redirect all http requests to a specific proxy server. The ProxyService is found in the net.jar palette

See this (http://www.niagara-central.com/ord?portal:/discussion/DiscussionThread/8599) discussion on weather updates / ProxyService



Is there a certain Java version that needs to be installed on the sever?
No.

[mechdorn]

Hello All,

Thanks for the helpful insights; I’ll be at the site on Monday afternoon, then hopefully for the rest of the week. I have a better feel where to look for the resolution. I did find the www. Weather.gov was blocked by the advanced IE settings. I added the site to an allowed list. I also cannot ping the site from FX console or the XP run Cmd prompt. I also cannot ping any other internet site with the same services.

[mechdorn]

Then one day it begins to work, can't explain it, no changes. Perhaps it's the Blizzard, I've never seen it snow as hard as it did today.

[freddy-b]

Then one day it begins to work, can't explain it, no changes. Perhaps it's the Blizzard, I've never seen it snow as hard as it did today.

In my experiences...there are a lot of magical fixes when it comes to IT dept's.
They ussually don't broadcast that they screwed up...after a finger pointing session or two.

[mechdorn]

In my experiences...there are a lot of magical fixes when it comes to IT dept's.
They ussually don't broadcast that they screwed up...after a finger pointing session or two.

How about it! Let's talk about remote access. I probably have 15 remote sites I can access via the www; I most likely have 12 different ways of getting there. It's like these IT guys invent new ways each time I talk to them. I try to steer them into a simple RDC, never works. It's Citrix, Cisco, RDC, Logmein, VPN, or a whole new hosting website, the list keeps growing.